Genesis 24
1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
Abraham by now was old, really old, and the Lord had blessed him in every possible way.
2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh:
At that time Abraham told his oldest servant who was in charge of his whole household, “Put your hand under my thigh,
3 And 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 unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
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.
4 But you shall go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
Instead, go to my homeland where my relatives live, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”
5 And the servant said unto him, Possibly the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I essentially bring your son again unto the land from whence you came?
“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?”
6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware you that you bring not my son thither again.
“No, you mustn't take my son back there,” Abraham replied.
7 The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spoke unto me, and that swore unto me, saying, Unto your seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife unto my son from thence.
“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.
8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
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.”
9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning that matter.
The servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to do as he had been told.
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 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.
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.
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.
12 And he said O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray you, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.
He prayed, “Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please let me be successful today, and please show your faithfulness 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:
Look, I'm standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming to get water.
14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down your pitcher, I pray you, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give your camels drink also: let the same be she that you have appointed for your servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that you have showed kindness unto my master.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray you, drink a little water of your pitcher.
The servant ran over to meet her and asked, “Please let me drink a few sips of water from your jar.”
18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
“Please drink, my lord,” she replied. She quickly lifted the jar down from her shoulder and held it for him to drink.
19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for your camels also, until they have done drinking.
After she finished giving him a drink, she said, “Let me get water for your camels too until they've had enough.”
20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the gutter, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
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.
21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
The man observed her in silence to see if the Lord had made his journey successful or not.
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;
Once the camels had finished drinking, he gave her a gold nose-ring and two heavy gold bracelets for her wrists.
23 And said, Whose daughter are you? tell me, I pray you: is there room in your father's house for us to lodge in?
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?”
24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
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,
25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and animal food enough, and room to lodge in.
and yes, we have room for you to spend the night.”
26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
The man kneeled down and bowed in worship to the Lord.
27 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has 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.
“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!”
28 And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.
She ran to her mother's house and told her family what had happened.
29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he ran out to meet the man who had remained 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 spoke the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.
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.
31 And he said, Come in, you blessed of the LORD; wherefore stand you without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
“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.”
32 And the man came into the house: and he unbounded his camels, and gave straw and animal food for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.
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.
33 And there was set food before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
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.
34 And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
“I'm Abraham's servant,” the man began.
35 And the LORD has blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he has given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and male servants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
“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.
36 And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him has he given all that he has.
His wife Sarah has had a son for my master even in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns.
37 And my master made me swear, saying, You shall 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, saying, ‘You must not arrange for my son to marry any daughter of the Canaanite people in whose land I'm living.
38 But you shall go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
Instead, go to my family home where my relatives live, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.’
39 And I said unto my master, Possibly the woman will not follow me.
I said to my master, ‘What if the woman refuses to come back with me?’
40 And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:
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.
41 Then shall you be clear from this my oath, when you come to my kindred; and if they give not you one, you shall be clear from my oath.
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.’
42 And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go:
Today when I arrived at the spring, I prayed, Lord, God of my master Abraham, please let the journey I have taken be successful.
43 Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin comes forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray you, a little water of your pitcher to drink;
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,’
44 And she say to me, Both drink you, and I will also draw for your camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD has appointed out for my master's son.
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.”
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 you.
“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.’
46 And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give your camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
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.
47 And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter are you? 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.
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.
48 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.
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.
49 And now if all of you 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.
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.”
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceeds from the LORD: we cannot speak unto you bad or good.
Laban and Bethuel replied, “Clearly all this is from the Lord, so we can't argue one way or the other.
51 Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her, and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as the LORD has spoken.
Rebekah's here, you can take her and leave. She can become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has decided.”
52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
As soon as Abraham's servant heard their decision, he bowed down in worship to 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 unpacked silver and gold jewelry and expensive clothes and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave valuable presents 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.
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.”
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 her mother said, “Let her stay with us for another ten days or so. She can leave after that.”
56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD has prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
“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.”
57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
“Let's call Rebekah and find out what she wants to do,” they suggested.
58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Will you go with this man? And she said, I will go.
They called Rebekah in and asked her, “Do you want to go with this man now?” “Yes, I'll go,” she replied.
59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
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.
60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, You are our sister, be you the mother of thousands of millions, and let your seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
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.”
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 on the camels. They followed Abraham's servant and left.
62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.
Meanwhile Isaac, who was living in the Negev, had just come back from Beer-lahai-roi.
63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
He went out into the fields one evening to think things over. He looked into the distance and saw camels coming.
64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
Rebekah was also keeping a look out. When she saw Isaac, she got down from her camel.
65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walks in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.
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.
66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
The servant told Isaac everything he'd 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.
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.
