This verse in Genesis 24:15 is part of the story of Abraham sending his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac. Let's break it down:
"Before he had finished speaking..." This refers to Abraham's servant. He had just prayed to God, asking for a sign to identify the right woman for Isaac. He requested that the woman who offered him and his camels water would be the one God had chosen. This phrase highlights the immediacy and apparent divine intervention in Rebekah's arrival.
"...behold, Rebekah came out..." "Behold" is an interjection often used in the Bible to draw attention to something significant. Rebekah's arrival is presented as a direct answer to the servant's prayer.
"...who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother..." This part establishes Rebekah's lineage. It connects her to Abraham's family, as she is the granddaughter of Abraham's brother, Nahor. This detail is crucial because Abraham specifically instructed his servant to find a wife for Isaac from among his relatives in Mesopotamia (where Nahor's family resided). It confirms she meets the criteria set by Abraham.
"...with her pitcher on her shoulder." This tells us that Rebekah was a young woman of marriageable age, performing the daily task of fetching water. In those times, carrying a pitcher was a sign of hard work and responsibility, traits considered desirable in a wife. It also indicates that she was not too wealthy or privileged to do such work herself.
In summary, the verse emphasizes:
Divine Providence: Rebekah's arrival appears to be a direct answer to the servant's prayer, showing God's guidance in finding a wife for Isaac.
Family Connection: Her lineage connects her to Abraham's family, fulfilling his requirement for a suitable wife for Isaac.
Character and Labor: Her carrying a pitcher demonstrates that she is a responsible, hard-working young woman.
Foreshadowing: This is a pivotal moment in the narrative. Rebekah's arrival sets the stage for her meeting with Abraham's servant, her act of kindness in offering water, and her eventual journey to become Isaac's wife, a crucial link in the lineage leading to the nation of Israel.
Essentially, the verse introduces Rebekah as the answer to prayer and establishes her as a woman who meets the requirements of being a suitable wife for Isaac, both in terms of lineage and character.
This verse in Genesis 24:15 is part of the story of Abraham sending his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac. Let's break it down:
"Before he had finished speaking..." This refers to Abraham's servant. He had just prayed to God, asking for a sign to identify the right woman for Isaac. He requested that the woman who offered him and his camels water would be the one God had chosen. This phrase highlights the immediacy and apparent divine intervention in Rebekah's arrival.
"...behold, Rebekah came out..." "Behold" is an interjection often used in the Bible to draw attention to something significant. Rebekah's arrival is presented as a direct answer to the servant's prayer.
"...who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother..." This part establishes Rebekah's lineage. It connects her to Abraham's family, as she is the granddaughter of Abraham's brother, Nahor. This detail is crucial because Abraham specifically instructed his servant to find a wife for Isaac from among his relatives in Mesopotamia (where Nahor's family resided). It confirms she meets the criteria set by Abraham.
"...with her pitcher on her shoulder." This tells us that Rebekah was a young woman of marriageable age, performing the daily task of fetching water. In those times, carrying a pitcher was a sign of hard work and responsibility, traits considered desirable in a wife. It also indicates that she was not too wealthy or privileged to do such work herself.
In summary, the verse emphasizes:
Divine Providence: Rebekah's arrival appears to be a direct answer to the servant's prayer, showing God's guidance in finding a wife for Isaac.
Family Connection: Her lineage connects her to Abraham's family, fulfilling his requirement for a suitable wife for Isaac.
Character and Labor: Her carrying a pitcher demonstrates that she is a responsible, hard-working young woman.
Foreshadowing: This is a pivotal moment in the narrative. Rebekah's arrival sets the stage for her meeting with Abraham's servant, her act of kindness in offering water, and her eventual journey to become Isaac's wife, a crucial link in the lineage leading to the nation of Israel.
Essentially, the verse introduces Rebekah as the answer to prayer and establishes her as a woman who meets the requirements of being a suitable wife for Isaac, both in terms of lineage and character.