[Editor’s Note: Commentaries for the Guide from Moses and https://datingmentor.org/tr/indiancupid-inceleme/ you will Genesis Chapters step one – ten tends to be found on the ScripturePlus App out of Guide out of Mormon Main and on brand new Bible Central web site here.]
Genesis twenty four. A girlfriend to possess Isaac
Even though students assign Genesis twenty-two, 23, and you may twenty-four to 3 various other offer, each one of these chapters express equivalent themes concerning the continuity from covenant posterity. In sections twenty-two and you may 23, Abraham experienced Isaac’s close death and Sarah’s real death, whilst in chapter twenty four he had been in hopes you to the fresh years carry out allow it to be Isaac. “Provided Isaac are solitary, the fresh divine hope of posterity remains unfulfilled.” To display all of us it, chapter 24 recounts the marriage from Isaac.
Having said that, the complete off chapter twenty-four looks outsized as soon as we believe just how few passages it could took to express simply you to definitely Isaac try betrothed and partnered so you can a beneficial divinely chose relative, the new grandd’s sibling Nahor. You want to inquire our selves why the information of the story possess come maintained with like care.
That noticeable reason for the distance is that the section gets subdued ideas of your self-centered and you will conniving characteristics out of Rebekah’s aunt Laban, whose hard profile are certainly more clearly found owing to their later on negotiations with Jacob’s marriage ceremonies to help you their girl, Leah and you will Rachel (Genesis 30–31).
But here yes need to be a very essential intent behind this new facts than forewarning your reader from the Laban. BYU teacher Dennis J. Packard recommended that one of the biggest things to lookup to own from the part “is when a great steward serves.”
The King James Sort of Genesis fifteen:2 tells us that Eliezer of Damascus are the “steward of [Abraham’s] family.” But not, while in the Genesis 24 the name of one’s steward who serves on the Abraham’s behalf to find a spouse having Isaac, probably Eliezar, “is not labeled by name. As to the reasons? Perhaps he’s allowed to be remembered significantly less a particular private, but given that good steward, or more, given that an illustration for everybody stewards.”
The new Hebrew phrase included in Genesis fifteen:2 translated while the “steward,” ben meshek beiti, is different into the scripture, thus the precise definition try unclear. Yet not, really ancient and you will modern students took they so you can imply that Eliezer was in a premier updates of faith getting exactly what Abraham owned. And you may, observing the brand new framework regarding the statement for the verse 2, certain enjoys recommended you to definitely “Abraham had then followed Eliezer [because their heir], into the assumption, definitely, that he might have zero pupils out-of his personal.” When the real, this should make Eliezer’s alternatives since the one in charge so you can favor a wife to possess Isaac doubly poignant. Contained in this experience, brand new winning betrothal regarding Isaac do make sure that Isaac’s vegetables perform inherit exactly what Eliezer’s college students will have passed down had Isaac remained single.
The part highlights the newest really serious nature of your own oath you to definitely Abraham created using their steward to ensure the success of their trip to find a spouse to own Isaac. Regarding the transactions having Rebekah’s loved ones, the latest steward depicted Abraham himself in an exceedingly real feel. The new promises God made to Abraham on the their seed were practically trusted for the hand regarding Abraham’s steward.
The severity of this new oath you to definitely Abraham made with their steward is a good exemplory instance of the type from covenants throughout the ancient industry. Latter-big date New orleans saints can put on the newest old comprehension of covenants directly to the latest covenants they generate with God. However,, Bible pupil Scott Hahn accurately notices you to definitely to carry out therefore,
Old testament CommentaryGenesis 24: A wife to possess Isaac
we must flow beyond certain progressive assumptions and you can retrieve the sense of covenant as it try lived in biblical cultures-and not only about Hebrew and Christian religious societies, also regarding Gentile and you will pagan societies of old globe. To own covenant is actually the origin of these communities. They offered private individuals its sense of kinship, its feeling of relationship, the feeling of that belong-so you’re able to children, a tribe, and you may a nation. The covenant oath is actually the origin out of relatives, national, and religious lifestyle.