Genesis 24:2

his servant, the elder of his house This servant has very generally been identified with the Eliezer mentioned in Genesis 15:2. The identity is nowhere explicitly stated; but it should be noted that chap. 15 is derived from E, while this chapter comes from J, and the absence of any reference to Eliezer by name need not surprise us.

"The elder of his house," not necessarily the "eldest" of his house servants, but the one of chief authority and dignity (cf. Genesis 50:7), who, if there was no heir, would succeed to the property.

that ruled over all that he had i.e. a trusted slave who acted as the steward of Abraham's property: see note on Genesis 15:4. Cf. the description of Joseph in Genesis 39:4; Genesis 39:22; Psalms 105:21; and of Ziba in 2 Samuel 9:2-13; 2 Samuel 16:1-4.

Put … under my thigh For this symbolical act, compare the request made by Jacob in Genesis 47:29, where, in the expectation of death, he binds Joseph by the solemn pledge of this sign. Presumably Abraham is expecting his death; and he causes his servant to swear in the most solemn way that he will carry out his master's wish.

The words "under my thigh" probably contain a survival of a very ancient piece of symbolism. The word "thigh" is rendered "loins" in Genesis 46:26; Exodus 1:5. The phrase here seems to refer to the organs of generation, and also, possibly, to the covenant rite of circumcision. The appeal is made to those who hereafter should be born, on the one hand, to attest the oath, and, on the other, to avenge its violation. Similar symbolic acts have been found to exist among other primitive races. A custom like this long outlives the recollection of its original significance. The ritual remains binding; its purpose may be forgotten.