The manner in which Eliezer chose to locate a wife for Isaac – searching for a young woman who will demonstrate hospitality – was risky. The Sages criticize him for this, and note other times in the history of Israel where similar tactics were employed.

Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, said to God: “Behold, I stand by the spring of water and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water. It shall be that the young woman to whom I will say: Please tilt your jug and I will drink, and she will say: Drink, and I will also give your camels to drink; it is she You have confirmed for Your servant, for Isaac, and through her I will know that You have acted with kindness with my master” (Genesis 24:13–14). They are four people who made improper requests. To three of them, their requests were granted properly, and to one it was granted improperly. And these are the people: Eliezer the servant of Abraham, Caleb, Saul, and Yiftah. Abraham’s servant Eliezer said: “It shall be that the young woman to whom I will say…” (24:14). I wonder: Had some maidservant come forth and given him to drink, would he have married her to the son of his master? Nevertheless, the Holy One, blessed be He, arranged it for him properly and an appropriate girl came forth, as the verse states: “It was before he concluded to speak; behold, Rebecca was coming out” (24:15). Caleb said [during the war to conquer the Land of Israel]: “He who smites Kiryat Sefer and captures it, I will give him Akhsa my daughter as a wife” (Judges 1:12). Had some slave captured it, would Caleb have given him his daughter? Nevertheless, the Holy One, blessed be He, arranged it for him properly, and an appropriate man smote the city, as it is stated: “Otniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, captured it; and he gave him Akhsa his daughter as a wife” (Judges 1:13). Saul said [during the standoff against Goliath]: “It shall be that the man who smites him, the king will enrich him with great wealth, and he will give him his daughter” (I Samuel 17:25). Had some Kushite, some idolater, or some slave come forth and smote Goliath, would Saul have given him his daughter? Nevertheless, the Holy One, blessed be He, arranged it for him properly, and an appropriate man killed Goliath, as it is written: “David was the son of a nobleman” (I Samuel 17:12). Yiftah [said, before leaving to battle with the Amonites]: “It shall be that that which emerges from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Amon, it shall be for the Lord, and I will present it as a burnt offering” (Judges 11:31). Had a donkey, some dog, or some cat come forth, would Yiftah have presented it as a burnt offering? The Holy One, blessed be He, arranged it for him improperly as his daughter, who cannot be brought as an offering, was first to emerge from his house, as it is stated: “Yiftah came to the Mitzpa, to his house, and behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him” (Judges 11:34). (Bereshit Rabba 60)