פירוש על בראשית 24:30

על הגמלים [HE WAS STANDING] BY THE CAMELS — to look after them. The phrase is the same as (18:8) “And he (Abraham) stood by them עומד עליהם"— to wait on them.

When he had seen. He felt obliged to show gratitude for the gifts.

ויבא אל האיש והנה עומד על הגמלים, he came to the man who was still standing by the camels. What do the words: "he was still standing, etc." teach us? According to Yalkut Shimoni 109, Eliezer interpreted Laban's running as an hostile act and he invoked the holy name of G'd as a result of which the camels stood over the well in the air. This is why the Torah describes the camels as "הגמלים על העין." Eliezer himself stood on top of the camels. He called out to Laban from an elevated position whereupon Laban addressed him with the words: "come in blessed one of the Lord!" If nothing unusual had occurred Laban would have reversed the wording of his invitation saying: "Why should you remain outside, come in blessed one of the Lord!"

ויהי כראות, this is reported in order to inform us that Lavan was envious of anyone getting something he did not have, even including his sister. He was the opposite of his sister who had displayed such generous traits. Lavan ran in order to bring these precious items into his own house.

To watch over them... Otherwise it should say רוכב על הגמלים rather thanעומד על הגמלים.

Es ist dies ein eigentümlicher Satz. Es ist bereits gesagt, dass er zu Elieser hinaus bis zur Quelle gelaufen sei und hier heißt es nun: da er den Nasenring usw. sah und die Worte etc. gehört hatte, ויבא, da kam er etc. Es scheint daher das Ganze eine fortlaufende Erzählung und dies: ׳ויהי כראות וגו bis zum folgenden Vers ein fortlaufender Vordersatz zu sein, zu welchem mit Raw Hirsch on Genesis 24: 31 der Nachsatz beginnt. Alle Hausleute hatten das Geschmeide gesehen, allein während diese mit dem Anschauen beschäftigt waren (es heißt nicht כראותו) hatte bei einem Laban der Anblick des Goldes sofort seinen Zauber geübt: "Da ist mehr! bezahlt er schon so ein bischen Wasser, wie nun gar eine ganze Bewirtung!" Der spekulative Bruder nimmt also die Schwester bei Seite und hört sie nochmals genau aus, und eilt dann hinaus, damit ihm ja kein anderer zuvorkomme, erwartet, ihn schon draußen auf der Straße zu finden, ist nicht wenig verwundert, bis zum Brunnen laufen zu müssen, wird aber vollends perplex, einen Mann, der nach allem, was er gesehen und gehört, doch ein mit Gold um sich werfender Kazin sein mus, noch bescheiden zuwartend bei seinen Kamelen am Brunnen zu finden! Darum verbeugt er sich auch nicht, spricht nicht höflich — wie etwa ein Abraham und Lot — er hat schon an Respekt vor ihm verloren, sondern sagt ziemlich brüsk: Komme doch herein, was genierst du dich, du bist doch ein ׳ברוך ד, d. h. ein reicher, mit Schätzen gesegneter Mann! Das gibt sich auch im folgenden, VV 32 und 33, kund.

And heard the words. That Eliezer had asked for lodgings.

וכשמעו, when he heard that the stranger had spoken to his sister concerning selecting a wife for the son of his master. This is what is meant by

Another reason why Eliezer is reported as remaining standing by the camels maybe that the Torah wants us to know that the mere fact that Rebeccah had indicated that there was lots of room in her father's home for Eliezer to spend the night together with his entourage was not enough reason for him to follow her to her home.

He came to the man. To bring him to his home. Standing beside the camels.

כה דבר אלי האיש. עמד על הגמלים. The words על הגמלים mean the same as עם הגמלים, next to the camels. We have a parallel construction in Exodus 35,22 ויבאו האנשים על הנשים, “the men came in addition to the women.” The meaning here is that Eliezer was seen by Lavan as standing as if waiting for Rivkah to return accompanied by a senior member of the family to invite him and escort him to their home.

The wording of Laban's invitiation, prefaced by his description of Eliezer as a man blessed by the Lord, indicates that Laban did not invite him wholeheartedly but merely to save him the disgrace of having to remain outdoors, i.e. למה תעמוד בחוץ? Even when the wicked perform an act of graciousness such an act reflects a degree of their basic reluctance to do good.

He did not show any expectation of being granted lodgings until Lavan offered