The Pulpit Commentary — Genesis — Section 368

HO:'!IILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. \-er. 21.-Eliezer, or a W'lje--seel,:er. "And the man wondering at her held Iii~ peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his way prosperous or not." "The man " spoken of was probably the Eliezer of Damascus mentioned in eh. xv. 2. He had been s~lected by Abraham to be his heir, but of course when Isaac was born he could not hold that position. He became honoured and trusted as "the eldest servant of (Abraham's) house, who ruled o,er nll that he had" (eh. x.xiv. 2). To him was committed the delicate business recorded in this chapter; and the way in which it wns executed was just that which would be expected from one who bad so won the confidence of .Abraham as to be selected as heir. '\Ve cannot but admire the thought- fulness of .Abraham for bis son. He sought to prevent Isaac from being brought under the polluting influence of the Canaanitish people in the midst of whom he dwelt. He also desired to prevent Isaac from going back to the country from which he had Limself been Divinely led. Hence he sends his steward to select from among his kinured one who shall be a suitable life-companion for his son. He takes an oath of his steward that he will in no wise permit a wife to be taken from among the Canaanites, or lead Isaac to Mesopotamia again. The mission of Eliezer was indeed difficult and delicate. We must not think of it according to the customs of our land, In Oriental nations to this day it is the practice to employ a third person to negotinte a marriage behveen those who seem by report to be suitable for such relationship. Eliezer undertook the affair with every desire to gratify his master, and to serve well even the one who had supplanted him in heirship. We cannot too highly praise "the man" for his unselfishness, or too warmly admire the devoutness which charac- terised bis whole conduct. ' I. HE SEEKS BY PBAYEn SUCCESS FBOM Goo. The prayer recorded here wns pro- bably not the fil'l:lt offered with respect to the subject. His mission was not only delicate, but rather indefinite. He is sent to the relations of his master to choose from among them a wife for Isaac. He knows that much of the satisfaction of Abraham and welfare of Isaac will depend on hie right performance of the du_ty. He feels the responsibility resting upon him, and makes every nee~ful preparation for discharging it. He starts on the camels prepared, and carries with him presents Huitable. After a long journey he arrives at a city in Mesopotamia wher~ dwelt Nahor, bis master's brother. It is eventide when he reaches the well outside the city. The graceful daughters of tbE city, with pitcherij poised on their sl1oulders 1 nre just coming forth to draw water for their households. The camels turn their 101,g necks and weary eyes in the direction of thA approaching maiden8. They know tl.u~t 011 their arrival the dry troughs, which only tantalised thirst, will he filled. The Cll, XXIV. 10-28.] 'l'HE BOOK Ol.<' GE}.ESIS. 305