Génesis 24:55 Comentario: Rashi, Alshekh, Chizkuni & Da'at Zekenim

ויאמר אחיה ואמה AND HER BROTHER AND HER MOTHER SAID —But where was Bethuel? He wished to prevent the marriage therefore an angel came and killed him (Genesis Rabbah 60:12).

Let the girl abide. They purposely tried to irritate Eliezer because they were disappointed with the gifts they had received. Rivkah alone received substantial gifts, but these would go with her to Yitzchok’s house. Ad-noy has made my journey successful. Therefore it is Him you are offending when you try to delay me. Let us call the girl. This was a strategy to deflect Eliezer’s charge that they were thwarting Hashem’s will. Will you go with this man. They tried to make him seem suspect in her eyes.

תשב הנערה אתנו, “let the girl stay with us, etc.;” if you were to ask how they could have asked for a delay after having already agreed to the match and having declared the match as having been made in heaven? They had even said: “take Rivkah and be on your way!” (verse 51) At the beginning they had thought that Eliezer had been authorized only to arrange for the betrothal which would take place in Yitzchok’s hometown. The matter therefore had appeared as very urgent. Now that they saw that Eliezer had already performed (through the gifts) the rites of betrothal, they no longer saw any reason for the hurry. They therefore asked that an engaged girl be given the customary 12 months to prepare herself for her nuptials. (Compare Talmud, Ketuvot 57)י

ימים (literally, days) means a year — just as (Leviticus 25:29) “For a whole year (ימים) shall he have the right of redemption” — for the custom was to give a maiden twelve months to provide herself with a trousseau (literally, ornaments) (Genesis Rabbah 60:12).