Rebekah and her maids: the narrator mentioned a nurse for Rebekah in verse 59. Now, however, there are maids. The literary purpose is to give a picture of Rebekah as a woman of status surrounded by personal servants. In some languages it may be necessary to introduce these additional maids by saying, for example, “Then Rebekah and many servant girls who also went with her….”

Arose, and rode: arose does not suggest that they were lying down but rather that they got ready, prepared themselves. In some languages it will be clearer to say “Then Rebekah and her servant girls got on the camels.”

Followed the man: that is, went with or accompanied Abraham’s servant, who led the way.

Thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way: the final statement of the departure is from the servant’s point of view. In some languages it may be more natural to retain the same point of view as in the opening of verse 61. In that case Rebekah and her young servants get ready, get on the camels, and, as Good News Translation says, “they all started out.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .