MPV Commentary

1. Abraham was now an old man, and it was time for his son Isaac to marry. His desire to see this happen was natural, given his position as a leader of his tribe and his concern for preserving its honor.

2. Since Abraham was too old to travel himself, he entrusted the task of finding a wife for Isaac to his most trusted servant, Eliezer. To ensure that Eliezer would carry out this important mission with utmost care, Abraham made him take a solemn oath.

3. The reason for this unusual arrangement was rooted in the customs of their pastoral tribe. Typically, marriages were arranged by the parents, and a young man was expected to marry within his own family or tribe. This gave him a strong claim to marry his first cousin, which was rarely refused. However, Abraham's primary concern was that Isaac might be influenced away from the true God if he married into a Canaanite family.