Genesis 24
1 And Abraham [is] old, he has entered into days, and YHWH has blessed Abraham in all [things];
And Abraham was old, well stricken in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 and Abraham says to his servant, the eldest of his house, who is ruling over all that he has, “Please put your hand under my thigh,
And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had: 'Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh.
3 and I cause you to swear by YHWH, God of the heavens and God of the earth, that you do not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanite, in the midst of whom I am dwelling;
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 for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell.
4 but to my land and to my family you go, and have taken a wife for my son, for Isaac.”
But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son, even for Isaac.'
5 And the servant says to him, “It may be the woman is not willing to come after me to this land; do I at all cause your son to return to the land from where you came out?”
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 back unto the land from whence thou camest?'
6 And Abraham says to him, “Take heed to yourself lest you cause my son to return there;
And Abraham said unto him: 'Beware thou that thou bring not my son back thither.
7 YHWH, God of the heavens, who has taken me from the house of my father, and from the land of my birth, and who has spoken to me, and who has sworn to me, saying, To your seed I give this land, He sends His messenger before you, and you have taken a wife for my son from there;
The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my nativity, and who spoke unto me, and who swore unto me, saying: Unto thy seed will I give this land; He will send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife for my son from thence.
8 and if the woman is not willing to come after you, then you have been acquitted from this my oath: only you do not cause my son to return there.”
And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath; only thou shalt not bring my son back thither.'
9 And the servant puts his hand under the thigh of Abraham his lord, and swears to him concerning this matter.
And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
10 And the servant takes ten camels of the camels of his lord and goes, also of all the goods of his lord in his hand, and he rises, and goes to Aram-Naharaim, to the city of Nahor;
And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed; having all goodly things of his master's in his hand; and he arose, and went to Aram-naharaim, unto the city of Nahor.
11 and he causes the camels to kneel at the outside of the city, at the well of water, at evening, at the time of the coming out of the women who draw water.
And he made the camels to kneel down without the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.
12 And he says, “YHWH, God of my lord Abraham, please cause to meet before me this day—(and do kindness with my lord Abraham;
And he said: 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I pray Thee, good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.
13 behold, I am standing by the fountain of water, and daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water;
Behold, I stand by the fountain of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water.
14 and it has been, the young person to whom I say, Please incline your pitcher and I drink, and she has said, Drink, and I also water your camels)—her [whom] You have decided for Your servant, for Isaac; and by it I know that You have done kindness with my lord.”
So 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, even for Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast shown kindness unto my master.'
15 And it comes to pass, before he has finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah (who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, wife of Nahor, brother of Abraham) is coming out, and her pitcher on her shoulder,
And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
16 and the young person [is] of very good appearance, a virgin, and a man has not known her; and she goes down to the fountain, and fills her pitcher, and comes up.
And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her; and she went down to the fountain, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
17 And the servant runs to meet her and says, “Please let me swallow a little water from your pitcher”;
And the servant ran to meet her, and said: 'Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher.'
18 and she says, “Drink, my lord”; and she hurries, and lets down her pitcher on her hand, and gives him drink.
And she said: 'Drink, my lord'; and she hastened, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
19 And she finishes giving him drink and says, “Also for your camels I draw until they have finished drinking”;
And when she had done giving him drink, she said: 'I will draw for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.'
20 and she hurries, and empties her pitcher into the drinking-trough, and runs again to the well to draw, and draws for all his camels.
And she hastened, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.
21 And the man, wondering at her, remains silent, to know whether YHWH has made his way prosperous or not.
And the man looked stedfastly on her; holding his peace, to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 And it comes to pass, when the camels have finished drinking, that the man takes a golden ring (whose weight [is] a bekah), and two bracelets for her hands (whose weight [is] ten [bekahs] of gold),
And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
23 and says, “Whose daughter [are] you? Please declare to me, is the house of your father a place for us to lodge in?”
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 And she says to him, “I [am] daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, whom she has borne to Nahor.”
And she said unto him: 'I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore unto Nahor.'
25 She also says to him, “Both straw and provender [are] abundant with us, also a place to lodge in.”
She said moreover unto him: 'We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.'
26 And the man bows, and pays respect to YHWH,
And the man bowed his head, and prostrated himself before the LORD.
27 and says, “Blessed [is] YHWH, God of my lord Abraham, who has not left off His kindness and His truth with my lord—I [being] in the way, YHWH has led me to the house of my lord’s brothers.”
And he said: 'Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master; as for me, the LORD hath led me in the way to the house of my master's brethren.'
28 And the young person runs, and declares to the house of her mother according to these words.
And the damsel ran, and told her mother's house according to these words.
29 And Rebekah has a brother, and his name [is] Laban, and Laban runs to the man who [is] outside, to the fountain;
And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban; and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the fountain.
30 indeed, it comes to pass, when he sees the ring, and the bracelets on the hands of his sister, and when he hears the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus has the man spoken to me,” that he comes to the man, and behold, he is standing by the camels by the fountain.
And it came to pass, when he saw the ring, and the 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 fountain.
31 And he says, “Come in, O blessed one of YHWH! Why do you stand outside—and I have prepared the house and place for the camels?”
And he said: 'Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have cleared the house, and made room for the camels.'
32 And he brings in the man into the house, and looses the camels, and gives straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the feet of the men who [are] with him:
And the man came into the house, and he ungirded the camels; and he gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men that were with him.
33 and sets before him to eat; but he says, “I do not eat until I have spoken my word”; and he says, “Speak.”
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.'
34 And he says, “I [am] Abraham’s servant;
And he said: 'I am Abraham's servant.
35 and YHWH has blessed my lord exceedingly, and he is great; and He gives to him flock, and herd, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, 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 men-servants and maid-servants, and camels and asses.
36 and Sarah, my lord’s wife, bears a son to my lord, after she has been aged, and he gives to him all that he has.
And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and unto him hath he given all that he hath.
37 And my lord causes me to swear, saying, You do not take a wife to my son from the daughters of the Canaanite, in whose land I am dwelling.
And my master made me swear, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell.
38 If not—to the house of my father you go, and to my family, and you have taken a wife for my son.
But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son.
39 And I say to my lord, It may be the woman does not come after me;
And I said unto my master: Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
40 and he says to me, YHWH, before whom I have habitually walked, sends His messenger with you, and has prospered your way, and you have taken a wife for my son from my family, and from the house of my father;
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 then you are acquitted from my oath, when you come to my family; and if they do not give [one] to you, then you have been acquitted from my oath.
then shalt thou be clear from my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give her not to thee, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
42 And I come to the fountain today, and I say, YHWH, God of my lord Abraham, now if You are making prosperous my way in which I am going—
And I came this day unto the fountain, and said: O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now Thou do prosper my way which I go:
43 (behold, I am standing by the fountain of water), then the virgin is coming out to draw, and I have said to her, Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher,
behold, I stand by the fountain of water; and let it come to pass, that the maiden that cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say: Give me, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher to drink;
44 and she has said to me, Both drink, and I also draw for your camels—she is the woman whom YHWH has decided for my lord’s son.
and she shall 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 for my master's son.
45 Before I finish speaking to my heart, then behold, Rebekah is coming out, and her pitcher [is] on her shoulder, and she goes down to the fountain and draws; and I say to her, Please let me drink,
And before I had done speaking to my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the fountain, and drew. And I said unto her: Let me drink, I pray thee.
46 and she hurries and lets down her pitcher from off her and says, Drink, and I also water your camels; and I drink, and she has also watered 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 And I ask her, and say, Whose daughter [are] you? And she says, Daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, whom Milcah has borne to him, and I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands,
And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? And she said: The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore unto him. And I put the ring upon her nose, and the bracelets upon her hands.
48 and I bow, and pay respect before YHWH, and I bless YHWH, God of my lord Abraham, who has led me in the true way to receive the daughter of my lord’s brother for his son.
And I bowed my head, and prostrated myself before 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 And now, if you are dealing kindly and truly with my lord, declare to me; and if not, declare to me; and I turn to the right or to the left.”
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 And Laban answers—Bethuel also—and they say, “The thing has gone out from YHWH; we are not able to speak to you bad or good;
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said: 'The thing proceedeth from the LORD; we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
51 behold, Rebekah [is] before you, take and go, and she is a wife to your lord’s son, as YHWH has spoken.”
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 And it comes to pass, when the servant of Abraham has heard their words, that he bows himself toward the earth before YHWH;
And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth unto the LORD.
53 and the servant takes out vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and gives to Rebekah; precious things also he has given to her brother and to 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 And they eat and drink, he and the men who [are] with him, and lodge all night; and they rise in the morning, and he says, “Send me to my lord”;
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 and her brother says—her mother also, “Let the young person abide with us a week or ten days, afterward she goes.”
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 And he says to them, “Do not delay me, seeing YHWH has prospered my way; send me away, and I go to my lord”;
And he said unto them: 'Delay me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.'
57 and they say, “Let us call for the young person, and inquire of her mouth”;
And they said: 'We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.'
58 and they call for Rebekah, and say to her, “Do you go with this man?” And she says, “I go.”
And they called Rebekah, and said unto her: 'Wilt thou go with this man?' And she said: 'I will go.'
59 And they send away their sister Rebekah, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men;
And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
60 and they bless Rebekah, and say to her, “You [are] our sister; become thousands of myriads, and your seed possesses the gate of those hating it.”
And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her: 'Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them.'
61 And Rebekah and her young women arise, and ride on the camels, and go after the man; and the servant takes Rebekah and goes.
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 And Isaac has come in from the entrance of the Well of the Living One, my Beholder; and he is dwelling in the land of the south,
And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the land of the South.
63 and Isaac goes out to meditate in the field, at the turning of the evening, and he lifts up his eyes, and looks, and behold, camels are coming.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide; and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming.
64 And Rebekah lifts up her eyes, and sees Isaac, and comes down off the camel;
And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel.
65 and she says to the servant, “Who [is] this man who is walking in the field to meet us?” And the servant says, “It [is] my lord”; and she takes the veil, and covers herself.
And she said unto the servant: 'What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us?' And the servant said: 'It is my master.' And she took her veil, and covered herself.
66 And the servant recounts to Isaac all the things that he has done,
And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
67 and Isaac brings her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he takes Rebekah, and she becomes his wife, and he loves her, and Isaac is comforted after [the death of] his mother.
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 for his mother.
