And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
And if the woman is not willing to come back with you, then you will be free from this promise I'm making you swear to. Just don't bring my son back there again.
Abraham is telling his servant that if the woman won't come, the servant won't be blamed for breaking his promise, but Isaac must never go back to Abraham's homeland.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of Genesis 24, Abraham is sending his servant on a mission to find a wife for his son Isaac from among his relatives in Mesopotamia, ensuring that Isaac remains in the Promised Land as part of God's covenant. This instruction reflects the ancient cultural practice of arranged marriages within one's clan to preserve family lineage and faith, avoiding intermarriage with local Canaanites who worshiped other gods. Abraham's insistence that the servant not bring Isaac back highlights his unwavering trust in God's promise to make his descendants a great nation in that specific land.
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