24:32 So Abraham’s servant 6 went to the house and unloaded 7 the camels. Straw and feed were given 8 to the camels, and water was provided so that he and the men who were with him could wash their feet. 9 24:33 When food was served, 10 he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I want to say.” 11 “Tell us,” Laban said. 12
1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn The words “the food” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text the verb has no stated object.
3 tn The disjunctive clause is a temporal circumstantial clause subordinate to the main verb.
4 tn Heb “that it be for me for a witness.”
5 sn This well. Since the king wanted a treaty to share in Abraham’s good fortune, Abraham used the treaty to secure ownership of and protection for the well he dug. It would be useless to make a treaty to live in this territory if he had no rights to the water. Abraham consented to the treaty, but added his rider to it.
6 tn Heb “the man”; the referent (Abraham’s servant) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Some translations (e.g., NEB, NASB, NRSV) understand Laban to be the subject of this and the following verbs or take the subject of this and the following verbs as indefinite (referring to an unnamed servant; e.g., NAB, NIV).
8 tn Heb “and [one] gave.” The verb without an expressed subject may be translated as passive.
9 tn Heb “and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.”
10 tn Heb “and food was placed before him.”
11 tn Heb “my words.”
12 tc Some ancient textual witnesses have a plural verb, “and they said.”
tn Heb “and he said, ‘Speak.’” The referent (Laban) has been specified in the translation for clarity.