Bible Commentaries
Genesis 24

Verses 1-67

A wife for Isaac (24:1-67)

Since Isaac would succeed Abraham as heir to the land of Canaan and ancestor of the promised nation, Abraham required two things concerning him. First, he was not to leave Canaan; second, he was not to marry one of the Canaanites, as they were under God’s judgment. Abraham therefore sent his chief servant (possibly Eliezer; see 15:2) on a long journey to Paddan-aram in north-western Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac among Abraham’s relatives there (24:1-9).
The servant prayed for God’s special guidance (10-14) and, on finding that God had led him to the grand-daughter of Abraham’s brother, praised God for answering his prayer. The girl’s name was Rebekah (15-27). The servant then explained to Rebekah’s father Bethuel and her brother Laban why he believed she was God’s chosen wife for Isaac (28-49). When all parties agreed that Rebekah should go and marry Isaac, Abraham’s servant gave gifts to Rebekah’s family as the bride price, and Rebekah’s family gave servants to her as a wedding gift (50-61). The large party then journeyed to Canaan, where Rebekah met and married Isaac (62-67).