[Editor’s Note: Commentaries to the Guide off Moses and you may Genesis Sections step one – 10 tends to be on the ScripturePlus Software out of Guide regarding Mormon Main as well as on brand new Bible Central website right here.]
Genesis twenty-four. A spouse for Isaac
Even though students assign Genesis 22, 23, and you can 24 to 3 other supply, many of these sections display similar layouts regarding the continuity of covenant posterity. In chapters twenty two and you may 23, Abraham experienced Isaac’s close demise and you may Sarah’s real dying, whilst in part 24 he had been assured that brand new years carry out succeed Isaac. “Provided Isaac are single, the newest divine hope from posterity remains unfulfilled.” To demonstrate united states that it, section twenty-four recounts the wedding out-of Isaac.
Having said that, the complete regarding section twenty-four seems outsized when we consider exactly how partners passages it can took to express merely one Isaac are betrothed and you may married so you can a great divinely chose relative, brand new grandd’s sibling Nahor. You want to inquire our selves why the details in the tale has actually started preserved that have such as worry.
You to noticeable cause for the length is that the section offers understated ideas of one’s self-centered and you will conniving nature out-of Rebekah’s brother Laban, whoever tough reputation are far more clearly shown as a consequence of his later on transactions with Jacob’s marriages so you’re able to their girl, Leah and you may Rachel (Genesis 29–31).
But here indeed must be an even more important aim of the newest facts than forewarning your reader in the Laban. BYU professor Dennis J. Packard advised this option of the most important what you should browse to have on chapter “is where a beneficial steward acts.”
The newest Queen James Sort of Genesis 15:2 informs us one Eliezer out of Damascus are the brand new “steward regarding [Abraham’s] domestic.” Yet not, through the Genesis 24 the name of one’s steward which serves into the Abraham’s part to find a wife to possess Isaac, most likely Eliezar, “has never been referred to by-name. Why? Maybe he’s said to be appreciated not as a certain personal, however, because a steward, or higher, since the a good example for everybody stewards.”
The new Hebrew words included in Genesis fifteen:2 translated as the “steward,” ben meshek beiti, is exclusive for the scripture, thus their right definition is undecided. Yet not, most old and you may progressive students have chosen to take it to indicate that Eliezer was in a top standing regarding trust to possess everything that Abraham had. And, observing the fresh context of this terms inside verse 2, specific possess suggested that “Abraham got adopted Eliezer [while the his heir], towards the presumption, needless to say, he will have zero college students off his or her own.” If real, this should make Eliezer’s alternatives since one to in charge to prefer a girlfriend to own Isaac two times as poignant. Inside experience, the fresh winning betrothal regarding Isaac do make certain Isaac’s seed do inherit just what Eliezer’s youngsters might have inherited had Isaac remained unmarried.
The latest part features this new significant character of your oath you to Abraham created using his steward to ensure the popularity of his travel to get a spouse getting Isaac. Regarding negotiations that have Rebekah’s members of the family, the brand new steward depicted Abraham himself really real sense. The fresh new guarantees God-made in order to Abraham on the his seed products was in fact literally entrusted towards the give from Abraham’s steward.
The seriousness of the newest oath one to Abraham made out of their steward is an excellent exemplory instance of the sort regarding covenants on ancient globe. Latter-go out Saints can apply the fresh new old comprehension of covenants directly to the fresh covenants they generate with Jesus. However,, Bible college student Scott Hahn accurately sees one to to carry out so,
Old testament CommentaryGenesis twenty-four: A partner to own Isaac
we need to circulate past particular progressive presumptions and you can retrieve this new feeling of covenant since it is actually stayed in biblical countries-and not from the Hebrew and you will Christian religious countries, plus from the Gentile and you will pagan societies of your old globe. To possess covenant are the foundation of these societies. They provided private persons the sense hookupdate MobilnГ strГЎnka of kinship, the sense of dating, their sense of belonging-in order to a household, a group, and you will a nation. The fresh new covenant oath are the origin out-of family relations, federal, and spiritual existence.
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