Welcome the Stranger without Prying

Just as her future relative Abraham did not question travelers—“Who are you? Where are you from? Where are you going? Where have you come from?”—but simply reaped the fruit of hospitality, so Rebekah did not say, “Who are you? Where are you from? Why have you come here?” She seized the opportunity to practice hospitality and left all needless questions aside. People who buy pearls or receive gold seek one thing: to gain from those who possess such goods, not to pry into their affairs. In the same way, she sought one thing alone: to receive the fruit of hospitality and obtain its full reward.

She understood clearly that a stranger is especially prone to embarrassment. For that reason he needs abundant kindness and discretion that does not pry. If we begin questioning and investigating him, he becomes hesitant, draws back, and approaches unwillingly. That is why neither Rebekah did this to the servant nor Abraham to his guests: they did not want to frighten away the quarry. Abraham simply cared for those who passed by and, after receiving through them the fruit he desired, sent them on their way.