Genesis 24:59 Commentary and Bible Study

The family bow to the will of God which had been so plainly revealed to them and set aside family affection. It was unlikely that they would ever see her again since the journey was so great. But they will not let Rebekah go without invoking the blessing of God on her. Since they believed this was the last time they would ever see her, the blessing was a prayer for the most important things that they could think to ask. They ask not only that she would be blessed with children, but that great numbers of children should come from her, that is, that she should become a great nation. This prayer was possibly prompted by what Abraham’s servant had said to them about the Lord promises respecting Abraham’s descendants. They realised in other words that Rebekah was not just being called to be the wife of an important man in a far country, but that she was being given a place in the purposes of God which would be remembered for all time. The terms of their blessing are very similar to the terms of God’s promise to Abraham quoted above. Calvin says, ‘The Lord, however, directed their tongues to utter a prophecy of which they themselves were ignorant. “To possess the gates of enemies” means to obtain dominion over them.”’Rebekah was not without servants though she had gone to the well to fetch water on her own. These now accompany her in her new life and depart. Abraham’s servant leads the party and they travel in his charge.