Genesis 24
1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and YHWH had blessed Abraham in all things.
By now Abraham was old and well along in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
2 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:
So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
3 And I will make thee swear by YHWH, the Elohim of heaven, and the Elohim of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling,
4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”
5 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?
The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?”
6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
Abraham replied, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there.
7 YHWH Elohim 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.
The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you so that you can take a wife for my son from there.
8 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.
And if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”
9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
10 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.
Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim.
11 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.
As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water.
12 And he said, O YHWH, Elohim of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
“O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.
14 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.
Now may it happen that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well’—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 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.
Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.
16 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.
Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin who had not had relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up again.
17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
So the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jar.”
18 And she said, Drink, my master: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
“Drink, my lord,” she replied, and she quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
After she had given him a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels, until they have had enough to drink.”
20 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.
And she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran back to the well to draw water, until she had drawn water for all his camels.
21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether YHWH had made his journey prosperous or not.
Meanwhile, the man watched her silently to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success.
22 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;
And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka, and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels.
23 And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?
“Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor.”
25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
Then she added, “We have plenty of straw and feed, as well as a place for you to spend the night.”
26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped YHWH.
Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,
27 And he said, Blessed be YHWH Elohim of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, YHWH led me to the house of my master's brethren.
saying, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”
28 And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.
The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things.
29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he rushed out to the man at the spring.
30 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.
As soon as he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and heard Rebekah’s words, “The man said this to me,” he went and found the man standing by the camels near the spring.
31 And he said, Come in, thou blessed of YHWH; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
“Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” said Laban. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”
32 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.
So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of his companions.
33 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.
Then a meal was set before the man, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I came to say.” So Laban said, “Please speak.”
34 And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
“I am Abraham’s servant,” he replied.
35 And YHWH 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.
“The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.
36 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.
My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns.
37 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:
My master made me swear an oath and said, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell,
38 But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
but you shall go to my father’s house and to my kindred to take a wife for my son.’
39 And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’
40 And he said unto me, YHWH, 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:
And he told me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you may take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house.
41 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.
And when you go to my kindred, if they refuse to give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’
42 And I came this day unto the well, and said, O YHWH, Elohim of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go;
So when I came to the spring today, I prayed: O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if only You would make my journey a success!
43 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;
Here I am, standing beside this spring. Now if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jar,’
44 And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom YHWH hath appointed out for my master's son.
and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will draw water for your camels as well,’ may she be the woman the LORD has appointed for my master’s son.
45 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.
And before I had finished praying in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’
46 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.
She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels.
47 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.
Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.
48 And I bowed down my head, and worshipped YHWH, and blessed YHWH Elohim of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.
Then I bowed down and worshiped the LORD; and I blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right road to take the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.
49 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.
Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; but if not, let me know, so that I may go elsewhere.”
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from YHWH: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter.
51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as YHWH hath spoken.
Rebekah is here before you. Take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, just as the LORD has decreed.”
52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped YHWH, bowing himself to the earth.
When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
53 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.
Then he brought out jewels of silver and gold, and articles of clothing, and he gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother.
54 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.
Then he and the men with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, “Send me on my way to my master.”
55 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.
But her brother and mother said, “Let the girl remain with us ten days or so. After that, she may go.”
56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing YHWH hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
But he replied, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my journey a success. Send me on my way so that I may go to my master.”
57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
So they said, “We will call the girl and ask her opinion.”
58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she replied.
59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men.
60 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.
And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands upon thousands. May your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.”
61 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.
Then Rebekah and her servant girls got ready, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.
62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the south country.
Now Isaac had just returned from Beer-lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negev.
63 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.
Early in the evening, Isaac went out to the field to meditate, and looking up, he saw the camels approaching.
64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
And when Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel
65 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.
and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “It is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.
66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
Then the servant told Isaac all that he had done.
67 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.
And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.
