Genesis 24
1 Abraham by now was old, really old, and the Lord had blessed him in every possible way.
And Abraham was old, [and] well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 At that time Abraham told his oldest servant who was in charge of his whole household, “Put your hand under my thigh,
And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
3 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.
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 unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
4 Instead, go to my homeland where my relatives live, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”
But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
5 “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?”
And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
6 “No, you mustn't take my son back there,” Abraham replied.
And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
7 “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.
The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
8 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.”
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 thither again.
9 The servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to do as he had been told.
And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
10 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.
And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master [were] in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
11 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.
And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, [even] the time that women go out to draw [water].
12 He prayed, “Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please let me be successful today, and please show your faithfulness to my master Abraham.
And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
13 Look, I'm standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming 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 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.”
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 hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
15 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.
And it came to pass, before he had done 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 very beautiful, a virgin—no one had slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came back up.
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 The servant ran over to meet her and asked, “Please let me drink a few sips of water from your jar.”
And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
18 “Please drink, my lord,” she replied. She quickly lifted the jar down from her shoulder and held it for him to drink.
And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
19 After she finished giving him a drink, she said, “Let me get water for your camels too until they've had enough.”
And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw [water] for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
20 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.
And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw [water], and drew for all his camels.
21 The man observed her in silence to see if the Lord had made his journey successful or not.
And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 Once the camels had finished drinking, he gave her a gold nose-ring and two heavy gold bracelets for her wrists.
And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten [shekels] weight of gold;
23 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?”
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 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,
And she said unto him, I [am] the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
25 and yes, we have room for you to spend the night.”
She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
26 The man kneeled down and bowed in worship to the Lord.
And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
27 “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!”
And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I [being] in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.
28 She ran to her mother's house and told her family what had happened.
And the damsel ran, and told [them of] her mother’s house these things.
29 Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he ran out to meet the man who had remained at the spring.
And Rebekah had a brother, and his name [was] Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
30 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.
And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.
31 “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.”
And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
32 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.
And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that [were] with him.
33 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.
And there was set [meat] before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
34 “I'm Abraham's servant,” the man began.
And he said, I [am] Abraham’s servant.
35 “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.
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 menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
36 His wife Sarah has had a son for my master even in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns.
And Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.
37 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.
And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
38 Instead, go to my family home where my relatives live, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.’
But thou shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
39 I said to my master, ‘What if the woman refuses to come back with me?’
And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
40 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.
And he said unto 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 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.’
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 Today when I arrived at the spring, I prayed, Lord, God of my master Abraham, please let the journey I have taken be successful.
And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:
43 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,’
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 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.”
And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: [let] the same [be] the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master’s son.
45 “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.’
And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew [water: ] and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
46 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.
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.
47 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.
And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter [art] thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
48 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.
And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter unto his son.
49 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.”
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.
50 Laban and Bethuel replied, “Clearly all this is from the Lord, so we can't argue one way or the other.
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
51 Rebekah's here, you can take her and leave. She can become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has decided.”
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 As soon as Abraham's servant heard their decision, he bowed down in worship 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 unpacked silver and gold jewelry and expensive clothes and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave valuable presents to her brother and her mother.
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 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.”
And they did eat and drink, he and the men that [were] with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.
55 But her brother and her mother said, “Let her stay with us for another ten days or so. She can leave after that.”
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 “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.”
And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
57 “Let's call Rebekah and find out what she wants to do,” they suggested.
And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
58 They called Rebekah in and asked her, “Do you want to go with this man now?” “Yes, I'll go,” she replied.
And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
59 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.
And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.
60 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.”
And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou [art] our sister, be thou [the mother] of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
61 Then Rebekah and her servant girls got on the camels. They followed Abraham's servant and left.
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 Meanwhile Isaac, who was living in the Negev, had just come back from Beer-lahai-roi.
And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the south country.
63 He went out into the fields one evening to think things over. He looked into the distance and saw camels coming.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels [were] coming.
64 Rebekah was also keeping a look out. When she saw Isaac, she got down from her camel.
And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
65 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.
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.
66 The servant told Isaac everything he'd done.
And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
67 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.
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].
