And he said,—commencing his search for the maiden by prayer, as he closes it with thanksgiving (Genesis 24:26)—a beautiful example of piety and of the fruits of Abraham's care for the souls of his household, Genesis 18:19 (Wordsworth)—O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day.
Literally, cause to meet (or come before) me, i.e. what I wish, the maiden of whom I am in quest; hence εὐόδεσον ἐναντίον ἐμοῦ, make the way prosperous before me (LXX.); less accurately, occurre obsecro mihi (Vulgate).
And show kindness unto my master Abraham. The personal humility and fidelity displayed by this aged servant are only less remarkable than the fervent piety and childlike faith which discover themselves in the method he adopts for finding the bride.
Having cast the matter upon God by prayer, as a concern which specially belonged to him, he fixes upon a sign by which God should enable him to detect the bride designed for Isaac. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; literally, Behold me standing (cf.
verse 43)—and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water (vide on Genesis 18:11, and cf. Genesis 29:9; Exodus 2:16): and let it come to pass that the damsel— הַגַּעַרָ, with the vowels of the Keri; the word used for Abraham's young men (cf.
Genesis 14:24; Genesis 18:7; q.v.). In the Pentateuch it occurs twenty-two times, without the feminine termination, meaning a girl (vide Genesis 24:16, Genesis 24:28, Genesis 24:55; Genesis 34:3, Genesis 34:12; Deuteronomy 20:15, &c.
); a proof of the antiquity of the Pentateuch, and of this so-called Jehovistic section in particular, since in the latter books the distinction of sex is indicated by the affix ה being appended when a girl is intended ('Speaker's Commentary'); but this happens at least once in the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 22:19)—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:—the sign fixed upon was the kindly disposition of the maiden, which was to be evinced in a particular way, viz; by her not only acceding with promptitude to, but generously exceeding, his request It is probable that the servant was led to choose this sign not by his own natural tact and prudence, but by that Divine inspiration and guidance of which he had been assured (Genesis 18:7) before setting out on his important mission—let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac.
"The three qualifications in the mind of this venerable domestic for a bride for his master's son are a pleasing exterior, a kindly disposition, And the approval of God" (Murphy). And thereby—ἐν τούτῳ (LXX.
), per hoc (Vulgate); but rather, by her, i.e. the damsel—shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master.