And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
3. the God of heaven earth ] This solemn title of Jehovah as God of the whole universe is more common in later Hebrew writings; cf. Ezr 5:11. This form of adjuration indicates the conviction of the writer that the God of the Hebrews was the God of the whole world, not merely of a particular locality or nation: compare Gen 18:25. No change of country, no lapse of time, would constitute an exemption from the binding character of the oath.
of the daughters of the Canaanites ] The dread of the marriage of an Israelite with a Canaanite which is found here, is also expressed in Gen 26:34-35, Gen 27:46; Exo 34:16; Deu 7:3; Ezr 9:2. For “Canaanite,” cf. Gen 10:18-19, Gen 12:6, Gen 13:7 (J).
Religious feeling underlies this prohibition. The purity of the Hebrew race is to be maintained. Intermarriage would involve participation in religious rites. Separateness would give a corresponding freedom from moral contamination.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 3. I will make thee swear] See Clarke on Ge 24:9.
Of the Canaanites] Because these had already been devoted to slavery, &c., and it would have been utterly inconsistent as well with prudence as with the design of God to have united the child and heir of the promise with one who was under a curse, though that curse might be considered to be only of a political nature. See the curse of Canaan, Ge 9:25.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
i.e. Not persuade nor engage my son to take; for Isaac, though forty years old, was not only willing to be governed by his father in this affair, but also to hearken to the counsel of this wise and faithful servant, of whom both his father and himself had such long and large experience. He knew that
the Canaanites were not only gross idolaters and heinous sinners, for so many others were; but that they were a people under God’s peculiar curse, Gen 9:25, and devoted to extirpation and utter destruction, which was to be inflicted upon them by Abraham’s posterity; and therefore to marry his son to such persons had been a high degree of self-murder, whereby the holy and blessed seed had been in danger of great infection from them, and utter ruin with them. And Abraham’s practice was afterwards justified by God, who hath oft showed his dislike of such unequal matches of his people with those infidels and idolaters, by severe prohibitions and sharp censures. See Exo 34:16; Deu 7:3; Jos 23:12; Ezr 9:1-3; Neh 13:23-25; 2Co 6:14-15.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. thou shalt not take a wife,&c.Among pastoral tribes the matrimonial arrangements are madeby the parents, and a youth must marry, not among strangers, but inhis own tribecustom giving him a claim, which is seldom or neverresisted, to the hand of his first cousin. But Abraham had a farhigher motivea fear lest, if his son married into a Canaanitishfamily, he might be gradually led away from the true God.
Ge24:10-67. THE JOURNEY.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of earth,…. The Maker and possessor of heaven and earth, by whom Abraham used to swear whenever he did, and by whom only men should swear, see Ge 14:22. The Targum of Jonathan is,
“I will make thee swear by the name of the Word of the Lord God,”
which strengthens the sense given of the rite before observed:
that thou wilt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; these being not only idolaters, and very wicked people, degenerated yet more and more, but were the seed of the accursed Canaan; and who in process of time would be dispossessed of the land, and be destroyed. Now though Isaac was forty years of age, and one would think at an age sufficient to have chosen a wife for himself; but as Abraham knew that he had a great respect for this servant, and would be influenced by him in such a choice, and especially as this affair was now about to be committed to his care, and no doubt with the consent of Isaac, therefore he thus charges and adjures him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. That thou shalt not take a wife. The kind of discipline which prevailed in Abraham’s house is here apparent. Although this man was but a servant, yet, because he was put in authority by the master of the family, his servile condition did not prevent him from being next in authority to his lord; so that Isaac himself, the heir and successor of Abraham, submitted to his direction. To such an extent did the authority of Abraham and reverence for him prevail, that when he substituted a servant in his place, he caused this servant, by his mere will or word, to exercise a power which other masters of families find it difficult to retain for themselves. The modesty also of Isaac, who suffered himself to be governed by a servant, is obvious; for it would have been in vain for Abraham to enter into engagements with his servant, had he not been persuaded that his son would prove submissive and tractable. It here appears what great veneration he cherished towards his father; because Abraham, relying on Isaac’s obedience, confidently calls his servant to him. Now this example should be taken by us as a common rule, to show that it is not lawful for the children of a family to contract marriage, except with the consent of parents; and certainly natural equity dictates that, in a matter of such importance, children should depend upon the will of their parents. How detestable, therefore, is the barbarity of the Pope, who has dared to burst this sacred bond asunder! Wherefore the wantonness of youths is to be restrained, that they may not rashly contract nuptials without consulting their fathers.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
3. Swear by the Lord To the sacredness of the manner of the oath is added the solemnity of this use of the holy NAME . This servant must swear by Jehovah, God of the heavens and God of the earth . Thus Abraham puts him under the most solemn oath that could then bind the conscience of a man .
Not of the Canaanites Lot’s case might have been a sufficient warning, and the idolatries and growing iniquity of the Amorites, though not yet full, (Gen 15:16,) were plainly such as to show the pious patriarch the fearful danger of matrimonial alliances with them . Here we note the ancient enforcing of the principle of the apostolic precept: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers . ” 2Co 6:14. What sorrows and soul-losses have followed from such unhallowed unions!
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 24:3. That thou shalt not take a wife, &c. Abraham apprehending probably his own death, and being anxious about his son Isaac, resolved to intrust the great charge of his matrimonial alliance to this faithful and long-approved servant, whom we are not to consider in a low light, but as the first and principal person under so great a man as Abraham. And certified of Isaac’s consequence, as being the appointed father of the promised Seed, he was solicitous that he should not enter into any union with the devoted race of Canaan, but with some proper person of his own kindred and family.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
Ver. 3. I will make thee swear by the Lord. ] Who alone is the proper object of an oath. Isa 65:16 Howbeit, in lawful contracts with an infidel or idolater, we may allow such oaths, whereby they swear by false gods; as those of old, that swore by God and Malcom; and the Turks’ great oath now-a-days is, By the immortal God, and by the four hundred prophets, by Mohammed, by his father’s soul, by his own children, and by the sword wherewith he is girt, &c. a
That thou shalt not take a wife unto my son, &c.
a Turk. Hist., 345.
b Dr Hall
c History of Council of Trent. 680.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
God. Hebrew. Elohim.
Canaanites. Mixed with the Nephilim. App-23.
I. Emph. in contrast with the Canaanites. Hence Abraham’s horror of mixing the holy seed with that of the Nephilim.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
swear: Gen 21:23, Gen 26:28-31, Gen 31:44-53, Gen 50:25, Exo 20:7, Exo 22:11, Exo 23:13, Lev 19:12, Num 5:21, Deu 6:13, Deu 10:20, Jos 2:12, 1Sa 20:17, Neh 13:25, Isa 45:23, Isa 48:1, Isa 65:16, Jer 4:2, Jer 12:16, Zep 1:5, Heb 6:16
the: Gen 14:22, 2Ki 19:15, 2Ch 2:12, Neh 9:6, Psa 115:15, Jer 10:11
that: Gen 6:2, Gen 6:4, Gen 26:34, Gen 26:35, Gen 27:46, Gen 28:1, Gen 28:2, Gen 28:8, Exo 34:16, Deu 7:3, Deu 7:4, 1Co 7:39, 2Co 6:14-17
Reciprocal: Gen 21:21 – a wife Gen 25:33 – Swear Gen 31:53 – God of Abraham Gen 34:9 – General Gen 38:2 – saw Gen 38:6 – took Gen 47:31 – Swear Num 12:1 – married Num 36:6 – only to the family Jos 2:17 – General Jdg 14:2 – get her 2Sa 14:11 – let the king Pro 27:18 – so Ecc 9:2 – feareth Jer 29:6 – take wives Mal 2:15 – That he Gal 4:1 – That
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 24:3. I will make thee swear This was both for Abrahams own satisfaction, and to engage his servant to all possible care and diligence in this important business. Thus God swears his servants to their work, that, having sworn, they may perform it. By the Lord, (Hebrews Jehovah,) the God of heaven and the God of earth Observe with what reverence Abraham speaks of God, and with what solemnity this oath is administered and taken! And see how careful Abraham is that his son should not marry one of corrupt principles and manners. He was in such high esteem among the Canaanites, that, undoubtedly, he could have married Isaac to a daughter of one of the princes of the land. But he saw that the Canaanites were degenerating into great wickedness, and knew that they were designed for ruin; and he would not marry his son among them, lest they should be a snare to his soul. To obtain for him, as a partner in life, a person of piety and virtue, is his chief, if not his sole concern, and therefore he sends even to a distant country for such a one. Alas! how different is this from the conduct of many! Wealth and dignity are the chief objects they fix their thoughts on in marrying their children. They seek not in their choice those that are sincere and devout worshippers of God, but those who have the largest possessions; not those rich in good works, but those rich in the world. And this, perhaps, is one chief and principal cause of the great corruption of manners among us.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
24:3 And I will make thee {b} swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
(b) This shows that an oath may be required in a lawful cause.