EXPOSITION. Ver. 61.-And Rebekah arose (expressive on the Negeb (vide cl1. xii. 9). Abmhum of the promptitude, celerity, and decision of may by this time have removed from Hebl'on ; her departure), and her de.msels,-probnbly., or, If Hebron bo included iu the south e. company, at least two, though Laban after- country, Isaac may have Leen only on a wards only gave each of his daughters one visit to Hngar's well (Lange). (eh. xxix. 24, 29)-and they rode upon Ver. 03.-And Iaae.c went out to meditate camels (most likely those which Abraham's servant had Lrought), and :followed the man -ti~bi~; to think (LXX., Vulgate, Murphy, (not in fear, lrnt in hope): and the servant Kalisch) ; to pray (Onkelos, So.mnl'iton, took (in the sense of undertook the charge Kimchi, Luther, Keil) ; to lament (KnoLel, of) Rebekah (who, in his eyes, would m w Lange) ; doubtless to do oil three, to com- l,c invested with additional charms, as his mune with his heart nml before God ; not, young master's intended b11.de), and went however, nbont ngricultnral affairs, or tho his way-returning by the ro1d he came. improYement of his propel'ty (Knobel), but Yu·. G2.-And (when th3 bridal train was conccming his decensed mother, whom )10 nc,,rini'. home) Isaac ea.me from the way of still moumed (ver. G7), though chiefly, it is the well Lahai-roi ;-llagar's well (eh. xvi. probable, nncnt the mnrriago he conlemplo.ted 7, 14)-for he dwelt in the south country- (Keil) -in the field at tho eventide. Liter- .n. :i::m. ti1--6i. J 'I'ltE MOK Ol UENESIS.
.,,111,, ae eke turning 1/ the evening (cf. Dcut. not always use the veil when travelling xx1ii. 12; and for con·cspondinf phrase, appears from the case of Sarah (eh. xx. 16): "when the morning dmws on," Exod. xiv. but that brides did not discover their faceM 27; Judges xiX'. 26; Ps. xlvi. 6). And he to their intended husbands until e.fter mar- lifted np his eyes, end saw, and, behold, the riage may oc inferred from the C.'\.qe of Leah oamels were coming. The bride's first (eh. xxix. 23, 25). Thus modestly attired, glimpse of her iutcnded spouse being, with she meekly yields herself to one whom she artless simplicity though with dramatic had never before seen, in the confident per- picturesqueness, described in similar terms. suasion that so J chovab. willed. Ver. 64.-And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, Ver. 67,-And Isaac-receiving an account and when she sa.w (literally, and she saw, (vcr. 66) from his father's faithful ambassador though as yet she did not know that it was) of all things that he hnd done-brought her Isaac, she lighted-literally, fell; the word into his mother Sarah's tent (which must signifying a. hasty descent (cf. 1 Sam. xxv. have been removed from Hebron as 11. precious 23; 2 Kings v. 21); ,camr;,Jq17Ev (LXX.) ; relic of the family, if by this time they had descendu (Vulgate)-o1£ the camel. "The changed their abode), and took Rebekah, behaviour of Rebekah was such as modem and ehe became his wife - the primitive etiquette requires" (vide Thomson, 'Land marriage ceremony consisting solely of a. and Book,' p. 593). taking before witnesses (vide Ruth iv. 13). Ver. 65.-For she had ea.id (literally, and And he loved her. And he had every reason ; she saul; not before, but after alighting) unto for, besides being beautiful and kindly and the servant (of Abraham), What man is this pious, she had for his sake performed a that walketh in the 11.eld to meet ns!-Isaac heroic act of self-sacrifice, and, better still, having obviously hastened forward to give a had been both selected for and bcstowCLl welcome to his bride. On learning who it upon him by his own and his father's Got!. was she took a veil-" the cloak-like veil of And Isaac was comforted after his mother's Arabia" (Keil), which covers not merely the death. Literally, after his mother; the face, but, "like n kind of large wrapper, word death not being in the original, "as nearly the whole form, renderina it impos- if the Holy S_pirit would not conclude thi;i sible to recognise the person" (Kalisch)-and beautiful and Joyful narrative with n note of covered herself. That married ladies did sorrow" (Wordsworth).
HOMILETICS. Vers. 61-67.-.A bride for the heir.-4. Rebekalt and Isaac, or the wedding of tlte bride. I. THE PENSIVE DRIDEGROOM. 1. Mourning for his mother. Isnac•~ meditatio~ clenrly includes this. Good mothers, w~en they die, should be deeply nnd affectionately sorrowed for by grateful nnd lovmg sons. A son who loves hi~ mother living forgets not to lament her dead. The best testimonial of filial piety is to know thnt e. son tenderly regards hie mother while she lives, nnd cherishes her memory when she is gone. 2. MU8ing on liis bride. This too the langunge will ndmit. Sc11rcely could the thought of Eliezer'e mission be excluded from Isaac's mind. Doubtless he would often, during the interval of hie ubeence, have his silent wonder- ings about its return with the God-provided spouse. Almost certninly too his pra.yern would nscend to heaven on her behalf. He who asks a wife from God is most likely to receive one, and he who frequently pro.ye for the wife of his youth is most likely to love her when she comes. Note that Isanc's moarnings and musings ware in tll':, field at eventide. While any place and time will suffice for heart exercises, some plnees nnd times are more suitable than others, and none more so than the solitud~ of nature and the darkening of eve. II. THE VEILED DRIDE. Springing from her camel at the sight of her intended husband, "she took n veil and covered herself." The actions indieated-1. Re- bekali's politeness. Etiquette required both. It was satisfactory nt least that Isaac was nbuut to receive as his wife a lady, one ncquainted with the gentle urnrmers of the day. Refinement, while desirable in nil, is specially beautiful in woman. Elegance of manners are only second to beauty of fonn in a bride. 2. Rebekaks modesty. Nothing can palliate immodesty in any, least of all in the gentler sex. Hence, not only should maidens be educated with the greatest possible nttention to the cultivation of pure and delicate emotions, but nothing sho1tld ever tempt them to cast aside that shield of maidenly reserve which is one of their surest protection~. in the midit of life's dangers and seductions. Ill. THE rr.rnrrI\'E WEDDING, 1. The giving of tlie bride. Tl1is we can suppo~ 3i:l THE BOOK OF Gl<:NESIS. (cl!. x:::11·. Gl--61.