“Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.”
This verse is part of the account of Abraham’s servant who was sent by Abraham to find a wife for his son, Isaac.
The servant had travelled to Abraham’s homeland to seek a suitable wife from among his own relatives.
In this verse, the servant is speaking to Abraham’s brother, Laban, and explaining his mission.
To understand the context of this verse, we need to look at the larger story.
In Genesis 24, Abraham, who is advanced in years, desires to find a wife for his son Isaac.
He makes his servant swear an oath to find a wife from among their own relatives and not from the Canaanites, among whom they were living.
The servant is hesitant and concerned about finding the right woman, so he proposes a scenario to Abraham.
In Genesis 24:41, the servant tells Laban that if Laban’s family does not give him a suitable woman to marry Isaac, then the servant will be released from his oath.
Essentially, the servant is saying that if Laban’s family does not agree to the marriage proposal, he will not be bound by the oath he made to Abraham.
This verse highlights the servant’s concern about finding a woman who is willing to leave her family and come with him to marry Isaac.
It also reveals the servant’s reliance on God’s guidance to fulfil his mission.
He believes that if God does not provide a suitable wife from Abraham’s kindred, then he will be released from his oath.
Overall, this verse emphasises the importance of fulfilling obligations and following God’s leading.
It also shows the servant’s faith and trust in God’s provision throughout his journey to find a wife for Isaac.
