things 52 And it came to pass, that, ther and to her mother precious when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth. 53 And the servant brought forth hjewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah. He gave also to her bro 54 And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master. 55 And her brother and her 12 Chron. 21. 3. Ezra 1. 6. k ver. 56, & 59. was asked her the next day—' Wilt thou go with this man?' (v. 53)—we consider to mean no more than to ask whether she were willing to set out so soon as Eliezer desired, or would rather insist on staying a few days longer with her relations as they had wished.'-Pict. Bible. & ver. 26 b Exod. 3. 22. & 11. 2. & 12. 35. matter entirely to a confidential ser-nexion receives its final sanction; but vant-generally the young man's old among many Bedouin tribes, the woman nurse, who goes about from house to is seldom suffered to know, until the behouse, and having found a suitable ob- trothing ceremonies announce it to her, ject, endeavors to create a mutual pre- who is to be her husband, and then she possession by speaking to each of the has no power of negativing the contract; other. Very often, however, the whole but she may, if she pleases, withdraw matter is concluded without any refer- the day after her marriage from her ence to the parties most immediately husband's tent to that of her father; interested. When the parents have and, being divorced, is thenceforward found a suitable female, they proceed to regarded as a widow. In the instance the house of her father, and make their before us, it does not appear to us that overtures to him; and if they are ac- the consent of Rebekah was required to ceptable, he denotes his acquiescence | her own marriage. The question which by ordering sweetmeats to be brought. A few days after, another meeting is held at the same place, and there it is finally settled what the parents of the young man are to give in his behalf to the bride [for the principle of such gifts, see Note on Gen. 34. 12]; and this is a matter of great importance, as these presents remain with the lady, and form her dower or provision in case of a divorce from her husband. It consists of fine dresses and shawls [raiment in the text, v. 53], with female ornaments, some money, and a complete outfit of domestic utensils. Among some of the Arab tribes, the present or dower received for the bride on such occasions is called the five articles,' and consists meged occurs, particularly Deut. 33. of a carpet, a silver nose-ring, a silver 13.-15. Cant. 4. 13, 2 Chron. 21. 3.– neck-chain, silver bracelets, and a ca- 32.23. Ezra, 1.6, it seems to denote mel-bag. As to the consent of the wo- the precious or dainty fruits of the earth. nan, the usage varies in different na- 55. A few days, at the least ten Heb. tions. In Persia, after all has been 10 r yamim o asor, lit. days concluded, the woman has nominally or ten. Our marginal rendering is, 'a the power, almost never exercised, of full year, or ten months,' which is favorexpressing her dissent before the con- led by the Chaldee Targums, but we 53. Jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, &c. Heb. hele keseph, vessels of silver, &c. The original for 'jewels' (vessels) is a word of large import, being applied to implements, instruments, and utensils of all kinds.- -T Precious things. Heb. a migdanoth, dainties. 7777 Gr. dwpa gifts. But from comparison of other places where the term or its kindred mother said, Let the damsel abide said unto her. Wilt thou go with with us a few days, at the least ten; this man? And she said, I will go. after that she shall go. 56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way: send me away, that I may go to my master. 57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth. 58 And they called Rebekah, and believe the English version expresses the true idea of the original. 59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. m 60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister; be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them. 1 ch. 35. 8. n each refers to things long gone by, each wishes to do something to attract the 57. Inquire at her mouth. The case attention of his young mistress. One being somewhat difficult, and neither of says, 'Ah! do not forget him who the parties disposed to disoblige the nursed you when an infant:' another, other, they agree to leave it to the deci-'How often did I bring you the beautision of the damsel herself. A few days ful lotus from the distant tank! Did to take leave of her friends would, no I not always conceal your faults?' The doubt, have been desirable to her; but mother comes to take leave. She weeps, seeing so much of God in the affair, and and tenderly embraces her, saying, ' My the man's heart so deeply set upon it; daughter, I shall see you no more;— feeling also her own heart entirely in it, Forget not your mother.' The brother she determines to throw no hindrance | infolds his sister in his arms, and promisin the way, and therefore answers free es soon to come and see her. The from all affectation, I will go. Do people wish to know the truth of any thing which has been reported of another, they say, 'Let us go and inquire of his mouth.' ''Let us hear the birth of his mouth.' Do servants ask a favor of their mistress, she will say, 'I know not what will be the birth of the master's mouth; I will inquire at his mouth.' So the mother and brother of Rebecca in quired at the mouth of the damsel, whe-scene. She is her adviser, her assistther she felt willing to go with the man. 'And she said, I will go.'-Roberts. father is absorbed in thought, and is only aroused by the sobs of the party. He then affectionately embraces his daughter, and tells her not to fear. The female domestics must each smell of the poor girl, and the men touch her feet. As Rebecca had her nurse to accompany her, so, at this day, the Aya the nurse) who has from infancy brought up the bride, goes with her to the new ant, and friend; and to her will she tell all her hopes and all her fears.'—Roberts. 59. And her nurse. The name of this 60. Blessed Rebekah. Implored, innurse was Deborah. We hear no more voked a blessing upon her, to wit, what of her till we are told of her death. She immediately follows, that she might be appears to have survived her mistress, indefinitely multiplied in her seed. See and to have died in the family of Jacob, on Gen. 17. 16. From the numerous much lamented. 'How often have instances which are recorded in the scenes like this led my mind to the pa- scriptures, of those who were aged, or triarchal age! The daughter is about holy, giving their blessing, may be seen for the first time to leave the paternal the importance which was attached to roof: the servants are all in confusion; such benedictions. Has a son, or a 61 ¶ And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. or. 62 And Isaac came from the way Roberts. ed above, by which a circumstance omitted in one part of a narrative is distinctly related in another. daughter, to leave a father, an aged friend, or a priest, a blessing is always given. To be the mother of a numerous progeny is considered a great hon- 62. Isaac came from the way of the well Hence parents often say to their Lahai-roi. Heb. 3 180810 81 daughters, Be thou the mother of thou- ba mibbo bear lahai roi, came from the comsands.' Beggars, also, when relieved, ing, i. e. from the usually travelled way say to the mistress of the house, Ah! to and from the well of Lahai-roi. The madam, millions will come from you.' phraseology in the original is unwonted ¶ Thou art our sister. and obscure, and we have accordingly This should rather have been rendered, a great variety of renderings in the ver'O thou, our sister!' It is not, according sions. Gr. Walked through the wil to the Heb. accents, a proposition, but derness of the well of vision.' Chal. an exclamation.- ¶ Be thou the mother' Came from the well whereat the Anof thousands. Heb. hayi gel of life appeared to him.' Arab. alphe rebabah, be thou to thousands of mil-' Had returned from the journey to the lions. This, according to the Jewish well of the Living One that seeth.' Vulg. writers, is the form of the ancient solemn Walked along the way that leadeth to benediction which was wont to be pro- the well of the Living and the Seeing, so nounced upon the bride when she was called.' From all this, and from its betaken home to her future husband.-It ing said, ch. 25. 11, that 'Isaac dwelt by is remarked by Arbp. Secker that when the well Lahai-roi,' which was someour translators make rebabah, a de- what to the south of Canaan, v. 63, we 19 terminate number, they elsewhere ren- gather that Isaac was now residing for der it 10,000; but here and Ezek. 16. 7. the most part in the vicinity of that mea million. The term properly denotes morable well, or at least that he was any large indefinite number. Let frequently passing to and fro (1) bethy seed possess the gate, &c. That is, tween that place and Beer-sheba ; and have their enemies in their power, as ex- that, having now come to the latter plained Gen. 22. 17. As these are the ve- place, the dwelling of his aged father, ry terms of the last blessing pronounced in expectation of meeting his bride, he from heaven on Abraham ch. 22. 17, they took occasion, while waiting there, to had probably been made acquainted walk out into the fields at the close of with that blessing either by Abraham's the day, when the incidents related in servant, or previously in some other the text occurred. way. 63. Went out to meditate. Heb. 61. Arose. See Note on Gen. 23. 3. yetze lasuah, went out to meditate, And her damsels. Given as a part contemplate, or pray. Gr. αδολεσχησαι of her marriage portion. As nothing to exercise himself; i. e. religiously; to was said of them in v. 59, this affords give scope to the pious sentiments of another instance of the usage mention- his heart in a retired place, at the tran 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eves, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. 65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail and covered herself. ↑ Josh. 15. 18. 66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. 67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac I was comforted after his mother's death. r r ch. 38. 12. side, will take care, when both dismount, that it shall be done at precisely the same moment; for he whose foot first touches the ground is considered to admit his inferiority to the other.'-Pict. Bible. quil hour of twilight, when the soul is er. 65. Took a veil, &c. The veil might, in the present instance, answer a double purpose; (1) It would express her subjection to her husband, as being already in fact his espoused wife (2) It would prevent that confusion which the exposure of her person, especially in so sudden and unexpected a manner, must 'Whether veiled be ion is brought about in answer to pray-fore or not, she now covered herself'A prudent wife is from the Lord.' her whole person---with the ample en64. She lighted off the camel 'Isaac veloping veil with which brides are still was walking, and it would therefore conducted to the bridegroom Rosenhave been the highest breach of orient- muller, in illustration of this passage, al good manners to have remained on quotes an ancient father (Tertullian), the camel when presented to him. No who, with an express reference to the doubt, they all alighted and walked to same text, observes, as a custom still exmeet him, conducting Rebecca as a isting in his time, that the heathen brides bride to meet the bridegroom. It is were also conducted to their husbands a customary mark of respect to great covered with a veil. It is still all but personages for a person to alight from universal in the East, and it will be obthe animal on which he is riding, and served that it is used not only by the felead it until the superior has ridden by; males whose faces are always concealand as no conventional superiority is in ed, both before and after marriage, but the East conceded to women, as in Eu- by those who display part or the whole rope, this will show that it would have of their faces on all ordinary occasions. been highly improper to have rode di- It is, in fact, the indispensable costume rectly up to Isaac when he was on foot. for the occasion. Whether the bridal This would have been treating him as veil was distinguished from other veils an inferior. In Persia, on occasions | does not appear, but we observe that when it is thought necessary to stand one of red silk or muslin is affected by upon punctilio, two persons of equal the Persians on such an occasion, alrank, after having been riding side by though the ordinary veils are white or CHAPTER XXV. 2 And a she bare him Zimran, HEN again Abraham took a and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midiwife, and her name was Keturah. |an, and Ishbak, and Shuah. TH e 1 Chron. 1. 32. blue; and Dr. Russel, in his account of menting another. But while these via Maronite marriage, observes that the cissitudes occur, let us remember that bride's veil was of the same color. the transition from the character of a Thus we see that Rebekah, by envelop- a dutiful son to that of a kind and affecing her person in a veil, put herself into tionate husband, is natural and easy, and the costume usual for a bride when con- that he that fills up one station in life ducted to the tent or house of her hus- with credit and honor, is thereby preband.'-Pict. Bible. pared for all those that follow. T CHAPTER XXV. 67. And he loved her. The force of Was comforted after his mother's death. this first expression of such an attachment Heb. 1x ahare immo, after his seems to have escaped notice. Isaac, mother; an elliptical mode of expression from all that appears, was the only one not unusual in the Hebrew. Gr. ɛpɩ of the patriarchs who had no opportuni- Zappas Tηя μптрos аνто”, concerning Saty of exhibiting a preference to his wife ruh his mother. The interval between before marriage. He had never seen her death and his marriage was three her till she stood unveiled in his tent as years, during the whole of which period his wife. It seemed, therefore, neces- he had cherished towards his deceased sary to add, that he loved her' when parent all those mournful and tender he did see her. It is remarkable, that regrets which would naturally spring what merely arose from circumstances up in the bosom of the most devoted in the case of Isaac, is now amply il- filial affection. lustrated by the established practices of the East. The women being completely secluded, and never seen without 1. Then again Abraham took a wife. veils, no opportunity of personal ac- Heb. p. yoseph vayikkah, added quaintance, or even of inspection before and took. In 1 Chron. 1. 32, Keturah is marriage, is afforded. The man sees called Abraham's concubine, and if such his wife for the first time unveiled when were the fact, it gives no little countehe enters the room into which she hasnance to the idea of Calvin and other been received on her arrival at his house. commentators, that she had been asHaving previously formed no idea of sumed into this relation before Sarah's her person and qualifications, but from death; for if she were married after that the general and exaggerated praises of event, we know not how to account for the old nurse, who is usually his agent, the fact of her being thus ranked as a this is a critical and anxious moment; concubine or secondary wife. If Sarah and it is a most happy circumstance for were dead, why did she not come fully both, when the account of such a trans-into her place as principal wife? The action can conclude with the emphatic silence of Moses about her pedigree fawords 'he loved her." Pict. Bible. vors this opinion. As it is wholly imThus the comfort of a wife was made probable that Abraham would make an to compensate for the loss of a mother. alliance with any family of the CanaanGod, in infinite wisdom, saw fit to set ites, and equally so that any princess of a day of prosperity over against a day Canaan would accept of him in his old of adversity. Now he wounds our age, when the whole inheritance was to spirits by dissolving one tender union, go to Sarah's son, we seem to be warand now binds up our wounds by ce-ranted in the belief that Keturah was |