Take a wife. Although Abraham was to live another 35 years (cf. Genesis 25:7, 20), he seems to have felt rather feeble at this time (v. 1). The authority given Eliezer in the selection of a wife implies a commendable submissiveness on the part of Isaac, who was already 40 years of age. In ancient times, as in the Orient today, parents selected marriage partners and made wedding arrangements for their children. This in no way implied that the wishes of the young people themselves were ignored (see vs. 58, 67; Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 171). The long delay in planning for Isaac’s marriage was probably due to Abraham’s desire to avoid taking a Canaanite wife for him, and to the fact that heretofore he had not found it convenient to arrange for one from Haran (see vs. 3-6). The death of Sarah had perhaps added a sense of urgency to the matter.
Of the Canaanites. Aware of the growing licentiousness and idolatry of the Canaanites, and of their impending doom, Abraham desired to preserve the purity of the promised seed. His own experience with Hagar, and the experiences of Lot and Ishmael, had taught him the danger of alliances with people of heathen background (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 174). Furthermore, God had already forbidden intermarriage with the Canaanites, a prohibition later incorporated into the Mosaic legislation (Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 7:3).
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