Genesis 24:65

65 And said to the servant: Who is that man who cometh towards us along the field? And he said to her: That man is my master. But she quickly took her cloak, and covered herself.

Genesis 24:65 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:65

For she [had] said unto the servant
As soon as she saw a man walking towards them, who she thought with herself might be Isaac: what man is this that walketh in the field to meet us?
for by the course he steered, she perceived that he was coming towards them, and so concluded it must be one of the family, and probably the person she was to be married to; for otherwise, had he not by his look and motion discovered that he knew the servant, and was coming towards them, she would have took no notice of him and the servant [had] said, it is my master:
meaning not Abraham, but his son, who also was his master: therefore she took a veil, and covered herself;
both out of modesty, and as a token of subjection to him: for the veil was put on when the bride was introduced to the bridegroom, as among the Romans ^F24 in later times. The Arab women always have veils when they appear in public, so that their faces cannot be seen; and though in the summer months they walk abroad with less caution, yet then, upon the approach of a stranger, they put on their veils ^F25.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 Vid. Lucan. l. 2. & Martial. Epigr. l. 2. 74.
F25 See Shaw's Travels, p. 228. Tertullian. de Virgin. Veland, c. 17.

Genesis 24:65 In-Context

63 And he was gone forth to meditate in the field, the day being now well spent: and when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels coming afar off.

64 Rebecca also, when she saw Isaac, lighted off the camel,

65 And said to the servant: Who is that man who cometh towards us along the field? And he said to her: That man is my master. But she quickly took her cloak, and covered herself.

66 And the servant told Isaac all that he had done.

67 Who brought her into the tent of Sara his mother, and took her to wife: and he loved her so much, that it moderated the sorrow which was occasioned by his mother’s death.