79 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And now, if you deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me,.... The servant directs himself to more than one, to the whole family, especially to Laban and Bethuel; if you will do my master a kindness, and grant him the favour he requests, that a damsel of this family may be given for a wife to his son; and, if you are hearty and sincere in...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Then Laban and Bethuel answered,.... The order of the words in the original is, "then answered Laban and Bethuel"; the word for "answered" is in the singular number, from whence it may be concluded, that Laban gave the answer in the name of Bethuel, he consenting to it, who might be an old man, and left the management of his family affairs to his...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Behold, Rebekah [is] before thee,.... Not only was present, but she was delivered to him, or his request was granted: take [her], and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife; not that they meant he should go away directly with her; for they afterwards solicit her stay with them some time; but they agreed that he should bare her and conduct her...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And it came to pass, that when Abraham's servant heard these words,.... That Laban and Bethuel said; and no doubt but the mother of Rebekah, and she herself consented that she should be the wife of Isaac, believing it was agreeable to the will of God: he worshipped the Lord, [bowing himself] to the earth; in the most humble manner he prostrated...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold,.... Ornaments for women, which he had brought along with him for presents, and which were a proof of the riches of his master, and of his generosity and liberality, who had furnished him with such a profusion of rich things to bestow on the person that should be got for his son's...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And they did eat and drink, he, and the men that [were] with him,.... Every thing being settled with respect to the affair he came about, he then sat down at table, and ate of the provisions set before him; he and the men that came along with him; and refreshed themselves: and tarried all night; lodged there all night; and they rose up in the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And her brother and her mother said,.... Here her brother Laban is set before his mother, as above before his father, being the chief speaker and the principal manager of business: let the damsel abide with us [a few] days, at the least ten; which was but a reasonable request; and if no more time is intended, it is much the servant should object,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And he said unto them, hinder me not,.... Do not detain me, let me set forward on my journey: seeing, the Lord hath prospered my way; succeeded him in what he came about; and by his being succeeded so well, and so soon, it seemed to be the mind of the Lord that he should hasten his journey homeward: send me away, that I may go to my master; and...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And they said, we will call the damsel,.... Who perhaps through modesty had withdrawn herself to her own apartment, while the man and her friends were discoursing on this subject: and inquire at her mouth; what she says to it, whether willing to go directly or not; the matter in question was referred to her, and left to her decision.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And they called Rebekah,.... Or ordered her to be called by one of the servants: and said unto her, wilt thou go with this man? that is, directly; the question was not about her marriage of Isaac, that was agreed upon, and she had doubtless given her consent, and which she tacitly did by accepting of the presents, but about taking the journey...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And they sent away Rebekah their sister,.... Not in a pet or angry humour, but with good will; they agreed she should go, and took their leave in a very honourable and affectionate manner. This is to be understood of her brother Laban, and of other brethren and sisters she might have; though by the connection of the words with the preceding, they...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And they blessed Rebekah,.... That is, her parents and her friends, they wished the best and choicest of blessings might descend upon her: and said unto her, thou [art] our sister; the Targum of Jonathan is, "hitherto thou hast been our sister,'' as if the relation now ceased, having entered into another; and especially as she was going away from...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Rebekah arose, and her damsels,.... Her maids that were given her by her parents to wait upon her, as was usual in those times and countries: and they rode upon the camels; that Abraham's servant had brought with him: and followed the man; who rode before and directed the way; the sense is only, that she went along with him: and the servant...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi,.... The well at which the angel met with Hagar, when she fled from her mistress, Genesis 16:7. The Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem say, that Isaac came from the school of Shem the great: for he dwelt in the south country: at Beersheba, to which Abraham, it seems, was returned again; for that they...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide,.... Both the time and place were very proper for meditation: the place, "in the field": where he might view the works of nature, and be led to the Creator of them, and the praise of him, and where he might be alone, and nothing to disturb his thoughts: and the time, "at evening"; after the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Rebekah lifted up her eyes,.... And looked about: and when she saw Isaac; whom she suspected him to be, and therefore inquired of the servant, who told her who he was: she lighted off the camel; or "fell" (w) from it, not accidentally, or through surprise, but willingly, and in honour to Isaac, as was customary; for had she sat on her camel...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
For she [had] said unto the servant,.... As soon as she saw a man walking towards them, who she thought with herself might be Isaac: what man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? for by the course he steered, she perceived that he was coming towards them, and so concluded it must be one of the family, and probably the person she was to be...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. By what means he found out the person designed for his wife, and got knowledge of her father's house, to which he was introduced, and where he was made welcome; and what agreement he had made with the parents and relations of Rebekah to be his wife, whom he had brought with him.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent,.... The apartment in which she dwelt when living; for women in those times and places had separate apartments from their husbands; this was done after many other things had passed, not here recorded; a conversation with her, an espousal of her, and an introduction of her to Abraham, with whose...