The Genesis Project. Chapter 24, Part 1
Abraham tasks his steward with finding a wife for Isaac from his former homeland in Mesopotamia
Hello and welcome back to The Genesis Project, my translation and commentary on the first book of the Hebrew Bible.
In this week’s post, the first of three covering this long extraordinarily detailed chapter, we learn of the oath with which Abraham charges his steward, Eliezer, to return to Mesopotamia and find a wife for his son and heir Isaac. Rebecca providentially appears and seems to meet both Abraham’s and Eliezer’s criteria, yet Eliezer is uncertain.
Next week, we read about how Eliezer meets Rebecca’s family and negotiates for her hand to become Isaac’s wife.
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Chapter 24
Part 1
Abraham’s steward Eliezer (whose name is never mentioned in this narrative, but see 15:2) journeys to Abraham’s homeland in Mesopotamia in order to obtain a wife for Isaac, ensuring the next generation of Abraham’s descendants. Rebecca, daughter of Laban and Abraham’s great-niece, appears providentially and agrees to return to Canaan to become Isaac’s wife. On full display are the negotiating skills of Abraham’s emissary through his subtle retelling to Rebecca’s family of his oath to Abraham and his initial encounter with her. For an exhaustive comparison of these two accounts, see Leibowitz (Bereishit pp 214-249).
Abraham adjures Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac. This consists of 1) not to take a wife from among the Canaanites; 2) to find a wife in Aram Naharaim, where Abraham left his family to emigrate to Canaan; and 3) to keep Isaac in Canaan. Why doesn’t Abraham make Isaac take this oath?
Abraham makes Eliezer swear an oath to strictly follow his instructions. As the executor of Abraham’s estate (15:2), Eliezer might mislead Isaac regarding Abraham’s wishes; now, he is prevented from doing so by the vow. In addition, Abraham might die before Eliezer returns from his mission, and Abraham wants to ensure his wishes are fulfilled.
1: And[1] Abraham was old,[2] well on in years,[3] and YHVH had blessed Abraham with everything.[4] 2: Abraham said to his servant,[5] the elder of his household,[6] who managed everything[7] that was his, “Place, na, your hand under my thigh.[8] 3: And I adjure you by YHVH, God of the heavens and God of the earth,[9] that you will not take a wife[10] for my son[11] from the daughters of the Canaanite,[12] among whom I dwell.[13] 4: Rather, to my land[14] and to[15] my birthplace[16] shall you go and take a wife[17] for my son, for Isaac.”[18]
5: The servant said to him, “Perhaps[19] the woman[20] will not wish[21] to follow me, to this land.[22] Shall I really return[23] your son to the land from where you went forth?”[24]
6: Abraham said to him, “Beware for yourself,[25] lest you return my son to there.[26] 7: YHVH, God of the heavens,[27] Who took me[28] from my father’s house,[29] and from the land of my birth,[30] and Who spoke[31] to me, and Who swore to me,[32] saying, ‘To your seed I will give this land.’ He will send His angel[33] before you,[34] and you[35] will take a wife for my son from there.[36] 8: And if the woman does not wish to go after you, then you will be absolved from this my oath.[37] Only,[38] do not return my son to there.”[39]
9: The servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master[40] and swore to him regarding this matter.[41]
10: The servant[42] took ten camels[43] from his master’s camels[44] and went, and all the good[45] of his master in his hand.[46] He arose and went to Aram Naharaim,[47] to the city of Nahor.[48] 11: He made the camels kneel,[49] outside the city,[50] by the water well[51] at evening time, at the time[52] of the going forth of the drawers.[53]
Some see the following words of the servant as divination, forbidden in biblical Judaism. Others see him setting a character test, especially of Isaac’s prospective wife’s kindness and generosity—the traits he believed essential. In other words, “Let the one who so speaks be Isaac’s wife.” How do you pray for a coincidence? Are luck and providence mutually exclusive? If it were divination, the sign would have little to do with the outcome; as, for example, looking at bird entrails to determine the outcome of a battle. Here the sign and the desired outcome are closely related, if not the same.
12: He said, “YHVH, God of my master Abraham, make it[54] happen[55] na, before me[56] today, and do kindness[57] with my master Abraham. 13: Behold, I am stationed[58] by the spring of water[59] and the daughters of the men of the city are going out to draw water.[60] 14: It shall be[61] the maiden,[62] to whom I shall say,[63] ‘Tip,[64] na, your jug[65] and I will drink,’[66] and she says,[67] ‘Drink. And also your camels I will water.’[68] You will have chosen[69] her[70] for Your servant, for Isaac. And through her[71] I will know[72] that You have done kindness with my master.”[73]
15: It came to pass, before he had finished speaking,[74] and behold,[75] Rebecca, who had been born to Bethuel,[76] son of Milcah[77]—wife of Nahor[78] (the brother of Abraham)—went forth, and her jug upon her shoulder.[79] 16: And the maiden was of very good appearance,[80] a virgin,[81] and a man had not known her.[82] She went down to the spring, and filled her jug,[83] and arose.[84]
17: The servant ran toward her[85] and said, “Let me sip,[86] na, a little water[87] from your jug”
18: She said, “Drink,[88] my lord.”[89] She hurried[90] and lowered her jug onto her hand[91] and gave him to drink.
19: She finished giving him drink[92] and said, “Also for your camels I will draw,[93] until[94] they have finished to drink.”[95] 20: She hurried[96] and emptied[97] her jug[98] into the trough[99] and ran again[100] to the well[101] to draw.[102] She drew for all his camels.[103] 21: And the man was astonished[104] by her,[105] considering,[106] to know:[107] Had YHVH caused his journey[108] to succeed or not?[109]
