Genesis 24
1 Now Abraham was old; and advanced in age: and the Lord had blessed him in all things.
And Abraham [is] old, he has entered into days, and YHWH has blessed Abraham in all [things];
2 And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was ruler over all he had: Put thy hand under my thigh,
and Abraham says to his servant, the eldest of his house, who is ruling over all that he has, “Please put your hand under my thigh,
3 That I may make thee swear by the Lord the God of heaven and earth, that thou take not a wife for my son, of the daughters of the Chanaanites, among whom I dwell:
and I cause you to swear by YHWH, God of the heavens and God of the earth, that you do not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanite, in the midst of whom I am dwelling;
4 But that thou go to my own country and kindred, and take a wife from thence for my son Isaac.
but to my land and to my family you go, and have taken a wife for my son, for Isaac.”
5 The servant answered: If the woman will not come with me into this land, must I bring thy son back again to the place, from whence thou camest out?
And the servant says to him, “It may be the woman is not willing to come after me to this land; do I at all cause your son to return to the land from where you came out?”
6 And Abraham said: Beware thou never bring my son back again thither.
And Abraham says to him, “Take heed to yourself lest you cause my son to return there;
7 The Lord God of heaven, who took me out of my father’s house, and out of my native country, who spoke to me, and swore to me, saying: To thy seed will I give this land: he will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take from thence a wife for my son.
YHWH, God of the heavens, who has taken me from the house of my father, and from the land of my birth, and who has spoken to me, and who has sworn to me, saying, To your seed I give this land, He sends His messenger before you, and you have taken a wife for my son from there;
8 But if the woman will not follow thee, thou shalt not be bound by the oath; only bring not my son back thither again.
and if the woman is not willing to come after you, then you have been acquitted from this my oath: only you do not cause my son to return there.”
9 The servant therefore put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his lord, and swore to him upon this word.
And the servant puts his hand under the thigh of Abraham his lord, and swears to him concerning this matter.
10 And he took ten camels of his master’s herd, and departed, carrying something of all his goods with him, and he set forward and went on to Mesopotamia to the city of Nachor.
And the servant takes ten camels of the camels of his lord and goes, also of all the goods of his lord in his hand, and he rises, and goes to Aram-Naharaim, to the city of Nahor;
11 And when he had made the camels lie down without the town near a well of water in the evening, at the time when women are wont to come out to draw water, he said:
and he causes the camels to kneel at the outside of the city, at the well of water, at evening, at the time of the coming out of the women who draw water.
12 O Lord the God of my master Abraham, meet me today, I beseech thee, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
And he says, “YHWH, God of my lord Abraham, please cause to meet before me this day—(and do kindness with my lord Abraham;
13 Behold I stand nigh the spring of water, and the daughters of the inhabitants of this city will come out to draw water.
behold, I am standing by the fountain of water, and daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water;
14 Now, therefore, the maid to whom I shall say: Let down thy pitcher that I may drink: and she shall answer, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let it be the same whom thou hast provided for thy servant Isaac: and by this I shall understand, that thou hast shown kindness to my master.
and it has been, the young person to whom I say, Please incline your pitcher and I drink, and she has said, Drink, and I also water your camels)—her [whom] You have decided for Your servant, for Isaac; and by it I know that You have done kindness with my lord.”
15 He had not yet ended these words within himself, and behold Rebecca came out, the daughter of Bathuel, son of Melcha, wife to Nachor the brother of Abraham, having a pitcher on her shoulder:
And it comes to pass, before he has finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah (who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, wife of Nahor, brother of Abraham) is coming out, and her pitcher on her shoulder,
16 An exceeding comely maid, and a most beautiful virgin, and not known to man: and she went down to the spring, and filled her pitcher and was coming back.
and the young person [is] of very good appearance, a virgin, and a man has not known her; and she goes down to the fountain, and fills her pitcher, and comes up.
17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said: Give me a little water to drink of thy pitcher.
And the servant runs to meet her and says, “Please let me swallow a little water from your pitcher”;
18 And she answered: Drink, my lord. And quickly she let down the pitcher upon her arm, and gave him drink.
and she says, “Drink, my lord”; and she hurries, and lets down her pitcher on her hand, and gives him drink.
19 And when he had drunk, she said: I will draw water for thy camels also, till they all drink.
And she finishes giving him drink and says, “Also for your camels I draw until they have finished drinking”;
20 And pouring out the pitcher into the troughs, she ran back to the well to draw water: and having drawn she gave to all the camels.
and she hurries, and empties her pitcher into the drinking-trough, and runs again to the well to draw, and draws for all his camels.
21 But he musing beheld her with silence, desirous to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.
And the man, wondering at her, remains silent, to know whether YHWH has made his way prosperous or not.
22 And after that the camels had drunk, the man took out golden earrings, weighing two sicles: and as many bracelets of ten sicles weight.
And it comes to pass, when the camels have finished drinking, that the man takes a golden ring (whose weight [is] a bekah), and two bracelets for her hands (whose weight [is] ten [bekahs] of gold),
23 And he said to her: Whose daughter art thou? tell me: is there any place in thy father’s house to lodge?
and says, “Whose daughter [are] you? Please declare to me, is the house of your father a place for us to lodge in?”
24 And she answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Melcha, whom she bore to Nachor.
And she says to him, “I [am] daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, whom she has borne to Nahor.”
25 And she said moreover to him: We have good store of both straw and hay, and a large place to lodge in.
She also says to him, “Both straw and provender [are] abundant with us, also a place to lodge in.”
26 The man bowed himself down, and adored the Lord,
And the man bows, and pays respect to YHWH,
27 Saying: Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not taken away his mercy and truth from my master, and hath brought me the straight way into the house of my master’s brother.
and says, “Blessed [is] YHWH, God of my lord Abraham, who has not left off His kindness and His truth with my lord—I [being] in the way, YHWH has led me to the house of my lord’s brothers.”
28 Then the maid ran, and told in her mother’s house, all that she had heard.
And the young person runs, and declares to the house of her mother according to these words.
29 And Rebecca had a brother named Laban, who went out in haste to the man, to the well.
And Rebekah has a brother, and his name [is] Laban, and Laban runs to the man who [is] outside, to the fountain;
30 And when he had seen the earrings and bracelets in his sister’s hands, and had heard all that she related, saying: Thus and thus the man spoke to me: he came to the man who stood by the camels, and near to the spring of water,
indeed, it comes to pass, when he sees the ring, and the bracelets on the hands of his sister, and when he hears the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus has the man spoken to me,” that he comes to the man, and behold, he is standing by the camels by the fountain.
31 And said to him: Come in, thou blessed of the Lord: why standest thou without? I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.
And he says, “Come in, O blessed one of YHWH! Why do you stand outside—and I have prepared the house and place for the camels?”
32 And he brought him in into his lodging: and he unharnessed the camels and gave straw and hay, and water to wash his feet, and the feet of the men that were come with him.
And he brings in the man into the house, and looses the camels, and gives straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the feet of the men who [are] with him:
33 And bread was set before him. But he said: I will not eat, till I tell my message. He answered him: Speak.
and sets before him to eat; but he says, “I do not eat until I have spoken my word”; and he says, “Speak.”
34 And he said: I am the servant of Abraham:
And he says, “I [am] Abraham’s servant;
35 And the Lord hath blessed my master wonderfully, and he is become great: and he hath given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, men servants and women servants, camels and asses.
and YHWH has blessed my lord exceedingly, and he is great; and He gives to him flock, and herd, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and donkeys;
36 And Sara my master’s wife hath borne my master a son in her old age, and he hath given him all that he had.
and Sarah, my lord’s wife, bears a son to my lord, after she has been aged, and he gives to him all that he has.
37 And my master made me swear, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the Chanaanites, in whose land I dwell:
And my lord causes me to swear, saying, You do not take a wife to my son from the daughters of the Canaanite, in whose land I am dwelling.
38 But thou shalt go to my father’s house, and shalt take a wife of my own kindred for my son:
If not—to the house of my father you go, and to my family, and you have taken a wife for my son.
39 But I answered my master: What if the woman will not come with me?
And I say to my lord, It may be the woman does not come after me;
40 The Lord, said he, in whose sight I walk, will send his angel with thee, and will direct thy way: and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my own kindred, and of my father’s house.
and he says to me, YHWH, before whom I have habitually walked, sends His messenger with you, and has prospered your way, and you have taken a wife for my son from my family, and from the house of my father;
41 But thou shalt be clear from my curse, when thou shalt come to my kindred, if they will not give thee one.
then you are acquitted from my oath, when you come to my family; and if they do not give [one] to you, then you have been acquitted from my oath.
42 And I came today to the well of water, and said: O Lord God of my master Abraham, if thou hast prospered my way, wherein I now walk,
And I come to the fountain today, and I say, YHWH, God of my lord Abraham, now if You are making prosperous my way in which I am going—
43 Behold I stand by the well of water, and the virgin, that shall come out to draw water, who shall hear me say: Give me a little water to drink of thy pitcher:
(behold, I am standing by the fountain of water), then the virgin is coming out to draw, and I have said to her, Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher,
44 And shall say to me: Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman, whom the Lord hath prepared for my master’s son.
and she has said to me, Both drink, and I also draw for your camels—she is the woman whom YHWH has decided for my lord’s son.
45 And whilst I pondered these things secretly with myself, Rebecca appeared coming with a pitcher, which she carried on her shoulder: and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her: Give me a little to drink.
Before I finish speaking to my heart, then behold, Rebekah is coming out, and her pitcher [is] on her shoulder, and she goes down to the fountain and draws; and I say to her, Please let me drink,
46 And she speedily let down the pitcher from her shoulder, and said to me: Both drink thou, and to thy camels I will give drink. I drank, and she watered the camels.
and she hurries and lets down her pitcher from off her and says, Drink, and I also water your camels; and I drink, and she has also watered the camels.
47 And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? And she answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Nachor, whom Melcha bore to him. So I put earrings on her to adorn her face, and I put bracelets on her hands.
And I ask her, and say, Whose daughter [are] you? And she says, Daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, whom Milcah has borne to him, and I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands,
48 And falling down I adored the Lord, blessing the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath brought me the straight way to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son.
and I bow, and pay respect before YHWH, and I bless YHWH, God of my lord Abraham, who has led me in the true way to receive the daughter of my lord’s brother for his son.
49 Wherefore if you do according to mercy and truth with my master, tell me: but if it please you otherwise, tell me that also, that I may go to the right hand, or to the left.
And now, if you are dealing kindly and truly with my lord, declare to me; and if not, declare to me; and I turn to the right or to the left.”
50 And Laban and Bathuel answered: The word hath proceeded from the Lord, we cannot speak any other thing to thee but his pleasure.
And Laban answers—Bethuel also—and they say, “The thing has gone out from YHWH; we are not able to speak to you bad or good;
51 Behold Rebecca is before thee, take her and go thy way, and let her be the wife of thy master’s son, as the Lord hath spoken.
behold, Rebekah [is] before you, take and go, and she is a wife to your lord’s son, as YHWH has spoken.”
52 Which when Abraham’s servant heard, falling down to the ground he adored the Lord.
And it comes to pass, when the servant of Abraham has heard their words, that he bows himself toward the earth before YHWH;
53 And bringing forth vessels of silver and gold, and garments, he gave them to Rebecca for a present. He offered gifts also to her brothers, and to her mother.
and the servant takes out vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and gives to Rebekah; precious things also he has given to her brother and to her mother.
54 And a banquet was made, and they ate and drank together, and lodged there. And in the morning, the servant arose, and said: Let me depart, that I may go to my master.
And they eat and drink, he and the men who [are] with him, and lodge all night; and they rise in the morning, and he says, “Send me to my lord”;
55 And her brother and mother answered: Let the maid stay at least ten days with us, and afterwards she shall depart.
and her brother says—her mother also, “Let the young person abide with us a week or ten days, afterward she goes.”
56 Stay me not, said he, because the Lord hath prospered my way: send me away, that I may go to my master.
And he says to them, “Do not delay me, seeing YHWH has prospered my way; send me away, and I go to my lord”;
57 And they said: Let us call the maid, and ask her will.
and they say, “Let us call for the young person, and inquire of her mouth”;
58 And they called her, and when she was come, they asked: Wilt thou go with this man? She said: I will go.
and they call for Rebekah, and say to her, “Do you go with this man?” And she says, “I go.”
59 So they sent her away, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his company,
And they send away their sister Rebekah, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men;
60 Wishing prosperity to their sister, and saying: Thou art our sister, mayst thou increase to thousands of thousands, and may thy seed possess the gates of their enemies.
and they bless Rebekah, and say to her, “You [are] our sister; become thousands of myriads, and your seed possesses the gate of those hating it.”
61 So Rebecca and her maids, being set upon camels, followed the man: who with speed returned to his master.
And Rebekah and her young women arise, and ride on the camels, and go after the man; and the servant takes Rebekah and goes.
62 At the same time Isaac was walking along the way to the well which is called Of the living and the seeing: for he dwelt in the south country.
And Isaac has come in from the entrance of the Well of the Living One, my Beholder; and he is dwelling in the land of the south,
63 And he was gone forth to meditate in the field, the day being now well spent: and when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels coming afar off.
and Isaac goes out to meditate in the field, at the turning of the evening, and he lifts up his eyes, and looks, and behold, camels are coming.
64 Rebecca also, when she saw Isaac, lighted off the camel,
And Rebekah lifts up her eyes, and sees Isaac, and comes down off the camel;
65 And said to the servant: Who is that man who cometh towards us along the field? And he said to her: That man is my master. But she quickly took her cloak, and covered herself.
and she says to the servant, “Who [is] this man who is walking in the field to meet us?” And the servant says, “It [is] my lord”; and she takes the veil, and covers herself.
66 And the servant told Isaac all that he had done.
And the servant recounts to Isaac all the things that he has done,
67 Who brought her into the tent of Sara his mother, and took her to wife: and he loved her so much, that it moderated the sorrow which was occasioned by his mother’s death.
and Isaac brings her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he takes Rebekah, and she becomes his wife, and he loves her, and Isaac is comforted after [the death of] his mother.
