Genesis 15:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In seeking mercy from the Lord, he did not cease his pleas but rather expressed his grief further by saying, Behold, you have not granted me descendants, and lo, my servant is my heir. The depth of his anguish is evident in these words; it is as if he were addressing God, stating that he had not received the honor bestowed upon his servant. He would be left without children and lineage, and behold, this servant of mine will inherit both what You have already bestowed upon me and that which You have repeatedly promised, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ Furthermore, it is essential to recognize the virtue of the righteous.

In the passage that mentions ‘... and the son of my maidservant named Masech,’ the Hebrew is rendered as uben mesech bethi (בֵּיתִ֔י מֶ֣שֶׁק וּבֶן-). Akilah interpreted this as ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ποτίζοντος οἰκίαν μου, meaning ‘the son of him who gives drink to my house,’ while Theodotion translated it as καὶ υἱὸς τοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκίας μου, which means ‘the son of him who is overseer of my house.’ The implication of this statement is clear: ‘I face the prospect of dying without descendants.

Let us reflect on the reward Abraham seeks from the Lord. Unlike a greedy individual pursuing wealth, nor does he desire a lengthy life out of fear of death, nor does he seek might. Instead, he longs for a deserving successor to inherit his work. He implores, What wilt Thou give me? I remain childless, adding that since Thou hast not blessed me with offspring, my servant shall inherit my estate. Therefore, it is important for people to recognize the significance of the marriage bond and to avoid entering unions with those who are mismatched, lest they give rise to descendants who cannot be rightful heirs. If they disregard the importance of decency, they should at least consider the transmission of their legacy and strive to enter into a marriage that reflects honor.

The conduct of the virtuous individuals of the Old Testament in relation to their servants starkly contrasts with that of pagan slave owners, who have historically treated their slaves far worse than animals. Those familiar with the Caucasus tribes understand the nature of their treatment of slaves. Unique to the relationship between the righteous of the Old Testament and their servants, these individuals are referred to as 'household servants' in Scripture.

My household shall be my heir. In selecting a foreign individual as his heir, Abram seems to overlook the divine assurances regarding his descendants. Yet, how could he do so in the presence of God, who had just bestowed new promises? To truly understand his sentiment, we must consider that the father of the faithful could differentiate between natural lineage and the promised inheritance (Galatians 4:23, Galatians 3:29). It is conceivable that he could regard Eliezer as his offspring through adoption, a practice common in ancient times (Genesis 48:5). He might have presented his choice to God for discernment, and ultimately, he did not dismiss God's promises in a spirit of disbelief but rather perceived them as lesser out of humility.

Indeed, Lord, you have assured me that my descendants would be as countless as the dust of the earth (Genesis 13:16). Yet, it seems I am not deemed worthy to realize this covenant. This is greatly disheartening for me, as it compels me to consider adopting someone outside my family and establishing him as my heir. I have someone specific in mind whom I am inclined to take in as my own. Here is Maseka, my daughter-in-law, who has a son named Eliezer, a Damascene (born of a servant acquired in Damascus and likely already departed). Lacking my own offspring, I am willing to adopt this son of my household and bestow upon him the inheritance of all my possessions. As my sole heir, he too may partake in the grand reward that you have promised me.