a native of Damascus, and the steward of Abraham’s house. It
seems that Abraham, before the birth of Isaac, intended to make him his
heir:--“One born in my house,” a domestic slave, “is mine heir,” Gen.
xv, 1–3. He was afterward sent into Mesopotamia, to procure a wife for
Isaac, Gen. xxiv, 2, 3, &c; which business he accomplished with fidelity
and expedition. “It is still the custom in India,” says Forbes,
“especially among the Mohammedans, that in default of children, and
sometimes where there are lineal descendants, the master of a family
adopts a slave, frequently a Haffshee Abyssinian, of the darkest hue,
for his heir. He educates him agreeably to his wishes, and marries him
to one of his daughters. As the reward of superior merit, or to suit the
caprice of an arbitrary despot, this honour is also conferred on a slave
recently purchased, or already grown up in the family; and to him he
bequeaths his wealth, in preference to his nephews, or any collateral
branches. This is a custom of great antiquity in the east, and prevalent
among the most refined and civilized nations. In the earliest period of
the patriarchal history, we find Abraham complaining for want of
children; and declaring that either Eliezer of Damascus, or probably one
born from him in his house, was his heir, to the exclusion of Lot, his
favourite nephew, and all the other collateral branches of his family.”
seems that Abraham, before the birth of Isaac, intended to make him his
heir:--“One born in my house,” a domestic slave, “is mine heir,” Gen.
xv, 1–3. He was afterward sent into Mesopotamia, to procure a wife for
Isaac, Gen. xxiv, 2, 3, &c; which business he accomplished with fidelity
and expedition. “It is still the custom in India,” says Forbes,
“especially among the Mohammedans, that in default of children, and
sometimes where there are lineal descendants, the master of a family
adopts a slave, frequently a Haffshee Abyssinian, of the darkest hue,
for his heir. He educates him agreeably to his wishes, and marries him
to one of his daughters. As the reward of superior merit, or to suit the
caprice of an arbitrary despot, this honour is also conferred on a slave
recently purchased, or already grown up in the family; and to him he
bequeaths his wealth, in preference to his nephews, or any collateral
branches. This is a custom of great antiquity in the east, and prevalent
among the most refined and civilized nations. In the earliest period of
the patriarchal history, we find Abraham complaining for want of
children; and declaring that either Eliezer of Damascus, or probably one
born from him in his house, was his heir, to the exclusion of Lot, his
favourite nephew, and all the other collateral branches of his family.”