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Commentary on Genesis 24 verses 54–61
Rebekah is here taking leave of her father's house; and 1. Abraham's servant presses for a dismission. Though he and his company were very welcome, and very cheerful there, yet he said, Send me away (Gen 24:54), and again, Gen 24:56. He knew his master would expect him home with some impatience; he had business to do at home which wanted him, and therefore, as one that preferred his work before his pleasure, he was for hastening home. Note, Lingering and loitering no way become a wise and good man; when we have despatched our business abroad we must not delay our return to our business at home, nor be longer from it than needs must; for as a bird that wanders from her nest so is he that wanders from his place, Pro 27:8. 2. Rebekah's relations, from natural affection and according to the usual expression of kindness in that case, solicit for her stay some time among them, Gen 24:55. They could not think of parting with her on a sudden, especially as she was about the remove so far off and it was not likely that they would ever see one another again: Let her stay a few days, at least ten, which makes it as reasonable a request as the reading in the margin seems to make it unreasonable, a year, or at least ten months. They had consented to the marriage, and yet were loth to part with her. Note, It is an instance of the vanity of this world that there is nothing in it so agreeable but it has its alloy. Nulla est sincera voluptas - There is no unmingled pleasure. They were pleased that they had matched a daughter of their family so well, and yet, when it came to the last, it was with great reluctance that they sent her away. 3. Rebekah herself determined the matter. To her they appealed, as it was fit they should (Gen 24:57): Call the damsel (who had retired to her apartment with a modest silence) and enquire at her mouth. Note, As children ought not to marry without their parents' consent, so parents ought not to marry them without their own. Before the matter is resolved on, "Ask at the damsel's mouth;" she is a party principally concerned, and therefore ought to be principally consulted. Rebekah consented, not only to go, but to go immediately: I will go, Gen 24:58. We may hope that the notice she had taken of the servant's piety and devotion gave her such an idea of the prevalence of religion and godliness in the family she was to go to made her desirous to hasten thither, and willing to forget her own people and her father's house, where religion had not so much the ascendant. 4. Hereupon she is sent away with Abraham's servant; not, we may suppose, the very next day after, but very quickly: her friends see that she has a good heart on it, and so they dismiss her, (1.) With suitable attendants - her nurse (Gen 24:59), her damsels, Gen 24:61. It seems, then, that when she went to the well for water it was not because she had not servants at command, but because she took a pleasure in works of humble industry. Now that she was going among strangers, it was fit she should take those with her with whom she was acquainted. Here is nothing said of her portion. Her personal merits were a portion in her, she needed none with her, nor did that ever come into the treaty of marriage. (2.) With hearty good wishes: They blessed Rebekah, Gen 24:60. Note, When our relations are entering into a new condition, we ought by prayer to recommend them to the blessing and grace of God. Now that she was going to be a wife, they prayed that she might be a mother both of a numerous and of a victorious progeny. Perhaps Abraham's servant had told them of the promise God had lately made to his master, which it is likely, Abraham acquainted his household with, that God would multiply his seed as the stars of heaven, and that they should possess the gate of their enemies (Gen 22:17), to which promise they had an eye in this blessing, Be thou the mother of that seed.
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SUMMARY
Genesis 24:60 captures the profound farewell blessing bestowed upon Rebekah by her family as she departs to become Isaac's wife. This powerful pronouncement aligns her future directly with the Abrahamic covenant, foretelling an innumerable progeny and the ultimate triumph of her descendants over their adversaries, thereby signifying divine favor and ensuring the continuation of God's redemptive plan through her lineage.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
This verse records the solemn blessing pronounced upon Rebekah by her family, likely her mother and brother Laban, as she embarks on her journey to marry Isaac. This blessing is more than a customary farewell; it is a prophetic utterance that integrates Rebekah directly into the unfolding covenant narrative.
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The blessing in Genesis 24:60 employs several potent literary devices. Hyperbole is evident in the phrase "thousands of millions," which is a deliberate exaggeration to convey the immeasurable multitude of Rebekah's future descendants, emphasizing the vastness of God's promised blessing. Symbolism is powerfully used in "possess the gate," where the "gate" of a city symbolizes its strength, control, and strategic importance. To possess it signifies absolute victory, dominion, and authority over one's adversaries, extending beyond mere military conquest to encompass legal and administrative control. The entire verse functions as a Prophetic Blessing, a divinely inspired utterance that not only expresses good wishes but also foretells future events and outcomes, specifically the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant promises through Rebekah's lineage. This prophetic element elevates the blessing from a simple farewell to a declaration of God's unfolding plan.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This blessing upon Rebekah is a profound theological statement, demonstrating God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises and His meticulous involvement in human history. It illustrates that God's grand redemptive plan is advanced not only through patriarchs but also through pivotal matriarchs, whose roles are divinely ordained and blessed. The emphasis on an innumerable "seed" and dominion over enemies directly links Rebekah's destiny to the promises made to Abraham, affirming that the covenant is being actively perpetuated through this new generation. This highlights the intergenerational nature of God's covenant and His commitment to establishing a people for Himself.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 24:60 reminds us of the profound impact of spoken blessings and the enduring faithfulness of God to His promises across generations. Just as Rebekah's family, perhaps unknowingly, spoke a future of fruitfulness and victory over her, we are called to speak words of life, faith, and encouragement over others, particularly our children, family members, and spiritual descendants, aligning our declarations with God's revealed will and promises. This passage also serves as a powerful reminder that God is meticulously at work behind the scenes, orchestrating circumstances to fulfill His purposes. It provides assurance that His plans for us will prevail, even through seemingly ordinary life events like marriage and family formation. We can trust that God is sovereignly guiding our paths, ensuring that His ultimate redemptive purposes are achieved through our lives, just as He did for Rebekah and her lineage.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of the phrase "thousands of millions"?
Answer: The Hebrew phrase ribbōṯ ribbāh (literally "myriads of myriads," from H505, ʼeleph for "thousands" and H7233, rᵉbâbâh for "millions") is a hyperbolic expression signifying an incredibly vast, innumerable multitude. It directly echoes God's covenant promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars of heaven or the sand on the seashore (Genesis 22:17). For Rebekah, it meant she would be a key matriarch in the lineage that would grow into the great nation of Israel, fulfilling the divine promise of a vast posterity.
What does it mean to "possess the gate of those which hate them"?
Answer: In ancient Near Eastern culture, the city gate (H8179, shaʻar) was the most crucial and vulnerable point of a city, serving as the center for legal, commercial, and defensive activities. To "possess the gate" (H3423, yârash) of an enemy meant to conquer them completely, gaining full control over their city, their people, and their strategic power. It signifies absolute victory, dominion, and the ability to control access and exert authority over adversaries. This was a powerful prophetic declaration of the future triumph of Israel over its foes.
Who are "those which hate them" in this context?
Answer: "Those which hate them" (from H8130, sânêʼ) refers to the adversaries and enemies of Rebekah's future descendants, the nation of Israel. Throughout their history, Israel faced numerous hostile nations and peoples who opposed their existence and God's purposes for them. This blessing is a prophetic declaration of God's intention to grant His people victory and dominion over their foes, ensuring their security and the ultimate fulfillment of the covenant promises, including their secure inheritance of the land.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The blessing given to Rebekah in Genesis 24:60 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the singular "seed" of Abraham and Rebekah through whom all nations are blessed. The promise of "thousands of millions" of descendants is spiritually realized not merely in a physical nation, but in the vast, innumerable multitude of believers from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation who are united in Christ, forming the spiritual Israel, the church (Revelation 7:9). Furthermore, the declaration that her "seed possess the gate of those which hate them" culminates in Christ's decisive victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness. Through His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus has definitively disarmed spiritual principalities and powers, making a public spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15), and possessing the "gates of hell" which shall not prevail against His church (Matthew 16:18). Believers, as those "in Christ," share in His victory and are granted spiritual dominion over their adversaries, standing firm against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). Thus, Rebekah's blessing foreshadows the global, spiritual triumph secured by Christ for His redeemed people.