24:5 The servant asked him, “What if the woman is not willing to come back with me 1 to this land? Must I then 2 take your son back to the land from which you came?”
24:6 “Be careful 3 never to take my son back there!” Abraham told him. 4
1 tn Heb “to go after me.”
2 tn In the Hebrew text the construction is emphatic; the infinitive absolute precedes the imperfect. However, it is difficult to reflect this emphasis in an English translation.
3 tn Heb “guard yourself.”
4 tn The introductory clause “And Abraham said to him” has been moved to the end of the opening sentence of direct discourse in the translation for stylistic reasons.
5 tn Heb “ to go after you.”
6 sn You will be free. If the prospective bride was not willing to accompany the servant back to Canaan, the servant would be released from his oath to Abraham.