בראשית, פרק כ״ד, פסוק נ״ט

The departure of a bride from her childhood home to begin a new life in a distant land is a deeply emotional transition. For Rebekah, this separation was marked by a grand and respectful farewell procession. The family did not merely grant her permission to leave; they provided an escort of honor [ביאור יש״ר, רד״ק]. This massive procession was divided into two distinct groups to pay proper respect to everyone involved. Women and young women walked alongside Rebekah, while the men and city elders accompanied Abraham's servant [העמק דבר]. This escort also carried a strict legal significance. As long as the family walked with her, Rebekah remained entirely under their authority. Only when the walking procession ended and she was officially handed over to her future husband's representatives did she transition into his care [מלבי״ם].

During the farewell, Rebekah is addressed as a sister to multiple people, even though only Laban is explicitly named as her brother in the narrative. The primary approach among commentators is that familial titles in the Bible often refer to extended relatives, and addressing her this way reflects the deep affection and closeness within the wider family [רד״ק, שד״ל, ביאור יש״ר]. Others suggest she may have had another brother who is simply unnamed [ביאור יש״ר], or that the title of sister was used to express maturity and respect, much like a father addressing his adult sons as brothers [צרור המור]. From a household perspective, this plural phrasing reveals a shifting family dynamic. It highlights how Laban and the rest of the family had taken control of the household's affairs, pushing their father, Bethuel, to the margins. This stands in stark contrast to Abraham's household, where Isaac completely entrusted the monumental decision of his marriage to his father [רש ר הירש].

Joining Rebekah on this journey was her childhood nurse [אבן עזרא, שטיינזלץ]. Since Rebekah was already an independent young woman capable of drawing water for an entire caravan of camels, she clearly did not need physical nursing [מחוקקי יהודה]. However, in ancient times, the women who raised the children of wealthy families were not treated as ordinary servants. Instead, they remained closely bonded with the children they raised well into adulthood, sharing a deep emotional connection and lifelong companionship [שד״ל, רש ר הירש, ביאור יש״ר].

Although other young women accompanied Rebekah, the nurse is singled out during the farewell ceremony because of her highly respected status. The other attendants are only brought up later in the practical context of riding the camels [רד״ק, ביאור יש״ר, מחוקקי יהודה]. Furthermore, establishing the nurse's presence on this journey serves an important narrative purpose, ensuring the reader understands exactly who she is and how she arrived when her passing is recorded later in the book of Genesis [חזקוני].