John Calvin Commentary Genesis 24:2

"And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh." — Genesis 24:2 (ASV)

And Abraham said unto his eldest servant. Abraham here fulfills the common duty of parents, in working for and being concerned about the choice of a wife for his son, but he looks somewhat further; for since God had separated him from the Canaanites by a sacred covenant, he justly fears that Isaac, by joining himself in marriage with them, might shake off the yoke of God.

Some suppose that the depraved morals of those nations were so displeasing to him that he believed the marriage of his son would prove unhappy if he should take a wife from among them. But the special reason was, as I have stated, that he would not allow his own race to be mixed with that of the Canaanites, whom he knew to be already divinely appointed to destruction. Indeed, since after their overthrow he was to take possession of the land, he was commanded to treat them with distrust as perpetual enemies.

And although he had lived in peace among them for a time, yet he could not have children with them without confusing things which, by the command of God, were to be kept distinct. Therefore, he wished both himself and his family to maintain this separation completely.

Put, I pray thee, thy hand. It is clear enough that this was a solemn form of swearing; but whether Abraham had first introduced it, or whether he had received it from his fathers, is unknown. Most Jewish writers declare that Abraham was the author of it because, in their opinion, this ceremony has the same significance as if his servant had sworn by the sanctity of the divine covenant, since circumcision was in that part of his person.

But Christian writers believe that the hand was placed under the thigh in honor of the blessed seed. Yet it may be that these earliest fathers had something different in view; and there are those among the Jews who assert that it was a sign of submission, when the servant was sworn on the thigh of his master.

The more plausible opinion is that the ancients swore by Christ in this manner; but because I do not willingly follow uncertain speculations, I leave the question undecided. Nevertheless, the latter suggestion appears to me the more simple: namely, that servants, when they swore fidelity to their lords, were accustomed to show their submission by this ceremony, especially since they say that this practice is still observed in certain parts of the East.

We infer that it was no profane ritual, which would detract in any way from the glory of God, from the fact that the name of God is invoked. It is true that the servant placed his hand under Abraham's thigh, but he is made to swear by God, the Creator of heaven and earth. This is the sacred method of swearing an oath, by which God is invoked as the witness and the judge, for this honor cannot be transferred to another without bringing dishonor to God.

Moreover, we are taught by Abraham's example that those who demand an oath for a lawful cause do not sin; for this is not listed among Abraham's faults but is recorded to his special praise. It has already been shown that the affair was of the greatest importance, since it was undertaken so that the covenant of God might be confirmed among his descendants.

He was therefore driven by just reasons to provide most anxiously for the accomplishment of his goal by making his servant take an oath. Beyond doubt, Isaac's character and even his virtue were so remarkable that, in addition to his riches, he had such qualities of mind and body that many would eagerly desire to be related to him by marriage.

His father, therefore, fears that after his own death, the inhabitants of the land might captivate Isaac with their allurements. Now, though Isaac has until now firmly resisted those allurements—snares that few young men escape—Abraham still fears that Isaac might be overcome by shame and the fear of causing offense. The holy man wished to anticipate these and similar dangers when he bound his servant to fidelity by requiring an oath; and it may be that some secret necessity also led him to do this.