And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.
59. their sister ] Laban is thus referred to as the head of the family; cf. “your daughter” in Gen 34:8.
her nurse ] i.e. her special personal attendant; cf. Gen 29:24; Gen 29:29. The name of the nurse appears in Gen 35:8 as Deborah.
and his men ] The servant’s retinue, mentioned in Gen 24:32; see note on Gen 24:10.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 59. And her nurse] Whose name, we learn from Ge 35:8, was Deborah, and who, as a second mother, was deemed proper to accompany Rebekah. This was a measure dictated by good sense and prudence. Rebekah had other female attendants. See Ge 24:61.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Her nurse was Deborah, by comparing Gen 35:8. In this corrupt family, the mother and the nurse are two distinct persons; but in Abrahams pious family there was no such principle or practice. See Gen 21:7.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And they sent away Rebekah their sister,…. Not in a pet or angry humour, but with good will; they agreed she should go, and took their leave in a very honourable and affectionate manner. This is to be understood of her brother Laban, and of other brethren and sisters she might have; though by the connection of the words with the preceding, they seem to design her brother and mother, who spoke last; and probably all her relations are meant, who call her their sister, because so nearly related to them:
and her nurse: who had been her nurse in former times, as Aben Ezra observes, in her infancy, for whom she had a particular affection, as is often the case; her name was Deborah, as appears from Ge 35:8:
and Abraham’s servant, and his men; who were dismissed in an handsome manner by the family.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
59. And they sent away Rebekah. Moses first relates, that Rebekah was honorably dismissed; because her nurse was given unto her. Moreover, I doubt not that they had domestic nurses, who were their handmaidens; not that mothers entirely neglected that duty, but that they committed the care of education to one particular maid. They therefore who assisted mothers with subsidiary service were called nurses. Moses afterwards adds, that Rebekah’s relatives “blessed her,” (Gen 24:60,) by which expression he means, that they prayed that her condition might be a happy one. We know that it was a solemn custom, in all ages, and among all people, to accompany marriages with all good wishes. And although posterity has greatly degenerated from the pure and genuine method of celebrating marriages used by the fathers; yet it is God’s will that some public testimony should stand forth, by which men may be admonished, that no nuptials are lawful, except those which are rightly consecrated. Now, the particular form of benediction which is here related, was probably in common use, because nature dictates that the propagation of offspring is the special end of marriage. Under the notion of victory (Gen 24:60) is comprehended a prosperous state of life. 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; because judgment was administered in the gates, and the bulwarks of the city were placed there.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(59) Their sister.Bethuel may have had other sons, though Laban only is mentioned.
Her nurse.How dear Deborah was, first to Rebekah, and afterwards to Jacob, may be seen by the lamentation at her death (Gen. 35:8).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
59. They sent their sister Special reference to Laban and the younger members of the household .
Her nurse Deborah, who died long after and was buried at Bethel . Gen 35:8.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and nurse (called Deborah, see Gen 35:8), and Abraham’s servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands and may your seed possess the gate of those who hate them.” ’
They can now agree to the quick departure and make preparations for them to leave. Rebekah, as a daughter of the tribal head is accompanied by a mature female attendant to watch over her ( a ‘nurse’ who would have had responsibility for her upbringing) and a number of young women to attend her. She had had the freedom to collect water from the spring but she was still a woman of some importance.
Their blessing, an important part of the procedure which demonstrated that she was leaving with their approval, is interesting. Their concern is that she may have a position of female authority over a goodly sized army which is successful against its enemies. To ‘possess the gate’, which was where the elders of a town ruled, was to have power and control. They are probably aware of something of Abraham’s set up and will have gleaned more from the steward. Their aim is not necessarily belligerent but a concern for her continued safety and prosperity which they recognise is dependent, among other things, on armed force. Abraham would not have remained wealthy long without his private army.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 24:59. Her nurse Whose name (we learn, ch. Gen 35:8.) was Deborah. She was the principal female attendant upon Rebekah, but not the only one, see Gen 24:61 as Eliezer was the principal, but not the only servant from Abraham; Abraham’s servant and his men. Nurses, in ancient times, were generally the attendants upon young ladies, and frequently their great favourites. This Deborah, as she is mentioned again, was most probably a woman of much worth and esteem in the family.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 24:59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.
Ver. 59. And her nurse. ] Deborah, who was a great stay to Jacob’s family, and her loss much lamented. Gen 35:8
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
their: Gen 24:50, Gen 24:53, Gen 24:60
nurse: Gen 35:8, Num 11:12, 1Th 2:5
Reciprocal: Gen 2:24 – leave Gen 24:54 – Send me Gen 29:24 – Zilpah Gen 31:27 – with mirth Exo 18:27 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rebekah Becomes Isaac’s Wife The family then sent Rebekah away with her nurse and maids by her side. They blessed her, saying, “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands; and may your descendants possess the gates of those who hate them.” Rebekah and her maids then set off behind the servant of Abraham.
While the servant was away, Isaac went to the South, possibly the Negeb, to wait for his bride. When the servant came, he told Isaac all that had happened. Isaac then took Rebekah as his wife. Interestingly, though they had not known one another before, the text tells us he “loved her.” Because of that love, he was comforted in the death of his mother ( Gen 24:59-67 ).
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
Gen 24:59. Rebekah and her nurse Deborah, as appears from chap. Gen 35:8; where we learn that she was held in great esteem, as indeed nurses in general were in ancient times, both in Asia and in Greece.