Genesis 24
1 Abraham by now was old, really old, and the Lord had blessed him in every possible way.
Abraham was old, and well advanced in age. 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,
Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please 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.
I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, amongst whom I live.
4 Instead, go to my homeland where my relatives live, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”
But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take 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 isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?”
6 “No, you mustn't take my son back there,” Abraham replied.
Abraham said to him, “Beware that you don’t bring my son there 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, the God of heaven—who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, ‘I will give this land to your offspring—he will send his angel before you, and you shall take 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.”
If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son there 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.
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, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, 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 at the time of 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.
He said, “LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success today, and show kindness 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.
Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. 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, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,’—let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness 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.
Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher on 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.
The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin. No man had known her. She went down to the spring, 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.”
The servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a drink, a little 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 lord.” She hurried, and 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 also draw for your camels, 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.
She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, 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.
The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know 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.
As the camels had done drinking, the man took a golden ring 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 are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay?”
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 the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.”
25 and yes, we have room for you to spend the night.”
She said moreover to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge in.”
26 The man kneeled down and bowed in worship to the Lord.
The man bowed 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!”
He said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth towards my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the way to the house of my master’s relatives.”
28 She ran to her mother's house and told her family what had happened.
The young lady ran, and told her mother’s house about these words.
29 Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he ran out to meet the man who had remained at the spring.
Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to 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 saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “This is what the man said to me,” he came to the man. 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.”
He said, “Come in, you blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside? 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.
The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and feed for the camels, and water 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.
Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my message.” 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.
The LORD has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. The LORD 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. He has given all that he has 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 shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,
38 Instead, go to my family home where my relatives live, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.’
but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’
39 I said to my master, ‘What if the woman refuses to come back with me?’
I asked my master, ‘What if 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.
He said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my relatives, 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 you will be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall 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.
I came today to the spring, and said, ‘The LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you 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 am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes out to draw, to whom I will 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.”
then she tells me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed 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.’
Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me 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 hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels a drink.
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 Milcah bore to him.’ I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on 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.
I bowed my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, 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.
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 if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. 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, “The thing proceeds from the LORD. We can’t speak to you 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 you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the LORD 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 earth to the LORD.
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 jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and 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.”
They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and 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 lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will 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.”
He said to them, “Don’t hinder me, since the LORD has 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.
They said, “We will call the young lady, 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.
They called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” 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.
They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, 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 let your offspring 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.
Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. 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.
Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South.
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 at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. Behold, there were camels coming.
64 Rebekah was also keeping a look out. When she saw Isaac, she got down from her camel.
Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got 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.
She said to the servant, “Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” She took her veil, and covered herself.
66 The servant told Isaac everything he'd done.
The servant told 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.
Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
