Ge 22:20 Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, "Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor:

21 "Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,

22 "Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel."

23 And Bethuel begot Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother.

24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah.


Moses here begins to introduce Rebekah, the future wife of Isaac. He is showing to his Israelite readers the significant fact that Rebekah was a descendant of a legitimate son Bethuel.

Bethuel was the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor. He was not the son of Reumah, a concubine. You see, sons of concubines had no right of inheritance. They received gifts but were not viewed as heirs.

In showing that Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel a legitimate son, Rebekah's union with Isaac would produce offspring that would be legitimate heirs of Abraham's blessings and promises.