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.
216. Come and behold, Whoever puts the holy covenant in a woman of a heathen nation causes another place to be defiled; NAMELY, HE BLEMISHES THE SUPERNAL COVENANT AND CAUSES IT TO GIVE PLENTY TO THE HANDMAID. Thus, it is written, "For three things the earth is disquieted..." (Mishlei 30:21). And though he made him swear by the covenant, Abraham did not yet trust him, but prayed before the Holy One, blessed be He, saying "Hashem, Elohim of the heaven... He shall send his angel before you" (Beresheet 24:7). His angel assuredly MEANS the angel of the covenant, whom He shall send so that the covenant will be kept and not defiled among the nations.
217. He asks the meaning of the verse, "Only bring not my son back there" (Beresheet 24:8). HE RESPONDS that Abraham alone - and no one else IN HIS FAMILY - recognized the Holy One, blessed be He. Abraham did not want Isaac to dwell among the heathen nations, but wanted him to remain with him, where he would learn the ways of the Holy One, blessed be He. Abraham did not want Isaac to turn right or left, BUT RATHER TO REMAIN IN THE CENTRAL COLUMN. For that reason Abraham did not want Isaac's dwelling place to be among the heathen nations.
218. Rabbi Yesa said, Assuredly the merit of Abraham was with the servant, for he arrived at the well that very day he went, as is written, "And I came this day to the well" (Beresheet 24:42). This has already been explained.