Genesis 24:28

Her mother’s house. Several explanations have been given to account for Rebekah’s going to “her mother’s house” rather than to her father’s: (1) Her mother was head of the family. This cannot be correct, because the men of the family decided the question (vs. 31, 50-59). (2) Her father, Bethuel, was dead, and the person by that name in v. 50 was a younger brother. (3) In many Oriental countries the women have separate quarters, and Rebekah naturally went there first to tell of her experience. (4) The expression “mother’s house” really means “grandmother’s house,” according to a common Semitic custom by which a grandmother may be called mother. Since Rebekah’s grandmother Milcah is mentioned repeatedly (vs. 15, 24, 47), whereas her mother is not mentioned at all, the latter may have been dead. Thus Rebekah may have resided with her grandmother Milcah, who, being a widow, kept a separate household. The third suggestion appears to offer the best explanation.