Reading from Chayei Sarah:
Genesis 24:53-25:11
This reading wraps up the account of the life of Abraham and begins the account of Isaac, the promised heir. We are also introduced to a few other descendants of Abraham. As the story picks up, now that Abraham's servant has found a wife for Isaac, he wants to leave with her right away. But in Genesis 24:55, Rebekah's mother and brother (if her father was deceased, her brother may have been the acting "head of household" in that culture) ask the servant to wait ten days before departing. This request could be for many reasons. It might be because they loved her and had a hard time letting go. Some commentaries suggest that the family may have wanted time to make sure the whole scenario was what it seemed to be and not something unsavory. Or, given the fact that the verses before recount some of the gifts lavished upon Rebekah's mother and brother, they may have wanted the royal treatment to go on a bit longer.
In any case, what is unusual is that in verse 58 they ask Rebekah what she would like to do. In that culture, Rebekah would have gone from being under her father or brother's protection directly to that of her husband. She normally would have had no say in the matter. We don't know what prompted her family to ask her opinion, but this gave Rebekah the opportunity to take her own step of faith. She obviously trusted the words of Abraham's servant and she agrees to go with him immediately. Her family then sends her away with their blessing (Gen. 24:60).
The remainder of the chapter describes the union of Isaac and Rebekah. Upon seeing him from a distance and learning that he is her intended, she quickly veils herself. Both the IVP Bible Background Commentary and the JFB Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible indicate that women in that culture were only veiled during their wedding. Thus, by veiling herself she was demonstrating her willingness to marry Isaac. Isaac happily takes her as his bride and loves her (Gen. 24:67).
In the beginning of chapter 25, we see that Abraham has taken another wife as well, and had children with her. However, Genesis 25:5-6 makes it clear that Isaac was still the primary heir. As he had done with Ishmael, Abraham gave his other sons gifts while he was still living and sent them away. They could not be allowed to compete with Isaac for primacy. This may seem harsh, but we have to remember that only Isaac was promised to Abraham by G-d. All his other children were the result of Abraham's own choices. Also, the IVP Bible Background Commentary and The Bible Knowledge Commentary point out that Hagar and Keturah are the "concubines" of Abraham mentioned in Genesis 25:6. They were secondary wives who had no dowry, thus their children had no primary inheritance rights. Therefore the fact that Abraham gave all these children gifts (most likely substantial ones, given his great wealth) is significant.
We close this reading with the death of Abraham. Both Isaac and Ishmael are listed as present at his burial. He is buried with his wife, Sarah, in the cave that he purchased in his promised land. After Abraham's death, Isaac begins receiving his blessing from the L-rd. Still, as we will see, Abraham left a complicated family legacy.
My prayer today is that I would earnestly seek G-d's will in my parenting choices.
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