… Sarah doesn’t come in ch. 24. Appearing right back along the facts, the fresh new resource might possibly be in order to the father who, early in the fresh part, thought that he was alongside death. It’s probable hence that the concluding sentence went: ‘So Isaac try comfortable after the loss of his dad.’…
Gunkel’s option would be maybe not enough, however. His dispute you to “in the event that slave relates to Isaac, Isaac informs your one their father enjoys passed away in the interim,” ignores the reality that the new servant identifies Isaac while the “his master” through to the two had an opportunity to chat (v. 65), from which part, brand new slave have no understood one to Abraham had died. Moreover, the latest notice from the Isaac interested in morale to possess his mom’s passing links of course in order to Sarah demise (ch. 23), which means that there isn’t any valid reason so you’re able to emend the brand new verse so you can “father.”
An effective Fragment out-of Community
I would suggest one in the first place it actually was Isaac, allegedly on his own step, just who sends out-of their slave to obtain him a partner. Hence, in the event that slave production that have Rebecca, he gift suggestions their straight to Isaac.
Whenever i argue in my own “Isaac in advance of He was Abraham’s Child” (TheTorah 2020), Abraham was previously another patriarch, which served by yourself once the “father” of the country
An editor changed the bulk of the brand new narrative (vv. 1–52), that to begin with focused on Isaac simply, presenting Abraham since person who cared for his child and you can build to possess their wedding prior to his demise. Therefore, the guy describes “his grasp Abraham” (vv. 12, twenty-seven, 42, 48) which can be called “Abraham’s servant” (vv. 34, 52), and far of the discussion is all about brand new slave looking for a spouse towards the master’s young man.
A great fragment of your own first particular the latest narrative was preserved regarding v. 53, and this refers to the newest servant’s present so you can Rebecca’s sibling and you can mother, through to the end of narrative, with just some editorial glosses (vv. 59, and you may 67a).
Here, the servant try regarded just once the “the newest servant” or “the guy” (vv. 53, 58, 61, 65 [twice], 66), that may just as easily be a regard to Isaac’s servant. A whole lot more notably, starting with verse 54, we discover “the brand new slave” speaking to Rebecca’s mother and sibling from the “my personal learn” (vv. 54, 56) in place of “my master Abraham” (as in vv. a dozen, twenty seven, 35–37, 39, 42, 48):
?????? ??:?? ????????? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????? ????? ?????????? ????????? ????????? ???????????? ????? ????????? ???????????. ??:?? ??????????? ???????????? ???? ????????????? ?????? ?????? ??????????? ??????????? ???????? ????????? ??????????? ????????. ??:?? ????????? ??????? ??? ?????????? ????? ???????? ????????? ????????? ???????????? ????????? ??????? Belizian-datorsidor?.
Gen The newest slave brought out objects of gold and silver, and you can clothing, and offered them to Rebecca; in which he gave gifts so you can her sis and her mom. Then plus the men which have your ate and you may eaten, plus they invested the evening. When they emerged 2nd day, he said, “Offer myself log off to check out my grasp.”… He said to all of them, “Do not slow down me personally, given that YHWH made my personal errand winning. Bring me personally leave that i could go back at my learn.”
From this point until verse 65, new servant seems to be writing about Isaac when he states “my master;” it is clear as he explains to help you Rebecca whom the guy dealing with them are.
As to the reasons are the storyline reworked to help make the initiative towards the is the reason and not Isaac’s? In the first place, the newest Abraham and you may Isaac reports was indeed separate way of living, and you may were not connected: Isaac wasn’t Abraham’s young buck. At the same time, Isaac and his child Jacob-the daddy away from Israel-belonged to help you a parallel, separate, federal culture.
Leave a Reply