Why did Abraham's servant give gifts to Rebekah's family in Genesis 24:53? Passage in View “Then the servant brought out articles of silver and gold and garments and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious gifts to her brother and to her mother.” (Genesis 24:53) Immediate Narrative Context Abraham’s steward has taken a solemn oath (24:3-9) to secure a wife from among Abraham’s kin. By the time he distributes the gifts, the servant has: (1) prayed for divine guidance (24:12-14), (2) witnessed the precise answer to that prayer in Rebekah (24:15-27), and (3) obtained formal consent from her household (24:49-51). The gifts therefore seal an agreement already reached under God’s providential direction. Ancient Near-Eastern Marriage Customs 1. Mohar (bride-price) and Mattan (wedding gifts). Nuzi tablets (15th cent. BC, Yorgan Tepe, Iraq) record a “terhatum” paid to a bride’s family, while gifts called “ḫīrṭu” go directly to the bride—mirroring silver, gold, and garments for Rebekah, plus valuables for her mother and brother. 2. Code of Hammurabi §138-140 (c. 1750 BC) confirms that property transferred at betrothal protected the woman if the agreement collapsed. 3. Mari letters (18th cent. BC) describe camel caravans transporting dowries—external corroboration of Genesis’ camels (24:10) decades before skeptics once claimed camels were an anachronism. Economic Security for the Bride Garments and jewelry were portable wealth. Rebekah could later liquidate them (cf. Proverbs 31:24) or pass them to her offspring, ensuring provisions should Isaac die prematurely. Bride-price also compensated the family for the economic loss of a daughter’s labor. Demonstration of Good Faith In a world without modern contracts, tangible wealth proved Abraham’s honorable intent. The steward’s generosity matched the patriarch’s status (cf. 24:35) and dissuaded suspicions of human trafficking or deceit (as in Judges 19). Hospitality and Honor Culture Abraham’s clan and Bethuel’s clan lived in a shame-honor setting. Lavish giving elevated both parties’ reputations, echoing later wisdom: “A gift opens doors” (Proverbs 18:16). To withhold gifts after securing hospitality (24:31-33) would have insulted the hosts. Covenantal Symbolism The servant had sworn “by the LORD, the God of heaven and earth” (24:3). The exchange of valuables under oath paralleled covenant-cutting rituals (Genesis 15; Exodus 24). Like blood-ratification, the gifts enacted the promise physically and irrevocably. Foreshadowing of Redemptive Theology Isaac, the miraculously born son (Genesis 21), is a type of Christ (Romans 8:32). Rebekah, the chosen bride, prefigures the Church (Ephesians 5:25-27). The gifts point to grace: “When He ascended on high…He gave gifts to men” (Ephesians 4:8). As Abraham’s agent bestowed wealth to secure a bride, so the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to gather Christ’s bride. Practical Application Believers today emulate this pattern by: • Confirming commitments with visible integrity. • Providing materially for those entering new covenantal roles (weddings, ordinations). • Recognizing that generosity reflects the Giver’s character (2 Corinthians 9:15). Summary Abraham’s servant gave gifts to Rebekah’s family to fulfill the legally recognized bride-price, guarantee the woman’s security, honor social conventions, manifest Abraham’s wealth and sincerity, and embody a covenant that prophetically anticipates Christ’s redemptive generosity. Textual evidence, ancient legal codes, and archaeological findings converge to affirm the historicity and theological depth of Genesis 24:53. |
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