[Editor’s Mention: Commentaries into Publication from Moses and you may Genesis Sections step 1 – 10 is generally found on the ScripturePlus App from Guide off Mormon Main and on the brand new Bible Main website right here.]
Genesis twenty-four. A partner getting Isaac
Even though scholars assign Genesis twenty-two, 23, and you can twenty four to 3 some other supplies https://datingmentor.org/nl/interracialpeoplemeet-overzicht/, each one of these chapters show comparable themes relating to the continuity out-of covenant posterity. When you look at the chapters twenty-two and 23, Abraham faced Isaac’s near death and you can Sarah’s real passing, during section twenty-four he was assured one to the new years perform allow it to be Isaac. “So long as Isaac is actually solitary, new divine vow out-of posterity remains unfulfilled.” To exhibit united states it, section twenty-four recounts the marriage out-of Isaac.
However, the whole from part twenty-four appears outsized as soon as we think how pair passages it might have chosen to take to express only that Isaac is actually betrothed and you may hitched so you can a divinely chosen cousin, new grandd’s sister Nahor. You want to ask our selves as to the reasons the information associated with facts possess started preserved which have such care.
That noticeable reason for the length is that the section brings understated hints of your self-centered and you will conniving nature regarding Rebekah’s sibling Laban, whoever difficult profile tend to be more explicitly found through his later transactions that have Jacob’s marriages to their girl, Leah and Rachel (Genesis 29–31).
But there certainly have to be a very important intent behind the tale than forewarning the reader in the Laban. BYU teacher Dennis J. Packard recommended this 1 of the biggest what to browse for regarding chapter “is when an excellent steward serves.”
The newest Queen James Brand of Genesis fifteen:2 confides in us one Eliezer from Damascus is the brand new “steward regarding [Abraham’s] domestic.” But not, throughout Genesis twenty-four the name of the steward whom acts to the Abraham’s account in finding a wife for Isaac, probably Eliezar, “is never referred to by-name. As to the reasons? Maybe he’s allowed to be recalled significantly less a particular private, however, due to the fact a good steward, or more, once the an illustration for everyone stewards.”
The Hebrew terms used in Genesis fifteen:dos translated just like the “steward,” ben meshek beiti, is unique in the scripture, so their particular meaning was unclear. However, extremely old and you can progressive students have chosen to take they so you can imply that Eliezer was in a top position regarding trust to own everything that Abraham possessed. And you can, observing new context associated with keywords into the verse 2, certain has advised you to definitely “Abraham had implemented Eliezer [just like the his heir], on presumption, however, which he might have no youngsters regarding his personal.” In the event the true, this would are making Eliezer’s possibilities once the one to in control so you’re able to favor a spouse getting Isaac two times as poignant. In this skills, the newest effective betrothal regarding Isaac would guarantee that Isaac’s seed products create inherit just what Eliezer’s pupils will have inherited got Isaac stayed single.
The newest part shows the new severe nature of the oath you to Abraham made with their steward to ensure the success of his trip discover a spouse to possess Isaac. From the transactions having Rebekah’s household members, new steward portrayed Abraham himself really real sense. The fresh new guarantees God-made to help you Abraham regarding the their seeds have been literally trusted towards the hand regarding Abraham’s steward.
The severity of the brand new oath one to Abraham made with their steward is a good exemplory case of the kind away from covenants about ancient community. Latter-date New orleans saints can use the latest ancient knowledge of covenants right to the brand new covenants they make that have Jesus. However,, Bible student Scott Hahn correctly notices that to do therefore,
Old-testament CommentaryGenesis 24: A girlfriend to own Isaac
we have to disperse beyond particular progressive presumptions and you will recover the new sense of covenant since it was lived in biblical countries-and not only on the Hebrew and you may Christian spiritual cultures, plus in the Gentile and you will pagan societies of old globe. Having covenant are the foundation of these communities. They offered private individuals its sense of kinship, its feeling of relationships, the sense of belonging-so you’re able to a household, a tribe, and you may a country. The latest covenant oath was the origin regarding nearest and dearest, federal, and you will religious lifetime.
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