Abraham Informed About the Family of His Brother Nahor

    It was necessary that the typical kingdom of Israel should be unmixed with the nations of Canaan. Isaac, therefore, must not take a wife of the inhabitants of the country in which he resided. His wife must be of his own kindred. But how is this to be brought about? Abraham, as far as we know, remained without any intelligence from his relations, till after the time when he was commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac. Some time after this, we learn that he received tidings with respect to his relations, in which it is mentioned that Rebekah was born to Bethuel. In this way there was timely notice to the Patriarch to plan with respect to the marriage of his son; and on this was founded the commission given to his servant to go to the kindred of his master for a wife to Isaac, Gen. xxii. 20-23.—" And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor; Huz his first-born, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, and Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother."

    How many things, apparently accidental, are necessary to open a way to the acquaintance of those who are afterwards to be married to each other! Husbands and wives may be born for each other, as much as Eve was formed for Adam, while their marriage depends on the most trifling accident.