215. Rabbi Elazar said, Come and behold, We have learned that because Abraham had wisdom, he wanted to be separated from and not cleave to all other nations. Therefore it is written, "And I will make you swear by Hashem, the Elohim of heaven, and the Elohim of the earth, that you shall not take a wife to my son..." (Beresheet 24:3). The phrase "of the daughters of the Canaanite" (Ibid.) surely contains a secret, as it is written, "And has married the daughter of a strange El" (Malachi 2:11). In the phrase, "Among whom I dwell" (Beresheet 24:3), the "I" is exactly the same as that mentioned in "I have made the earth" (Yeshayah 45:12). THE "I" IN THE FIRST CASE REFERS TO THE SHECHINAH AS "IT" IN THE SECOND CASE, BECAUSE SHE WAS IN EXILE. HE MADE HIM SWEAR all that so to prevent him from being defiled by them.