Genesis 24
1 And Abraham was old, well stricken in age. And Jehovah had blessed Abraham in all things.
Abraham by now was old, really old, and the Lord had blessed him in every possible way.
2 And Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, Put thy hand, I pray thee, under my thigh.
At that time Abraham told his oldest servant who was in charge of his whole household, “Put your hand under my thigh,
3 And I will make thee swear by Jehovah, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that thou will not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell.
and swear an oath by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you won't arrange for my son to marry any daughter of the these Canaanite people that I'm living among.
4 But thou shall go to my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.
Instead, go to my homeland where my relatives live, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”
5 And the servant said to him, Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I bring thy son again to the land from where thou came?
“What if the woman refuses to come back with me to this country?” the servant asked. “Should I take your son back to the country you came from?”
6 And Abraham said to him, Beware thou that thou not bring my son there again.
“No, you mustn't take my son back there,” Abraham replied.
7 Jehovah, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my nativity, and who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, To thy seed I will give this land, he will send his agent before thee, and thou shall take a wife for my son from there.
“The Lord, the God of heaven, took me from my family home and my own country. He spoke to me and swore an oath to me in which he promised, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ He is the one who will send his angel ahead of you so that you can find a wife there for my son.
8 And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shall be clear from this my oath. Only thou shall not bring my son there again.
However, if the woman refuses to return here with you, then you are released from this oath. But make sure you don't take my son back there.”
9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
The servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to do as he had been told.
10 And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed, having all goodly things of his master's in his hand. And he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
Then the servant arranged for ten of his master's camels to carry all kinds of valuable gifts from Abraham and left for the town of Nahor in Aram-naharaim.
11 And he made the camels to kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.
Arriving in the evening, he had the camels kneel down by the spring that was outside the town. This was the time when women went out to fetch water.
12 And he said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I pray thee, good speed this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
He prayed, “Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please let me be successful today, and please show your faithfulness to my master Abraham.
13 Behold, I am standing by the fountain of water. And the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
Look, I'm standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming to get water.
14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink. And she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also. Let the same be she that thou have appointed for thy servant Isaac. And thereby I shall know that thou have shown kindness to my master.
May it happen like this. The young woman that I ask, ‘Please hold your water jar so I can have a drink,’ and she replies, ‘Please drink, and I'll give your camels water too’ —may she be the one you've chosen as a wife for your servant Isaac. This way I'll know that you've shown your faithfulness to my master.”
15 And it came to pass, before he was done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
He hadn't even finished praying when he saw Rebekah coming to get water, carrying her water jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milkah. Milkah was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor.
16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her. And she went down to the fountain, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
She was very beautiful, a virgin—no one had slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came back up.
17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher.
The servant ran over to meet her and asked, “Please let me drink a few sips of water from your jar.”
18 And she said, Drink, my lord. And she hurried, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
“Please drink, my lord,” she replied. She quickly lifted the jar down from her shoulder and held it for him to drink.
19 And when she had finished giving him drink, she said, I will draw for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
After she finished giving him a drink, she said, “Let me get water for your camels too until they've had enough.”
20 And she hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.
She quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran back to the spring to get more water. She brought enough for all his camels.
21 And the man looked steadfastly on her, keeping silent, to know whether Jehovah had made his journey prosperous or not.
The man observed her in silence to see if the Lord had made his journey successful or not.
22 And it came to pass, as the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold,
Once the camels had finished drinking, he gave her a gold nose-ring and two heavy gold bracelets for her wrists.
23 and said, Whose daughter are thou? Tell me, I pray thee. Is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?
Then he asked her, “Whose daughter are you? Also could you tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?”
24 And she said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.
She replied, “I'm the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor.” Then she added, “We have plenty of straw and food for the camels,
25 She said moreover to him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
and yes, we have room for you to spend the night.”
26 And the man bowed his head, and worshiped Jehovah.
The man kneeled down and bowed in worship to the Lord.
27 And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Jehovah has led me in the way to the house of my master's brothers.
“Thank you Lord, the God of my master Abraham,” he prayed. “You have not forgotten your commitment and faithfulness to my master. And Lord, you have led me directly to the home of my master's relatives!”
28 And the damsel ran, and told her mother's house according to these words.
She ran to her mother's house and told her family what had happened.
29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. And Laban ran out to the man, to the fountain.
Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he ran out to meet the man who had remained at the spring.
30 And it came to pass, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spoke the man to me, that he came to the man. And, behold, he was standing by the camels at the fountain.
He'd noticed the nose-ring and the bracelets she was wearing, and he'd heard his sister Rebekah explaining, “This is what the man told me.” When he arrived the man was still there, standing with his camels beside the spring.
31 And he said, Come in, thou blessed of Jehovah. Why do thou stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
“Please come home with me, you who are blessed by the Lord,” said Laban. “What are you standing out here for? I've got a room at home ready for you, and a place for the camels to stay.”
32 And the man came into the house, and he ungirded the camels. And he gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
So the man went home with him. Laban unloaded the camels and gave them straw and food to eat. He also provided water for the man to wash his feet, as well as for the men who were with him.
33 And there was set before him food to eat. But he said, I will not eat until I have told my errand. And he said, Speak on.
Then Laban had food brought in. But the man told him, “I'm not going to eat until I've explained why I'm here.” “Please explain,” Laban replied.
34 And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
“I'm Abraham's servant,” the man began.
35 And Jehovah has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great. And he has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and men-servants and maid-servants, and camels and donkeys.
“The Lord has blessed my master so much, and now he is a wealthy and powerful man. The Lord has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
36 And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old. And has he given to him all that he has.
His wife Sarah has had a son for my master even in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns.
37 And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell,
My master made me swear an oath, saying, ‘You must not arrange for my son to marry any daughter of the Canaanite people in whose land I'm living.
38 but thou shall go to my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son.
Instead, go to my family home where my relatives live, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.’
39 And I said to my master, Perhaps the woman will not follow me.
I said to my master, ‘What if the woman refuses to come back with me?’
40 And he said to me, Jehovah, before whom I walk, will send his agent with thee, and prosper thy way. And thou shall take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house.
He told me, ‘The Lord, in whose presence I have lived my life, will send his angel with you, and he will make your journey successful—you will find a wife for my son from my relatives, from my father's family.
41 Then thou shall be clear from my oath, when thou come to my kindred. And if they do not give her to thee, thou shall be clear from my oath.
You will be released from the oath you swear to me if, when you go to my family, they refuse to let her return with you.’
42 And I came this day to the fountain, and said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, if thou do now prosper my way which I go,
Today when I arrived at the spring, I prayed, Lord, God of my master Abraham, please let the journey I have taken be successful.
43 behold, I am standing by the fountain of water, and let it come to pass, that the maiden who comes forth to draw, to whom I shall say, Give me, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher to drink,
Look, I'm standing here beside this spring. May it happen like this. If a young woman comes to get water, and I say, ‘Please give me a few sips of water to drink,’
44 and she shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels, let the same be the woman whom Jehovah has appointed for my master's son.
and she says to me, ‘Please drink, and I'll get water for your camels too’ —may she be the one you've chosen as a wife for your servant Isaac.”
45 And before I was done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder. And she went down to the fountain, and drew. And I said to her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
“I hadn't even finished praying silently when I saw Rebekah coming to get water, carrying her water jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring to get water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’
46 And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also. So I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
She quickly lifted the jar down from her shoulder and she said, ‘Please drink, and I'll get water for your camels too.’ So I drank, and she got water for the camels.
47 And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter are thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him. And I put the ring upon her nose, and the bracelets upon her hands.
I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘I'm the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor.’ So I put the ring in her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists.
48 And I bowed my head, and worshiped Jehovah, and blessed Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter for his son.
Then I kneeled down and bowed in worship to the Lord. I thanked the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, for he led me directly to find my master's niece for his son.
49 And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.
So please tell me now, will you show commitment and faithfulness to my master? Please tell me yes or no so I can decide what to do next.”
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceeds from Jehovah; we cannot speak to thee bad or good.
Laban and Bethuel replied, “Clearly all this is from the Lord, so we can't argue one way or the other.
51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as Jehovah has spoken.
Rebekah's here, you can take her and leave. She can become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has decided.”
52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Jehovah.
As soon as Abraham's servant heard their decision, he bowed down in worship to the Lord.
53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.
Then he unpacked silver and gold jewelry and expensive clothes and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave valuable presents to her brother and her mother.
54 And they ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and tarried all night. And they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away to my master.
He and the men with him ate and drank, and spent the night there. When they got up in the morning, he said, “Let me leave now and go home to my master.”
55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten. After that she shall go.
But her brother and her mother said, “Let her stay with us for another ten days or so. She can leave after that.”
56 And he said to them, Do not hinder me, since Jehovah has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.
“Please don't delay me,” he told them. “The Lord has made my journey successful, so let me leave and go back to my master.”
57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
“Let's call Rebekah and find out what she wants to do,” they suggested.
58 And they called Rebekah, and said to her, Will thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
They called Rebekah in and asked her, “Do you want to go with this man now?” “Yes, I'll go,” she replied.
59 And they sent Rebekah their sister away, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
So they let Laban's sister Rebekah leave with Abraham's servant and his men, together with the woman who had nursed her as a child.
60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said to her, Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those who hate them.
They asked a blessing on her, saying, “Our dear sister, may you become the mother to thousands and thousands of descendants, and may they conquer their enemies.”
61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man. And the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
Then Rebekah and her servant girls got on the camels. They followed Abraham's servant and left.
62 And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi, for he dwelt in the land of the South.
Meanwhile Isaac, who was living in the Negev, had just come back from Beer-lahai-roi.
63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming.
He went out into the fields one evening to think things over. He looked into the distance and saw camels coming.
64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel.
Rebekah was also keeping a look out. When she saw Isaac, she got down from her camel.
65 And she said to the servant, What man is this who walks in the field to meet us? And the servant said, It is my master. And she took her veil, and covered herself.
She asked the servant, “Who is this walking through the fields to meet us?” “He's my master, Isaac,” he replied. So she put on her veil to cover herself.
66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
The servant told Isaac everything he'd done.
67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
Isaac took Rebekah into his mother Sarah's tent, and he married her. He loved her, and she brought him comfort after his grief over his mother's death.
