Genesis 24
1 Abraham by now was old, really old, and the Lord had blessed him in every possible way.
Now Abraham was very old and Yahweh 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,
Abraham said to his servant, the one who was the oldest of his household and who was in charge of all that he had, “Put your 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 you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I make my home.
4 Instead, go to my homeland where my relatives live, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”
But you will go to my country, and to my relatives, and get a wife for 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?”
The servant said to him, “What if the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land? Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?”
6 “No, you mustn't take my son back there,” Abraham replied.
Abraham said to him, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there!
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.
Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my relatives, and who promised me with a solemn oath saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land,' he will send his angel before you, and you will get a wife for my son from there.
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.”
But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine. Only you are not to take my son back there.”
9 The servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to do as he had been told.
So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this 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.
The servant took ten of his master's camels and departed. He also took with him all kinds of gifts from his master. He departed and went to the region of Aram Naharaim, to 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.
He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water. It was evening, 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.
Then he said, “Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, grant me success today and show covenant faithfulness to my master Abraham.
13 Look, I'm standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming to get water.
Look, here I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming 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.”
Let it happen like this. When I say to a young woman, 'Please lower your pitcher so that I may drink,' and she says to me, 'Drink, and I will water your camels too,' then let her be the one that you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown covenant faithfulness to 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.
It came about that even before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out with her water pitcher on her shoulder. Rebekah was born to Bethuel son of Milkah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother.
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.
The young woman was very beautiful and a virgin. No man had slept with her. She went down to the spring 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.”
Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little drink of water from your pitcher.”
18 “Please drink, my lord,” she replied. She quickly lifted the jar down from her shoulder and held it for him to drink.
She said, “Drink, my master,” and she quickly let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink.
19 After she finished giving him a drink, she said, “Let me get water for your camels too until they've had enough.”
When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished 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.
So she hurried and emptied her pitcher into the trough, then ran again to the well to draw water, and drew water for all his camels.
21 The man observed her in silence to see if the Lord had made his journey successful or not.
The man watched her in silence to see whether Yahweh had prospered his journey or not.
22 Once the camels had finished drinking, he gave her a gold nose-ring and two heavy gold bracelets for her wrists.
As the camels finished drinking, the man brought out a gold nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two gold bracelets for her arms weighing ten shekels,
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 asked, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me please, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?”
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,
She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, whom she bore to Nahor.”
25 and yes, we have room for you to spend the night.”
She also said to him, “We have plenty of both straw and feed, and also room for you to spend the night.”
26 The man kneeled down and bowed in worship to the Lord.
Then the man bowed down and worshiped Yahweh.
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!”
He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his covenant faithfulness and his trustworthiness toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me directly to the house of my master's relatives.”
28 She ran to her mother's house and told her family what had happened.
Then the young woman ran and told her mother's household about all of these things.
29 Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he ran out to meet the man who had remained at the spring.
Now Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran to the man who was out at the road by the spring.
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.
When he had seen the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and when he had heard the words of Rebekah his sister, “This is what the man said to me,” he went to the man, and, behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
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.”
Then Laban said, “Come, you blessed of Yahweh. Why are you standing outside? I have prepared the house, and a place 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.
So the man came to the house and he unloaded the camels. The camels were given straw and feed, and water was provided to wash his feet and the feet of the men who 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.
They set food before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.” So Laban said, “Speak on.”
34 “I'm Abraham's servant,” the man began.
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.
Yahweh has blessed my master very much and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
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.
Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master when she was old, and he has given everything that he owns to him.
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.
My master made me swear, saying, 'You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I make my home.
38 Instead, go to my family home where my relatives live, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.’
Instead, you must go to my father's family, and to my relatives, and get a wife for my son.'
39 I said to my master, ‘What if the woman refuses to come back with me?’
I said to my master, 'Perhaps 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.
But he said to me, 'Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you and he will prosper your way, so that you will get a wife for my son from among my relatives and from my father's family line.
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.’
But you will be free from my oath if you come to my relatives and they will not give her to you. Then you will be free 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.
So I arrived today at the spring, and said, 'O Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, please, if you do indeed intend to make my journey successful—
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,’
here I am, standing by the spring of water—let the young woman who comes out to draw water, the woman to whom I say, “Please give me a little water from your 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.”
the woman who says to me, “Drink, and I will also draw water for your camels”—let her be the woman whom you, Yahweh, have chosen 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.’
Even before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'
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.
She quickly lowered her pitcher from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I will give your camels water also.' So I drank, and she watered the camels 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.
I asked her and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milkah bore to him.' Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms.
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.
Then I bowed down and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to find the daughter of my master's relative for 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.”
Now therefore, if you are prepared to show covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me, so 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 has come from Yahweh; we cannot speak to you either 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.”
Look, Rebekah is before you. Take her and go, so she may be the wife of your master's son, as Yahweh has spoken.”
52 As soon as Abraham's servant heard their decision, he bowed down in worship to the Lord.
When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the ground to Yahweh.
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.
The servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and to her mother.
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.”
Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank. They stayed there overnight, and when they arose in the morning, he said, “Send me away to 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.”
Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us for a few more days, at least ten. After that she may 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.”
But he said to them, “Do not hinder me, since Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me on my way so that I may go to my master.”
57 “Let's call Rebekah and find out what she wants to do,” they suggested.
They said, “We will call the young woman and ask her.”
58 They called Rebekah in and asked her, “Do you want to go with this man now?” “Yes, I'll go,” she replied.
So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” She replied, “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.
So they sent their sister Rebekah, along with her female servant, on her journey with 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.”
They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, “Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and may your descendants possess the gate of those who hate them.”
61 Then Rebekah and her servant girls got on the camels. They followed Abraham's servant and left.
Then Rebekah arose, and she and her servant girls mounted the camels, and followed the man. Thus 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.
Now Isaac was living in the Negev, and had just returned from Beer Lahai Roi.
63 He went out into the fields one evening to think things over. He looked into the distance and saw camels coming.
Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening. When he looked up and saw, behold, there were camels coming!
64 Rebekah was also keeping a look out. When she saw Isaac, she got down from her camel.
Rebekah looked, and when she saw Isaac, she jumped down from 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.
She said to the servant, “Who is that man who is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil, and covered herself.
66 The servant told Isaac everything he'd done.
The servant recounted to Isaac all the 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.
Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
