Gênesis 24
John Chrysostom · Comentário Patrístico (catena)
Gênesis 24:1
So let us listen to sacred Scripture's account to us: "Abraham was old, advanced in years. The Lord had blessed Abraham in every respect." Why did it mention this to us? Since he was about to give good care and attention to Isaac, to the point of bringing him a bride, accordingly it mentioned to us the patriarch's age. — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.7
Gênesis 24:2
You see, since he had reached extreme old age, the text says, he wished to preserve Isaac from association with the Canaanites, lest he take a wife from among them. So he summoned the more prudent of his servants, the text says, and gave him the following instructions: "Place your hand under my thigh." In Greek the verse is written this way: "under my thigh"; whereas in Hebrew it says "under my loins." Why did he speak in this fashion? It was an idiom of people in the past. But on other grounds it was also because the birth of Isaac takes its origin from there.For you to learn that the action was done according to a certain custom, notice that when he was ordering him to put his hand there, he immediately added, "and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth." See how he teaches the servant to recognize the Creator of all things. By saying, "the God of heaven and the God of earth," he encompassed all creation. — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.7-8
Gênesis 24:4
Do you note the patriarch's command given to the servant? I mean, don't pass idly by these words; instead, consider the good man's purpose, and study how in ancient times their concern was not to look for abundance of possessions, not for great wealth, slaves, so many acres of land, not charm of external beauty—rather, they looked for beauty of soul and nobility of manners.You see, since he saw the wickedness of the inhabitants of Canaan and realized how great a good it is to have a partner of similar manners, he directed his servant and put him under oath to procure a wife for Isaac from his relatives. Neither the distance between the places nor the other difficulties caused him to delay the task. Rather, in the realization of the necessity of the business, he showed all haste in dispatching the servant. For his part, the patriarch acted in this from concern for the soul's virtue and abhorrence of the wickedness of the [land's] inhabitants. — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.8-9
Gênesis 24:6
The patriarch, on the other hand, delivered an adequate direction to his servant and put him under oath. But let us now see the servant's sense of duty in imitating his master's godliness; when he saw the good man directing him with great earnestness, he said to him, "If the woman does not want to accompany me, do you want me to take your son back to the country you came from?" In case some problem arises, he is saying, and I seem to overstep your commands, I would consequently like to know what rules I should observe and whether it is your will that Isaac should go there, take his wife and then return here if she does not agree to accompany me, as you commanded? So what did the good man reply? He rejected this alternative, saying, "Be sure not to take my son back there." There is no need for you to do it, he says. The One who made the promise to me and guaranteed that his descendants would be increased to such an extent will also bring this to a happy end. — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.10
Gênesis 24:7
Notice how previously, in placing the servant under oath, he instructed him about the Creator of all. Now, as Abraham was about to pray, he used the same words, by every means teaching the servant to have confidence in him and, in this spirit, set out on the journey, as also to trust in its outcome. You see, Abraham teaches him how much favor from the God of all Abraham had enjoyed from the outset and the fact that this same benefactor, who had plucked him from his own country, had managed his fortunes so well to this point. At the height of old age, God had granted him the birth of Isaac and would personally also take care of what lay ahead. "The Lord, the God of heaven and earth, who took me from my father's house and from the land where I was born," the same who spoke to me in the words, "I will give this land to you and your descendants," who has demonstrated such extraordinary care for me, "he will personally send his angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there." — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.11
Gênesis 24:7
Have confidence, Abraham is saying, and depart. I am convinced that the One who has demonstrated such great kindness in my regard will add this to his former blessings and send his angel before you. He will personally prepare the way before you; he will also personally make the woman known to you; you will take her and return. But should it happen—perish the thought—that she refuses to accompany you, you will be discharged from the obligation of the oath. "Nevertheless don't take my son there." You see, I have no doubt that the Lord will take care of you. Showing how he trusted in God's power, Abraham forbade the servant to conduct Isaac there. Then, after he had given detailed instructions to the servant and relieved him of concern (the servant, after all, was afraid he would be convicted of perjury if he failed to discharge his command), "he placed his hand under his thigh," the text goes on, "and gave him his oath on this matter," that he would not take Isaac there. — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.12
Gênesis 24:10
Do you see how from the outset the servant showed his regard for his master? See him now showing the benefit of the patriarch's instruction by imitating the good man's godliness. "The servant took ten camels," the text relates, "and a selection of all his master's goods; he set out and traveled into Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor, where he rested the camels outside the city at the well toward evening when the women come out to draw water. He said, 'Lord, the God of my master Abraham.' " See the servant's dutifulness: he names the Lord of the world after the patriarch, saying, "Lord, the God of my master Abraham," who has given evidence of so many kindnesses to him. Why are you surprised if the servant calls him the God of Abraham in this way? The God of all shows how he sets great store by the virtue of good people and says, "I am the God of Jacob, the God of Isaac and the God of Abraham." — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.13
Gênesis 24:12
"Lord," he says, "the God of my master Abraham, be my guide today, and have compassion on my master Abraham," as if to say, "Bring his wishes to effect, and conduct everything according to his intention." "Have compassion on my master Abraham": what does "have compassion" mean? Fulfill his desire. Then he said, "Lo, I am standing at the spring, and the daughters of the inhabitants of the city are coming out to draw water. Whichever maiden to whom I say, 'Lower your water jar that I may drink,' and she says, 'Drink and I shall water your camels till they all stop drinking'—let her be the one you have prepared for your servant Isaac, and in this I shall know that you have had compassion on my master Abraham." Note the servant's sagacity. He was aware of the patriarch's hospitality and the fact that the maiden destined to be brought there should have similar qualities to those of the good man. So, far from looking for any other indication, he was anxious to distinguish the maiden's hospitality from her attitude. He said, "If, in response to my request to her for water, she lowers her water jar and not only heeds my request but also gives evidence of the generosity of her own attitude by saying, 'I will water your camels as well,' she will have given me sufficient demonstration of the mildness of her manners by the offer of water." — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.14
Gênesis 24:12
Consider, in fact, I ask you, dearly beloved, how important it was that a tender maiden while drawing water not only did not decline the request but also took down the water jar from her shoulders and gave the petitioner his fill, stranger though he was and quite unknown to her. She gave water not only to him but also to all the camels, thus betraying by her behavior indications of her nobility of soul. Did she not realize that many, men included, often decline such requests? Why do I refer to the gift of water? Sometimes, when people holding torches are asked by those approaching them to wait a while so as to allow a lamp to be lit, they refuse even to do this, despite the fire's suffering no diminution even should those intending to light their torch be beyond count. In this case, on the contrary, a woman, a maiden, carrying a water jar on her shoulders, not only did not object to the request but even was more generous than the request in supplying the drink, hurrying of her own volition to water the camels as well. — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.15
Gênesis 24:20
The loving God, you see, granted the patriarch's prayers, sent his angel on ahead and saw to the outcome of all these events; everything turned out as the servant requested. Then when he saw the power of the patriarch's prayers in the event and chanced upon the maiden as he desired, he also saw her surpassing hospitality. "She hastened" the text goes on, remember, "to empty the water jar into the trough, and ran to draw more at the well, and watered all the camels." See her heightened enthusiasm. The verse "She hastened to empty the water jar into the trough and ran to the well" shows the maiden's indescribable enthusiasm in neither snubbing him as a stranger nor declining his request on the pretext of prudence but rather saying with great restraint, "Drink, sir." I ask you to consider how very proper, despite her tender years, was her modesty, her surpassing humility and the extremity of her hospitality. What riches, at any rate, do these qualities not far surpass? Are there treasures you would value more highly than these qualities? This is the greatest gift; this constitutes countless blessings, a treasure never expended. — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.16
Gênesis 24:21
The dutiful servant therefore now saw God's providence distinctly. "He kept observing her closely," the text goes on, "and remained silent so as to know if the Lord had made his journey successful or not." What is the meaning of "kept observing her closely"? He kept studying the maiden's very words, her gaze, her walk, her appearance, everything else about her, and waited to see "if the Lord had successfully conducted his journey or not." You see, what had happened so far, the text is saying, showed the maiden's great virtue that exceeded ordinary limits. Hence, to reward her for her response and the offer of water, the text goes on, he pressed upon her "golden earrings and two bracelets." He carefully made enquiries about her, asking, "Whose daughter are you?" and "Is there room in your father's house for us to rest?" — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.17
Gênesis 24:25
Consider here too the maiden's response. As with the water, she not only provided what was asked but also watered the camels after giving him something to drink, so here too, when the servant inquired if there was merely room and whose daughter she was, the maiden replied, "I am daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor himself." She mentioned her father and grandfather so that this knowledge would further arouse the servant's interest. Observe the child's candor: asked about her father, she not only tells the truth about him but also about her father's father. And to the inquiry as to whether there was simply a place to rest she replied, "not only a place" but "also much straw and feed at our place." On hearing this, the servant was amazed at the girl for her lavish hospitality and learned as well that he had come not to some strangers but to the house of Nahor, who was the patriarch's brother; so, the text tells us, "the man bowed low in gratitude to the Lord." Overjoyed at what he had learned, at the words spoken by the girl, "he bowed low to the Lord," offering thanks to the Lord for giving evidence of such favor to the patriarch and care for him and for bringing all his endeavors to a successful conclusion with ease. He said, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld his steadfast goodness from my master." — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.18
Gênesis 24:28
When he saw the child's candor and learned everything from her clearly, then he in turn made known to her who he was. Through his thanksgiving to God, he made clear to her the fact that he had not come from some alien house but that the man who had sent him was brother to Nahor. On learning this "the girl ran off," the text says, with great joy. See how in everything done by her she shows her enthusiasm for hospitality—by running, by her words, by her restraint. Note that the text says, "She ran and reported these words in her mother's house." She made known to her parents everything she had heard from the servant. "Laban ran to the one outside at the spring," the text continues. Notice also this man showing his interest by running; seeing the person standing at the spring with the camels, "he said to him, 'Come inside—blessed by the Lord—why stay outside? I have made ready the house and a place for the camels.' " Observe this man also blessing the Lord at the arrival of the stranger and making earnest supplication before putting hospitality into practice. "Come inside," he says; "I have taken the precaution of 'making ready the house and a place for the camels.' " — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.19
Gênesis 24:33
Consider … in this instance, I ask you, the servant's great prudence. What in fact did he say? "I will not eat until I have said my piece.""Whereas you have made a show of your resources," he says, "I, for my part, will not attach any importance to resting until I inform you of the reason why I was sent on this mission, why I arrived here from Canaan, and how I was guided to your house. Thus, by learning everything, you will give evidence of your own good dispositions toward my master." — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.20
Gênesis 24:34-36
See how the servant narrates everything to them with precision: "I am servant of that man Abraham," he says, "whom you know; so, learn that he enjoyed such blessing from the Lord of all as to arrive at great wealth." Then, to teach them the abundance of his wealth, he said, "Sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, camels and asses" came his way. Take heed, you people of wealth, you who acquire such and such acres of land day in and day out, building baths and walkways and splendid buildings—see in what lay the good man's riches: no property, no buildings, no empty display of luxury, but rather sheep and cattle, camels and asses, servants male and female. The text added in another place that they were all born in the household, so that you could learn how Abraham gained so many servants. "So this master of mine came into such great wealth and enjoyed great favor from on high; when he had reached old age Sarah bore him a son, and, having this only child, he has already made him heir of everything. He has given him everything he owned." — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.21
Gênesis 24:48
"Seeing now God's providence so manifestly in action, I asked whose daughter she was. Learning from what she said that she belonged not to alien people but to the household of Nahor, my master's brother, I was bold enough to 'put earrings and bracelets on her. In my satisfaction I prayed to the Lord and praised the God of my master Abraham for bringing my journey to a successful conclusion so as to take the daughter of my master's brother.' God's hand in this has been so manifestly active; as you can see, the prayers offered by my master have been granted. Now you, for your part, if you are to give evidence of your dispositions, 'show steadfast kindness toward my master; if not, let me know it.'3 Tell me the truth now, I ask you, so that I may be in a position to know what I must do. But if the answer is no, tell me so that I may travel in another direction, 'going left or right.' " — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.24
Gênesis 24:50
Then, since God was conducting everything in the wake of the patriarch's prayers, the maiden's father and brother said to him, "This thing has come from the Lord; we cannot deny you, for good or ill." Your account shows the whole thing has happened by God's arrangement. So don't think we oppose the decisions of God; after all, it is beyond our powers to do it. Here, the maid is in your hands; "take her, and be on your way, and she will be wife to your master's son, as the Lord has said." — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.25
Gênesis 24:52
Do you see how much care they took in ancient times to obtain wives for their sons? How they looked for nobility ahead of money? None of the agreements, none of the contracts or the other ridiculous things that happen these days, nor those terms committed to writing: If someone dies childless, one says, if this or that happens. Instead, among people of those times things were not like this. Rather, the maid's behavior alone was the most secure contract—no pomp and circumstance. You will realize this when you see the maid led to her nuptials. "Hearing this from the father and the brother … the servant prostrated himself in worship to God." Note how in everything that happened he gave thanks to the Lord of all. You see, it was God who prepared everything in advance and in response to the patriarch's prayer sent his angel ahead of him—he it was who conducted the whole business for him. — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.26
Gênesis 24:53
Learning now that he had the desired end in view, "he brought out presents of silver and gold and clothing and gave them to Rebekah." Then he waited on her with confidence, as though she were already betrothed in word to Isaac. He presented her brother and mother with gifts, and, when he saw the matter had worked out in accord with his master's command, only then was his own refreshment seen to. "They ate and drank," the text says, remember, "he and the men who were with him, and he slept there the night. Rising the next morning he said, 'Allow me to go that I may return to my master.' " Since everything has worked out well in this way from my point of view, he is saying, and, instead of anything being now left undone, since it also appeared satisfactory to you, "allow me to go that I may return to my master." — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.27
Gênesis 24:53
Why do you hesitate and delay, he is saying, if God makes everything so easy for me?… Observe how even these men in their ignorance suggest to the maid what is going to happen, with God directing their minds to it. You see, they foretell to her both facts, that she would become countless thousands and that her offspring would take possession of the cities of their enemies. Do you see God's providence emerging clearly in every situation, and how the Lord of all arranges for the future to be foretold even by nonbelievers? — HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.28