In verse 54 the servant and his men return to their meal that was interrupted in verse 33. It may be important to mark the opening of verse 54 as a new paragraph and with a transition; for example, “After all that,” “When the giving of gifts was completed,” “When all the talk was finished.”

Ate and drank describes the eating of the evening meal by these special visitors. If the expression ate and drank is unnatural, it may be possible to say “had their meal” or “ate their supper.”

Spent the night is as in 19.2

They arose refers to the servant and his men.

Send me back to my master: the servant has completed his mission and now asks for permission to leave for Canaan. This request should be formulated in a manner that is appropriate for a servant to speak to Abraham’s relatives. Note Good News Translation‘s rendering, or say, for example, “Please allow us to go back now to my master.” The servant is indicating that he wants to depart immediately. However, the customary thing was to remain for a time.

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 .