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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 24:10 - 24:14
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The arrival at Haran and the prayer at the well
v. 10. And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. As Abraham's chief steward, Eliezer had charge of all his master's goods; therefore, in order to represent him worthily, he not only started out with a caravan of some size, but he also took along various valuables in the form of costly presents for the possible bride and her parents, which he could back up with his power of attorney extending over all the goods of his master. So he traveled to Mesopotamia, usually stated to have been the country between the Euphrates and the Tigris, but including, in this connection, all the land from the Khabour, an eastern branch of the Euphrates, and the Orontes, in Syria. Haran, as nearly as can be determined, was situated in the headwaters of the Khabour.
v. 11. And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. Eliezer had made his plans with care. Instead of entering the city and looking for the house of his master's relatives, he caused his camels to kneel down for a temporary rest. For it was now evening, the time at which the women that draw water go forth. That was and is the special work of the women of the Orient, to fetch water for the household from the well near the village or city. Eliezer knew that there would be an opportunity for observation and for the study of character here which would reveal more than days of polite intercourse.
v. 12. And he said, O Lord-God of my master Abraham, I pray Thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. The prayer is directed to Jehovah in the name of Abraham, because Eliezer was acting as the representative of his master.
v. 13. Behold, I stand here by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water;
v. 14. and let it come to pass that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also, let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast showed kindness unto my master. It was a simple, childlike prayer which Eliezer addressed to the Lord. He asked that success might come to meet him, that the Lord would send good speed to his plan in pointing out to him that young woman whom He had destined to be the wife of Isaac. The plan of Eliezer aimed to test out especially the humility, the unselfishness, and the willingness to serve in the girls of the city. Note: In a proper marriage it is God who selects the husband and the wife for each other, and this is an act of His kindness. If the blessing and the guidance of the Lord were implored with greater frequency and with greater importunity in the important matter of marriage, there would be fewer unhappy households in the world.