Genesis 24:22-25 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

‘And it happened that, as soon as the camels had finished drinking, the man took a golden ring weighing a beka (half a shekel - see Exodus 38:26), and two golden bracelets for her for her arms of ten shekels weight of gold, and said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, I pray you. Is there room in your father's house for me to lodge in?” And she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” And she also said to him, “We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.”

We do not know at what stage in the conversation he gave her the jewellery, possibly after he had learned who she was, But he was now satisfied that Yahweh had brought to him the woman of His choice and makes moves to receive hospitality in her father's house. She would almost certainly realise that something special was afoot by the nature of the gifts, although it is possible she saw the valuable gifts as intended to ensure a welcome. But these heavy gold pieces are not the kind to be given lightly.

Golden earrings about a shekel in weight have been discovered at Ur. Thus the golden ring may have been for the ear. Alternatively it could be a nose ring or some other piece of jewellery. Verse 47 might suggest it was a nose ring.

Her description of herself was spoken proudly, connecting herself through her father with Nahor whom she clearly considers a man of some substance. She wants the man to know that she is no ordinary woman and that her family are well able to make provision for any number of camels.

Genesis 24:22-25

22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earringb of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

23 And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?

24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.

25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.