Genesis 24
1 Now Abraham was old and far on in years: and the Lord had given him everything in full measure.
And Abraham was old, and well advanced in years: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 And Abraham said to his chief servant, the manager of all his property, Come now, put your hand under my leg:
And Abraham said to his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
3 And take an oath by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not get a wife for my son Isaac from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am living;
And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
4 But that you will go into my country and to my relations and get a wife there for my son Isaac.
But thou shalt go to my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.
5 And the servant said, If by chance the woman will not come with me into this land, am I to take your son back again to the land from which you came?
And the servant said to him, It may be the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land: must I needs bring thy son again to the land from which you came?
6 And Abraham said, Take care that you do not let my son go back to that land.
And Abraham said to him, Beware that thou bring not my son there again.
7 The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and made an oath to me, saying, To your seed I will give this land: he will send his angel before you and give you a wife for my son in that land.
The LORD God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, To thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife for my son from there.
8 And if the woman will not come with you, then you are free from this oath; only do not take my son back there.
And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son there again.
9 And the servant put his hand under Abraham's leg, and gave him his oath about this thing.
And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning that matter.
10 And the servant took ten of his master's camels, and all sorts of good things of his master's, and went to Mesopotamia, to the town of Nahor.
And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hands: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
11 And he made the camels take their rest outside the town by the water-spring in the evening, at the time when the women came to get water.
And he made his camels to kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, the time when women go out to draw water.
12 And he said, O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, let me do well in what I have undertaken this day, and give your mercy to my master Abraham.
And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, prosper me this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13 See, I am waiting here by the water-spring; and the daughters of the town are coming out to get water:
Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
14 Now, may the girl to whom I say, Let down your vessel and give me a drink, and who says in answer, Here is a drink for you and let me give water to your camels: may she be the one marked out by you for your servant Isaac: so may I be certain that you have been good to my master Abraham.
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 water thy camels also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and by that shall I know that thou hast shown kindness to my master.
15 And even before his words were ended, Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, who was the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water-vessel on her arm.
And it came to pass, before he had finished speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
16 She was a very beautiful girl, a virgin, who had never been touched by a man: and she went down to the spring to get water in her vessel.
And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
17 And the servant came running to her and said, Give me a little water from your vessel.
And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water from thy pitcher.
18 And she said, Take a drink, my lord: and quickly letting down her vessel onto her hand, she gave him a drink.
And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him a drink.
19 And having done so, she said, I will get water for your camels till they have had enough.
And when she had finished giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, till they have finished drinking.
20 And after putting the water from her vessel into the animals' drinking-place, she went quickly back to the spring and got water for all the camels.
And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
21 And the man, looking at her, said nothing, waiting to see if the Lord had given his journey a good outcome.
And the man wondering at her held his peace, to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 And when the camels had had enough, the man took a gold nose-ring, half a shekel in weight, and two ornaments for her arms of ten shekels weight of gold;
And it came to pass, as the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her wrists of ten shekels weight of gold;
23 And said to her, Whose daughter are you? is there room in your father's house for us?
And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?
24 And she said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, Nahor's wife.
And she said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.
25 And she said, We have a great store of dry grass and cattle-food, and there is room for you.
She said moreover to him, We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge in.
26 And with bent head the man gave worship to the Lord;
And the man bowed his head, and worshipped the LORD.
27 And said, Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has given a sign that he is good and true to my master, by guiding me straight to the house of my master's family.
And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left my master destitute of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.
28 So the girl went running and took the news of these things to her mother's house
And the damsel ran, and told these things to her mother’s house.
29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he came out quickly to the man at the water-spring.
And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out to the man, to the well.
30 And when he saw the nose-ring and the ornaments on his sister's hands, and when she gave him word of what the man had said to her, then he went out to the man who was waiting with the camels by the water-spring.
And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s wrists, 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 stood by the camels at the well.
31 And he said to him, Come in, you on whom is the blessing of the Lord; why are you waiting outside? for I have made the house ready for you, and a place for the camels.
And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; why standest thou outside? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
32 Then the man came into the house, and Laban took their cords off the camels and gave them dry grass and food, and he gave to him and the men who were with him water for washing their feet.
And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that were with him.
33 And meat was put before him, but he said, I will not take food till I have made my business clear to you. And they said, Do so.
And there was set food before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told my errand. And he said, Speak on.
34 And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
And he said, I am Abraham’s servant.
35 The Lord has given my master every blessing, and he has become great: he has given him flocks and herds and silver and gold, and men-servants and women-servants and camels and asses.
And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and male and female servants, and camels, and donkeys.
36 And when Sarah, my master's wife, was old, she gave birth to a son, to whom he has given all he has.
And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old: and to him hath he given all that he hath.
37 And my master made me take an oath, saying, Do not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am living;
And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
38 But go to my father's house and to my relations for a wife for my son.
But thou shalt go to my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son.
39 And I said to my master, What if the woman will not come with me?
And I said to my master, It may be the woman will not follow me.
40 And he said, The Lord, whom I have ever kept before me, will send his angel with you, who will make it possible for you to get a wife for my son from my relations and my father's house;
And he said to me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s house:
41 And you will be free from your oath to me when you come to my people; and if they will not give her to you, you will be free from your oath.
Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
42 And I came today to the water-spring, and I said, O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if it is your purpose to give a good outcome to my journey,
And I came this day to the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou dost prosper my way which I go:
43 Let it come about that, while I am waiting here by the water-spring, if a girl comes to get water and I say to her, Give me a little water from your vessel, and she says,
Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;
44 Take a drink, and I will get water for your camels; let her be the woman marked out by the Lord for my master's son.
And she saith to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed for my master’s son.
45 And even while I was saying this to myself, Rebekah came out with her vessel on her arm; and she went down to the spring to get water; and I said to her, Give me a drink.
And before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down to the well, and drew water: and I said to her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
46 And straight away she took down her vessel from her arm, and said, Take a drink, and I will get water for your camels.
And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will water thy camels also: so I drank, and she watered the camels also.
47 And questioning her, I said, Whose daughter are you? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor, and Milcah his wife. Then I put the ring on her nose and the ornaments on her hands.
And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her wrists.
48 And with bent head I gave worship and praise to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, by whom I had been guided in the right way, to get the daughter of my master's brother for his son.
And I bowed my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son.
49 And now, say if you will do what is good and right for my master or not, in order that it may be clear to me what I have to do.
And now if you 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.
50 Then Laban and Bethuel said in answer, This is the Lord's doing: it is not for us to say Yes or No to you.
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak to thee bad or good.
51 See, here is Rebekah: take her and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as the Lord has said.
Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the LORD hath spoken.
52 And at these words, Abraham's servant went down on his face and gave praise to the Lord.
And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
53 Then he took jewels of silver and jewels of gold and fair robes and gave them to Rebekah: and he gave things of value to her mother and her brother.
And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
54 Then he and the men who were with him had food and drink, and took their rest there that night; and in the morning he got up, and said, Let me now go back to my master.
And they ate and drank, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose in the morning, and he said, Send me away to my master.
55 But her brother and her mother said, Let the girl be with us a week or ten days, and then she may go.
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.
56 And he said, Do not keep me; the Lord has given a good outcome to my journey; let me now go back to my master.
And he said to them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
57 And they said, We will send for the girl, and let her make the decision.
And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
58 And they sent for Rebekah and said to her, Are you ready to go with this man? And she said, I am ready.
And they called Rebekah, and said to her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
59 So they sent their sister Rebekah and her servant with Abraham's servant and his men.
And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.
60 And they gave Rebekah their blessing, saying, O sister, may you be the mother of thousands and ten thousands; and may your seed overcome all those who make war against them.
And they blessed Rebekah, and said to her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those who hate them.
61 So Rebekah and her servant-women went with the man, seated on the camels; and so the servant took Rebekah and went on his way.
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.
62 Now Isaac had come through the waste land to Beer-lahai-roi; for he was living in the South.
And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.
63 And when the evening was near, he went wandering out into the fields, and lifting up his eyes he saw camels coming.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at evening: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
64 And when Rebekah, looking up, saw Isaac, she got down from her camel,
And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got off the camel.
65 And said to the servant, Who is that man coming to us through the field? And the servant said, It is my master: then she took her veil, covering her face with it.
For she had said to 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 veil, and covered herself.
66 Then the servant gave Isaac the story of all he had done.
And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
67 And Isaac took Rebekah into his tent and she became his wife; and in his love for her, Isaac was comforted after his father's death.
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.
