[donfriesen1]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Genesis 24:65 KJV
For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

Rules of modesty and propriety are not necessarily the same from era to era and culture to culture. Being unveiled in front of a servant was apparently not considered a big deal. Being unveiled in front of a great important man, specifically one to whom she was betrothed, apparently was a big deal.

I think it is also likely that the veil she put on was not just a headcovering, but probably covered the face as well. In fact, what we see here is most likely an example of the age old custom of the bride being veiled before her betrothed until the marriage ceremony is complete.

That being said, it does indicate something - the WOMAN took it upon herself to cover herself in the presence of the man. Isaac didn't veil himself when she showed up, she veiled herself when she was coming into his presence. Thus, the same basic principle is at work here as in 1 Cor 11: the woman is the one veiled or covered, and this is what is considered appropriate or "comely" in the presence of respected male authority, requiring certain rules of etiquette.

We again see people's actions coming out of customs which haven't come from commands of God. If the Co had a custom of veilng, which I believe they did, then Paul only encourages the adherence to a custom, which principle is also demonstrated elsewhere by Paul in the NT. If any thinks that Paul commands an adherence to a local custom, changing a local custom into a command of God, then I'd be happy to hear the line of reasoning whci would demonstrate this. Saying that the Beginning shows Eve created for Adam, and Adam as the one to be respected by her, does not provide an example of a command, though showing a principle not a command. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek by principle not command. It was good for him to do so, but not commanded. It is good to do things from principles seen in the Word, though not commaded per se. The command for a veil does not exist unless 1Co11 is misinterpreted and seen as commanding. To believe that Paul does is out of sync with what the OT shows of veils -they are not commanded there. The principle of respect for the order of God's authority should be seen as a principle which has not been commanded, done nonetheless without command, unless 1Co11 is misinterpreted as commanding. Rather, it is simpler to see Paul encouraging the Co to maintain a local custom. Other than that, God is then seen elevating a local custom to a position of a command of God. If it can be demonstrated that a custom of veiling has developed from a command of God, then plz show the first command from times before 1Co11. Can examples of the use of this principle, that God changes customs to commands, be demonstrated from other areas of OT/Christian life? This might provide evidence that it is a principle that God uses in his dealings with Man.