Genesis 24:10 - Exposition

And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master,— to bear the presents for the bride, to enhance the dignity of his mission, and to serve as a means of transport for the bride and her companions on the return journey. On the word Gamal vide Genesis 12:16 — and departed . Either from Hebron ( Genesis 23:19 ), or from the south country, near Beer-lahai-roi ( Genesis 24:62 ). For all the goods of his master were in his hand. Literally, and every good thing of his master in his hand ; meaning that he selected ( sc . as presents for the bride) every best thing that belonged to his master—cf. 2 Kings 8:9 ( LXX ; Vulgate, Murphy, Kalisch), though some regard it as explaining how he, the servant, was able to start upon his journey with such an equipage, viz; because, or for, he had supreme command over his master's household (Calvin, Rosenmüller, 'Speaker's Commentary'). And he arose, and went —if along the direct route, then "through Palestine along the west side of the Jordan and the lakes, into the Buk'ah, and out through the land of Hamath to the Euphrates, and thence— to Mesopotamia ,— Aram-Naharaim , i.e. the Aram of the two rivers; Aram meaning the high region, from aram, to be high—an ancient and domestic name for Syria, not altogether unknown to the Greeks; vide Hom; 'Il; 2:783; Hes; 'Theog.,' 304; Strabo, 13.4 (Gesenius). Standing alone it signifies Western Syria ( 3:10 ; 1 Kings 10:29 ; 1 Kings 11:25 ; 1 Kings 15:18 ), and especially Syria of Damascus ( 2 Samuel 8:6 ; Isaiah 7:1 , Isaiah 7:8 ; Amos 1:5 ); when Mesopotamia is intended it is conjoined with Naharaim , the two rivers being the Tigris and the Euphrates, or Padan, the field or plain, as in Genesis 25:20 . The latter is not an Elohistic expression as distinguished from the former, which some ascribe to the Jehovist (Knobel, et al.), but a more exact description of a portion of Mesopotamia, viz; of that where Laban dwelt. Unto the city of Nahor — i . e . Haran, or Charran ( Genesis 28:10 ; vide Genesis 11:31 ). Nahor must have migrated thither either along with or shortly after Torah.