Genesis 24
1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in days, and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
Now Abraham was old; and advanced in age: and the Lord had blessed him in all things.
2 And Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household, who was in charge over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh,
And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was ruler over all he had: Put thy hand under my thigh,
3 and I will make you swear by the God of heaven and earth, that you must not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,
That I may make thee swear by the Lord the God of heaven and earth, that thou take not a wife for my son, of the daughters of the Chanaanites, among whom I dwell:
4 but you must go to my country and to my relatives, and get a wife for my son Isaac."
But that thou go to my own country and kindred, and take a wife from thence for my son Isaac.
5 And the servant asked him, "What if the woman isn't willing to follow me to this land? Must I then bring your son back to the land from which you came?"
The servant answered: If the woman will not come with me into this land, must I bring thy son back again to the place, from whence thou camest out?
6 Then Abraham told him, "Be careful that you do not take my son back there.
And Abraham said: Beware thou never bring my son back again thither.
7 Now the God of heaven, who took me from my father's household and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'I will give this land to your offspring' -- he will send his angel before you, and you will get a wife for my son from there.
The Lord God of heaven, who took me out of my father’s house, and out of my native country, who spoke to me, and swore to me, saying: To thy seed will I give this land: he will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take from thence a wife for my son.
8 But if the woman isn't willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath to me. Only you must not bring my son back there."
But if the woman will not follow thee, thou shalt not be bound by the oath; only bring not my son back thither again.
9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and gave his oath to him concerning this matter.
The servant therefore put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his lord, and swore to him upon this word.
10 Then the servant took ten camels from his master's camels and departed, having a variety of good things from his master at his disposal, and he set out and went to Aram Naharaim, to the city of Nahor.
And he took ten camels of his master’s herd, and departed, carrying something of all his goods with him, and he set forward and went on to Mesopotamia to the city of Nachor.
11 And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.
And when he had made the camels lie down without the town near a well of water in the evening, at the time when women are wont to come out to draw water, he said:
12 Then he said, "God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show kindness to my master Abraham.
O Lord the God of my master Abraham, meet me today, I beseech thee, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13 Look, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
Behold I stand nigh the spring of water, and the daughters of the inhabitants of this city will come out to draw water.
14 Now may it happen that the young woman to whom I will say, 'Please lower your jug that I may drink,' and she answers, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,'—her you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."
Now, therefore, the maid to whom I shall say: Let down thy pitcher that I may drink: and she shall answer, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let it be the same whom thou hast provided for thy servant Isaac: and by this I shall understand, that thou hast shown kindness to my master.
15 And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that look, Rebekah was coming out with her jug on her shoulder—who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother.
He had not yet ended these words within himself, and behold Rebecca came out, the daughter of Bathuel, son of Melcha, wife to Nachor the brother of Abraham, having a pitcher on her shoulder:
16 Now the young woman was very beautiful in appearance, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. And she went down to the spring and filled her jug and came up.
An exceeding comely maid, and a most beautiful virgin, and not known to man: and she went down to the spring, and filled her pitcher and was coming back.
17 Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please give me a little water to drink from your jug."
And the servant ran to meet her, and said: Give me a little water to drink of thy pitcher.
18 So she said, "Drink, my lord." And she hurried and let down her jug to her hands, and gave him a drink.
And she answered: Drink, my lord. And quickly she let down the pitcher upon her arm, and gave him drink.
19 Now when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished drinking."
And when he had drunk, she said: I will draw water for thy camels also, till they all drink.
20 So she hurried and emptied her jug into the trough and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.
And pouring out the pitcher into the troughs, she ran back to the well to draw water: and having drawn she gave to all the camels.
21 And the man watched her in silence so as to know whether God had made his journey successful or not.
But he musing beheld her with silence, desirous to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 And it happened, as the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a gold ring weighing a beka, which he put on her nose, and two bracelets for her hands weighing ten pieces of gold,
And after that the camels had drunk, the man took out golden earrings, weighing two sicles: and as many bracelets of ten sicles weight.
23 and said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to lodge?"
And he said to her: Whose daughter art thou? tell me: is there any place in thy father’s house to lodge?
24 Then she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."
And she answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Melcha, whom she bore to Nachor.
25 And she also said to him, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room to lodge."
And she said moreover to him: We have good store of both straw and hay, and a large place to lodge in.
26 Then the man bowed his head and worshiped God,
The man bowed himself down, and adored the Lord,
27 and said, "Blessed be the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, he has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."
Saying: Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not taken away his mercy and truth from my master, and hath brought me the straight way into the house of my master’s brother.
28 Then the young woman ran, and told her mother's household about these words.
Then the maid ran, and told in her mother’s house, all that she had heard.
29 Now Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban, and he ran out to the man at the spring.
And Rebecca had a brother named Laban, who went out in haste to the man, to the well.
30 And it happened, when he saw the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "This is what the man said to me," that he went to the man. And look, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
And when he had seen the earrings and bracelets in his sister’s hands, and had heard all that she related, saying: Thus and thus the man spoke to me: he came to the man who stood by the camels, and near to the spring of water,
31 And he said, "Come in, you blessed of God. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and room for the camels."
And said to him: Come in, thou blessed of the Lord: why standest thou without? I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.
32 So the man went into the house and he unloaded the camels. And he gave straw and fodder for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
And he brought him in into his lodging: and he unharnessed the camels and gave straw and hay, and water to wash his feet, and the feet of the men that were come with him.
33 And he set before him food to eat, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told my message." And he said, "Say it."
And bread was set before him. But he said: I will not eat, till I tell my message. He answered him: Speak.
34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.
And he said: I am the servant of Abraham:
35 And the Lord has blessed my master greatly, so that he has become great, and he has given him sheep and cattle, and silver and gold, and male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys.
And the Lord hath blessed my master wonderfully, and he is become great: and he hath given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, men servants and women servants, camels and asses.
36 And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has.
And Sara my master’s wife hath borne my master a son in her old age, and he hath given him all that he had.
37 Now my master put me under oath, saying, 'You must not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,
And my master made me swear, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the Chanaanites, in whose land I dwell:
38 but you must go to my father's house, and to my relatives, and get a wife for my son.'
But thou shalt go to my father’s house, and shalt take a wife of my own kindred for my son:
39 And I said to my master, 'What if the woman will not follow me?'
But I answered my master: What if the woman will not come with me?
40 But he said to me, 'God, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and make your journey successful, and you will get a wife for my son from my relatives, and of my father's house.
The Lord, said he, in whose sight I walk, will send his angel with thee, and will direct thy way: and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my own kindred, and of my father’s house.
41 Then will you be free from my oath, when you come to my relatives. And if they do not give her to you, then you will be free from my oath.'
But thou shalt be clear from my curse, when thou shalt come to my kindred, if they will not give thee one.
42 So today I came to the spring, and said, 'God of my master Abraham, if now you will make my journey successful in which I go—
And I came today to the well of water, and said: O Lord God of my master Abraham, if thou hast prospered my way, wherein I now walk,
43 look, I am standing by this spring of water, and may it happen that the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I will say, "Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,"
Behold I stand by the well of water, and the virgin, that shall come out to draw water, who shall hear me say: Give me a little water to drink of thy pitcher:
44 and she will say to me, "Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,"—may she be the woman who has been chosen for my master's son.'
And 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 prepared for my master’s son.
45 Before I had finished praying in my heart, look, Rebekah came out with her jug on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring, and drew. And I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'
And whilst I pondered these things secretly with myself, Rebecca appeared coming with a pitcher, which she carried on her shoulder: and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her: Give me a little to drink.
46 And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.' So I drank, and she also gave the camels water.
And she speedily let down the pitcher from her shoulder, and said to me: Both drink thou, and to thy camels I will give drink. I drank, and she watered the camels.
47 Then I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' And she replied, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists.
And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? And she answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Nachor, whom Melcha bore to him. So I put earrings on her to adorn her face, and I put bracelets on her hands.
48 Then I bowed my head and worshiped God, and blessed the God of my master Abraham, who had guided me on the right road to find the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son.
And falling down I adored the Lord, blessing the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath brought me the straight way to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son.
49 Now if you will show kindness and truth to my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left."
Wherefore if you do according to mercy and truth with my master, tell me: but if it please you otherwise, tell me that also, that I may go to the right hand, or to the left.
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The matter comes from God. We can't speak to you bad or good.
And Laban and Bathuel answered: The word hath proceeded from the Lord, we cannot speak any other thing to thee but his pleasure.
51 Look, Rebekah is before you. Take, and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as God has spoken."
Behold Rebecca is before thee, take her and go thy way, and let her be the wife of thy master’s son, as the Lord hath spoken.
52 And it happened when Abraham's servant heard their words, that he bowed himself down to the ground.
Which when Abraham’s servant heard, falling down to the ground he adored the Lord.
53 Then the servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. And he also gave valuable gifts to her brother and to her mother.
And bringing forth vessels of silver and gold, and garments, he gave them to Rebecca for a present. He offered gifts also to her brothers, and to her mother.
54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and spent the night. Then they got up in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master."
And a banquet was made, and they ate and drank together, and lodged there. And in the morning, the servant arose, and said: Let me depart, that I may go to my master.
55 But her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman stay with us ten days or so. After that she may go."
And her brother and mother answered: Let the maid stay at least ten days with us, and afterwards she shall depart.
56 But he said to them, "Do not delay me, seeing that he has made my journey successful. Send me away that I may go to my master."
Stay me not, said he, because the Lord hath prospered my way: send me away, that I may go to my master.
57 Then they said, "We will call the young woman and ask her."
And they said: Let us call the maid, and ask her will.
58 So they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she replied, "I will go."
And they called her, and when she was come, they asked: Wilt thou go with this man? She said: I will go.
59 So they sent away their sister Rebekah, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
So they sent her away, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his company,
60 And 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."
Wishing prosperity to their sister, and saying: Thou art our sister, mayst thou increase to thousands of thousands, and may thy seed possess the gates of their enemies.
61 And Rebekah and her female servants got ready, and they rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went on his way.
So Rebecca and her maids, being set upon camels, followed the man: who with speed returned to his master.
62 Now Isaac had come from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the land of the Negev.
At the same time Isaac was walking along the way to the well which is called Of the living and the seeing: for he dwelt in the south country.
63 And Isaac went out in the field to think in the early evening. And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and look, he saw camels approaching.
And he was gone forth to meditate in the field, the day being now well spent: and when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels coming afar off.
64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel.
Rebecca also, when she saw Isaac, lighted off the camel,
65 And she asked the servant, "Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?" And the servant said, "It is my master." Then she took her veil and covered herself.
And said to the servant: Who is that man who cometh towards us along the field? And he said to her: That man is my master. But she quickly took her cloak, and covered herself.
66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
And the servant told Isaac all that he had done.
67 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.
Who brought her into the tent of Sara his mother, and took her to wife: and he loved her so much, that it moderated the sorrow which was occasioned by his mother’s death.
