To help present Abraham’s family relations just like the progenitors of Israel, the fresh editors present the long term bride-to-be Rebecca once the Abraham’s great niece. That it theme is actually foreshadowed prior to, whenever Abraham discovers you to their cousin, Nahor, has received of many youngsters. Brand new passage try lead which have an effective verse who’s got every signal from a late insertion:
Gen Sometime later on, Abraham try advised, “Milcah also have borne children towards cousin Nahor…” ?????? ??:?? ?????????? ????? ??? ??????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ????? ?????????. Gen Betuel fathered Rebecca. This type of 7 Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s sibling.
The latest repetition of one’s declaration that Nahor and you may Abraham was basically brothers, just after the brand new find of Rebecca’s delivery, emphasizes their link with Abraham’s loved ones.
Out of a literary direction, the brand new combination in the temporally vague and you can anonymous report to Abraham, that has an entire genealogy away from his brother’s offspring, towards disperse of the narrative is actually fake. It had been provided within buy to arrange an individual to possess Isaac looking for Rebecca. In reality, because the Rashi cards (offer loc.):
??? ?? ???? – ?? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??. “Fathered Rebecca”- that it whole genealogy are provided just for the fresh new purpose of the verse.
This can be evidently why the guy don’t focus on Isaac’s relationships until that point – the guy didn’t have individuals within the household members so you’re able to who to help you wed him regarding.
However, it can not be the initial momentum to possess giving the latest servant. If the Abraham specifically wished Isaac so you’re able to marry Rebecca, however has sent the new slave to the house out of Nahor otherwise Betuel, exactly as Isaac directs Jacob to the domestic off Laban:
Gen 28:2 Up, go to Paddan-aram, to your house out-of Bethuel, your mother’s father, and take a partner around away from one of the daughters out of Laban, the mother’s aunt.
Hence, it is obvious that the story element of Rebecca being related so you can Abraham try an after inclusion to the facts.
The brand new Awkward Genealogies from Genesis 24
Brand new genealogical union anywhere between Rebecca and you can Abraham’s members of the family seems 3 x on the facts, each time that have embarrassing syntax. Pursuing the servant prays to find the right girl, the text continues on (redaction for the italics):
?????? ??:?? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ????? ????????? ????????? ??? ?????????. ??:?? ??????????? ????? ??????? ????? ????????? ??????? ??? ???????? ???????? ????????? ??????????? ??????? ????????.
Gen He’d scarcely complete speaking, whenever Rebecca, who was simply created to Bethuel, new young buck out of Milcah new spouse regarding Abraham’s sis Nahor, showed up with her container on the neck. The new maiden is very breathtaking, a beneficial virgin which no people had known. She took place towards spring, filled their unique jar, and emerged.
This new editor just who place it here almost certainly method for the reader to know that understanding of delivery of Rebecca so you can their nephew, Betuel, ‘s the energy to own Abraham sending his servant in order to Haran
The fresh new reference to Rebecca’s pedigree for the verse fifteen try turbulent. On original heritage, next, it had been Rebecca’s charm, chastity and you will, primary, kind kindness you to made their own a deserving spouse to own Isaac. For the writers, although not, she needed to arrive on the group of Abraham.
?????? ??:?? ????????? ???? ??? ????? ????????? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????. ??:?? ????????? ?????? ???? ????????? ??????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????? ????????. ??:?? ????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ????????? ??? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????.
Gen He said “Pray tell me, whose daughter are you? Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” And you may she said, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” And you may she said, “There is plenty of straw and feed at our home, and also room to spend the night.”
