This is a long tale, told twice. Abraham has decided that he needs to be proactive in ensuring that there will be future generations, as Isaac has been a bit slow in getting on with things. He entrusts his [unnamed] servant to journey to Abraham’s own people to find the right wife for Isaac. In doing so he puts faith in the servant, but also that God will guide the venture. At the well, we see the wisdom and faithfulness of the servant. He waits at the right place, he offers prayers for guidance and he sets a test that will observe the young woman’s hospitality, and ability to work hard. Offering water to a train of camels is (apparently) no easy matter! In doing so, he discovers Rebekah, not only is she from the right family and is wise enough to allow the correct protocols to be followed, but she is ready for a new adventure. 

Walter Brueggemann says of this encounter that it is a story of faith set “between the old place abandoned and the new place not yet received.”

1-9 Preparation & Instruction.

Exogamous marriage – unions between different tribes or clans. Will often involve treaties and the exchange of daughters in marriage to strengthen the ties between the two groups and foster cultural exchange. Often used by groups enjoying a strong sense of identity, not threatened by diversity of change.

Endogamous marriage – unions between people of the same tribe or clan. Groups that practice  this form of marriage determine the degree of blood relationship. True siblings rarely marry, Marriages between cousins however are quite common. These marriages ensure the purity of the male bloodline. (Dianne Bergant)

11-27 Servant & Rebekah

The servant trusts God. We have no direct intervention by God, but the servant (and Abraham) trust that God will reveal the right woman to be Isaac’s wife.

Rebekah’s qualities – fair to look upon, a virgin (her dress would show she is unmarried), hardworking, generous, hospitable, and finally – from the right family.

Isaac’s qualities – a gold nose-ring, two gold bracelets.

v 27 & 48  nahah – led. Only occurrence in Genesis. It will return in Exodus and in the Psalms. cf Ps 23 He leads me beside still waters/he restores my soul/He leads me in path of righteousness/for his names sake. 

28-61 Servant and Rebekah’s kin.

running to her mother’s household

Hospitality, Introductions, story repeated for Laban 

– bounded by blessing (v 31,35 & 48,50)

– Laban shares trust in Yahweh (unless you are cynical in which case he puts his trust in the gold and says the right things to make a deal) 

– Even if Laban’s motifs are not pure – God is at work here. v44 “let her be the one whom the Lord has appointed.”

– v50 “The thing comes from the Lord … let her be the wife of your master’s son.”

v 58 “Will you go with this Man” She said, “I will” Rebekah seems to have a degree of choice, her servants on the other hand do not.

62-67 Servant introduces Isaac as my master – has Abraham died?

Rebekah – ground level & veiled. 

Sarah’s tent? Is she still alive, or is tent prepared for new matriarch?

He loved her …  ahem – “covenantal connotations implying an enduring legal commitment”.

“The faith offered her is for those who are willing to be led. The mandate of Abraham (v7) looks back to 12:1, and sets faith precisely where it must be lived, between the old place abandoned and the new place not yet received. In retrospect, such persons are able to confess God’s incredible and prompt attentiveness. (v15: cf Isa 65:24) (Bruggemann)