Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/169

Rh will deal kindly and truly with my master, well and good; if you will be sincerely kind, you will accept the proposal, and I have what I come for; if not, do not hold me in suspense." Note, Those who deal fairly, have reason to expect fair dealing.

(5.) They freely and cheerfully close with the proposal, upon a very good principle, v. 50, "The thing proceedeth from the Lord. Providence smiles upon it, and we have nothing to say against it." They do not object distance of place; Abraham's forsaking them; his having no land in possession, but personal estate only: they do not question the truth of what this man said; but, [1.] They trust much to his integrity. It were well, if honesty did so universally prevail among men, that it might be as much an act of prudence, as it is of good nature, to take a man's word. [2.] They trust more to God's providence, and therefore by silence give consent, because it appears to be directed and disposed by infinite wisdom. Note, A marriage is likely then to be comfortable, when it appears to proceed from the Lord.

(6.) Abraham's servant makes a thankful acknowledgment of the good success he had met with, [1.] To God, v. 52, he worshipped the Lord. Observe, First, As his good success went on, he went on to bless God. Those that pray without ceasing, should in every thing give thanks, and own God in every step of mercy. Secondly, God sent his angel before him, and so gave him success, v. 7, 40. But when he has the desired success, he worships God, not the angel. Whatever benefit we have by the ministration of angels, all the glory must be given to the Lord of the angels, Rev. 22. 9. [2.] He pays his respects to the family also, and particularly to the bride, v. 53. He presented her, and her mother, and brother, with many precious things: both to give a real proof of his master's riches and generosity, and in gratitude for their civility to him, and further to ingratiate himself with them.

51. 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 mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least, ten; 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 said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. 59. And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. 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. 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.

Rebekah is here taking leave of her father's house.

I. Abraham's servant presses for a dismission; though he and his company were very welcome, and very cheerful there, yet he said, send me away, v. 54, and again, v. 56. He knew his master would expect him home with some impatience; he had business to do at home, which wanted him, and therefore, as one that preferred his work before his pleasure, he was for hastening home. Note, Lingering and loitering no way become a wise and good man; when we have despatched our business abroad, we must not delay our return to our business at home, nor be longer from it than needs must: for as the bird that wanders from his nest, so is he that wonderswanders [sic] from his place, Prov. 27. 8.

II. Rebekah's relations, from natural affection, and according to the usual expression of kindness in that case, solicit for her stay some time among them, v. 55. They could not think of parting with her, on a sudden, especially as she was about to remove so far off, and it was not likely that they would ever see one another again; Let her stay a few days, at least, ten, which makes it as reasonable a request, as the reading in the margin seems to make it unreasonable, a year, or, at least ten months. They had consented to the marriage, and yet were loath to part with her. Note, It is an instance of the vanity of this world, that there is nothing in it so agreeable, but it has its allay, Nulla est sincera voluptas — There is no unmingled pleasure. They here were pleased that they had matched a daughter of their family so well; and yet, when it came to the last, it was with great reluctance that they sent her away.

III. Rebekah herself determined the matter; to her they appealed, as it was fit they should, v. 57, Call the damsel, (who was retired to her apartment with a modest silence,) and inquire at her mouth. Note, As children ought not to marry without their parents' consent, so parents ought not to marry them without their own. Before the matter is resolved on, "Ask at the damsel's mouth;" she is a party principally concerned, and therefore ought to be principally consulted. Rebekah consented, not only to go, but to go immediately, v. 58, I will go. We may hope that the notice she had taken of the servants'servant's [sic] piety and devotion, gave her such an idea of the prevalence of religion and godliness in the family she was to go to, as made her desirous to hasten thither, and willing to forget her own people and her father's house, where religion had not so much the ascendant.

IV. Hereupon, she is sent away with Abraham's servant; not, we may suppose, the very next day after, but very quickly: her friends see that she puts a good heart on it, and so they dismiss her, 1. With suitable attendants; her nurse, v. 59, her damsels, v. 61. It seems then, that when she went to the well for water, it was not because she had not servants at command, but because she took a pleasure in exemplifying humility and industry. Now that she was going among strangers, it was fit to take those with her whom she was acquainted with. Here is nothing said of her portion; her personal merits were a portion in her; she needed none with her, nor did that ever come into the treaty of marriage. 2. With hearty good wishes; (v. 60.) they blessed Rebekah. Note, When our relations are entering into a new condition, we ought by prayer to recommend them to the blessing and grace of God. Now that she was going to be a wife, they prayed that she might be a mother both of a numerous and of a victorious progeny. Perhaps Abraham's servant had told them of the promise God had lately made his master, which, it is likely, Abraham acquainted his household with, that God would multiply his seed as the stars of heaven, and that they should possess the gate of their enemies,