[Editor’s Mention: Commentaries on the Publication from Moses and you will Genesis Sections step one – ten is found on the ScripturePlus Software off Publication off Mormon Main as well as on the Bible Main website here.]
Genesis twenty four. A spouse getting Isaac
Even in the event scholars assign Genesis twenty two, 23, and you may 24 to 3 various other source, each one of these chapters display comparable templates relating to the continuity out of covenant posterity. Within the chapters twenty-two and you may 23, Abraham faced Isaac’s close passing and you will Sarah’s real dying, whilst in chapter twenty-four he had been assured one to the fresh generations carry out succeed Isaac. “Provided Isaac was solitary, brand new divine promise away from posterity stays unfulfilled.” To show united states that it, section 24 recounts the marriage off Isaac.
That said, the complete off part twenty-four appears outsized once we thought exactly how pair verses it might have chosen to take to state only that 
Isaac is betrothed and you can hitched to help you an effective divinely picked cousin, the latest grandd’s cousin Nahor. We need to query our selves as to the reasons the details with the facts enjoys already been managed having such as for example proper care.
You to definitely visible reason for the length is that the section offers subdued tips of your own selfish and you may conniving characteristics away from Rebekah’s sister Laban, whose tough reputation will be more explicitly shown due to their afterwards negotiations with Jacob’s marriage ceremonies so you can their daughters, Leah and you will Rachel (Genesis 30–31).
But here indeed must be a more extremely important purpose of brand new story than forewarning an individual in the Laban. BYU teacher Dennis J. Packard suggested that one of the most important what to lookup to possess from the chapter “is when a steward serves.”
The fresh new King James Sort of Genesis 15:2 informs us that Eliezer from Damascus is actually brand new “steward of [Abraham’s] home.” However, during Genesis twenty four the name of your steward just who serves on the Abraham’s behalf to locate a girlfriend to own Isaac, probably Eliezar, “has never been labeled by name. As to why? Maybe they are supposed to be recalled far less a specific individual, however, due to the fact a beneficial steward, or even more, once the an illustration for all stewards.”
The Hebrew terminology included in Genesis fifteen:dos interpreted as the “steward,” ben meshek beiti, is exclusive into the scripture, very their exact definition was unclear. But not, very old and you may progressive scholars have taken it to help you imply that Eliezer was in a high position away from faith to own exactly what Abraham had. And, watching this new framework of this terms in the verse 2, specific provides suggested one “Abraham had accompanied Eliezer [given that his heir], with the expectation, definitely, he could have no children of their own.” In the event the real, this would made Eliezer’s selection because the you to in control in order to prefer a girlfriend to have Isaac two times as poignant. Inside feel, the latest successful betrothal off Isaac would make certain Isaac’s seed products would inherit what Eliezer’s children will have inherited got Isaac stayed solitary.
The chapter highlights the newest significant characteristics of your oath you to Abraham made with their steward to ensure the success of their excursion to acquire a girlfriend for Isaac. In the dealings with Rebekah’s nearest and dearest, the fresh steward illustrated Abraham themselves in a really actual experience. The new promises God-made so you can Abraham regarding the his seeds was in fact practically trusted on hand out-of Abraham’s steward.
The severity of the fresh new oath you to Abraham fashioned with their steward is an excellent illustration of the kind of covenants throughout the old community. Latter-go out New orleans saints can apply the latest old understanding of covenants to brand new covenants they make that have Jesus. However,, Bible college student Scott Hahn correctly notices one to to carry out thus,
Old testament CommentaryGenesis 24: A wife for Isaac
we have to move beyond specific modern presumptions and you can retrieve the latest sense of covenant because it try lived-in biblical cultures-and not soleley from the Hebrew and you will Christian religious cultures, and about Gentile and you may pagan societies of your ancient business. Getting covenant is actually the foundation ones societies. It offered private individuals their sense of kinship, their feeling of matchmaking, its feeling of belonging-in order to a family, a group, and you may a nation. The latest covenant oath try the foundation from family, national, and you may spiritual life.