“Genesis 24:28-33”

Saturday, January 04, 2020

“Then the girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things. Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran outside to the man at the spring. When he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, 'This is what the man said to me,' he went to the man; and behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. And he said, 'Come in, blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside since I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels?' So the man entered the house. Then Laban unloaded the camels, and he gave straw and feed to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. But when food was set before him to eat, he said, 'I will not eat until I have told my business.' And he said, 'Speak on.''”

---End of Scripture verses---

“The girl ran and told her mother's household about these things.” (verse 28) As Abraham's servant was still bowed in thankful prayer, Rebekah ran home to acquaint her family with the situation that was currently unfolding. It is a curiosity that the reference would be to “her mother's household” and not to that of her father. It is possible that her father, Bethuel, was already deceased at this time. If that was the case then the Bethuel who responded in verse 50 was actual Rebekah's brother and her father's namesake. Another possibility was that her father was feeble in body and mind at this point, and that explains why her brother Laban played the prominent role of leadership and Bethuel only spoke sparingly and in consort with his son after the servant had finished his story (verses 50-51).

“Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran outside to the man at the spring.” (verse 29) “Hebrew lavan, meaning 'white.' The feminine form levanah, 'the white one,' is a poetic term for the moon. This association is in keeping with other names in Abraham's family that have a connection with the lunar cult, such as Terah, which has been connected with yareah, 'moon'; Sarah, the Hebrew form of Akkadian sarratu, 'queen,' used of the consort of the moon-god Sin; and Milcah, from Akkadian malkatu, 'princess,' the name of Sin's daughter.” (Nahum Sarna)

“When he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists...” (verse 30) In this, our first encounter with Rachel's brother Laban, he appears to be equally as kind and hospitable as his lovely sister. But we know better from his future false dealings with Rebekah's son, Jacob, to be fully exposed in chapters 29 and 30. The author exposes Laban's ulterior, greedy motives by the revelation that his “magnanimity” was prompted only after “he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's wrists.” His deceptive contrivances and penchant for manipulation are fully uncloaked in chapter 29, but we get a glimpse of his delay tactics and double dealings by his expressed desire to hold Rebekah back for “a few days, say ten; afterward she may go” (verse 55). There can be little doubt that his intentions were to extort more valuables for himself out of the bargain for his sister's hand in marriage.

“'Come in, blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside since I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels?” (verse 31) Knowing Laban's true (lack of) character, his feigned bigheartedness is enough to make you want to wretch! He recognized that the Lord had greatly “blessed” Abraham's righteous servant, and he was fully prepared to exploit the man's favored status to his full advantage. This pattern would be repeated in Laban's treacherous dealings with Jacob: “But Laban said to him, 'If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the Lord has blessed me on your account.' He continued, 'Name me your wages, and I will give it.' (Genesis 30:27-28) In Laban's mind, every man had his price, and he would stoop to any depths necessary to ensnare him by it to his own person profit.

“When food was set before him to eat, he said, 'I will not eat until I have told my business.'” (verse 33) All the niceties were pleasantly appreciated, but Abraham's servant was all business, and he was ready to get down to it. The mission was the most important thing in his mind by far, and especially due to the fact the Lord's hand and will played prominently into the undertakings “Oriental politeness deferred the interrogation of a guest till after he had supped... but Abraham's servant hastened to communicate the nature of his message before partaking of the offered hospitality - an instance of self-forgetful zeal of which Christ was the highest example...Mark 6:31; John 4:34.” (Pulpit Commentary)

Please read Genesis 24:34-41 for tomorrow.

Have a great day!

- Louie Taylor

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