Genesis 24
1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in days, and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
And Abraham was old, well stricken in years; and the Lord had blessed Abraham 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 Abraham said unto his servant, the eldest of his house, who ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, 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,
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 unto my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, 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 unto my country, and to my birthplace shalt thou go, and take a wife unto my son, unto 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?"
And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I then bring thy son again unto the land from which thou camest?
6 Then Abraham told him, "Be careful that you do not take my son back there.
And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou, that thou bring not my son thither again.
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, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my birth, 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 unto my son from there.
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 should not be willing to follow thee, then shalt, thou be clear from this my oath: only my son thou shalt not bring 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.
And the put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
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 the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed, with all kinds of precious things of his master in his hand; and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto 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 he made the camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, at the time that the women go out to draw water.
12 Then he said, "God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show kindness to my master Abraham.
And he said, O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and deal kindly with 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 by the well of water: and the daughters of the men of the city 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."
And let it come to pass that the maiden to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and to thy camels also will I give drink, be the one thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shown kindness unto 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.
And it came to pass, before he had yet finished speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, the son of Milcah, the wife of Nachor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon 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.
And the maiden was of a very handsome appearance, a virgin, neither had any man known her; and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
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, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water out 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 said, Drink, my lord; and she hastened, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him to 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 she had finished giving him drink, she said, Also for thy camels will I draw water, until they have finished drinking.
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 she hastened, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
21 And the man watched her in silence so as to know whether God had made his journey successful or not.
And the man was wondering at her; remaining silent, to discover 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 it came to pass, as the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden earring, half a shekel in weight, and two bracelets for her hands, ten gold shekels in 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, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee; is there room in thy father's house for us to stay this night in?
24 Then she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."
And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore unto Nachor.
25 And she also said to him, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room to lodge."
She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender in plenty, as also room to lodge in.
26 Then the man bowed his head and worshiped God,
And the man bowed down his head, and prostrated himself before 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."
And he said, Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not withdrawn his mercy and his truth from my master; I being on the way, which the Lord hath led me, to the house of the brethren of my master.
28 Then the young woman ran, and told her mother's household about these words.
And the maiden ran, and told at her mother's house these things.
29 Now Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban, and he ran out to the man at the spring.
And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban; and Laban ran out unto the man, unto 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 this came to pass, when he saw the earring 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; and he came unto the man; and, behold, he was standing by the camels at the well.
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 he said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest thou without? while I have prepared the house and room 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 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 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 there was set food before him to eat; but he said, I will not eat, until I have spoken my words. And he said, Speak on.
34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.
And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
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 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 master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has.
And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master after she was become old: and he hath given unto him all that he hath.
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 from the daughters of the Canaanites, 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 unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
39 And I said to my master, 'What if the woman will not follow me?'
And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow 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.
And he said unto me, The Lord, before whom I have walked will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; that thou mayest take a wife for my son from my kindred, and from 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.'
Then shalt thou be clear from my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they do not give thee one, [then] shalt thou be clear from my oath.
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 this day unto the well, and said, O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if thou wouldst but prosper my way on which I am going.
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 it shall be the young woman who cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water out of thy pitcher to drink;
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 she say to me, Both drink thou, and also for thy camels will I draw: this shall be the wife whom the Lord hath destined 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 before I had yet finished speaking to my own 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.
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 made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and also to thy camels I will give drink; and I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
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 said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nachor's son, whom Milcah bore unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon 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 I bowed down my head, and prostrated myself before the Lord; and I blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right 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."
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, or to the left.
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The matter comes from God. We can't speak to you bad or good.
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing hath proceeded from the Lord; we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
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, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, 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.
And it came to pass, when Abraham's servant heard their words, that he prostrated himself to the earth unto 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 the servant brought forth vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; and precious things he gave to her brother 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 they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried the night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto 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 her mother said, Let the maiden abide with us, a year or ten months; after that she shall go.
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."
And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing 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, We will call the maiden, and inquire her own decision.
58 So they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she replied, "I will go."
And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
59 So they sent away their sister Rebekah, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
And thereupon they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
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."
And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of myriads, and let thy seed possess the gate of those who hate them.
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.
And Rebekah arose with her maidens, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man; and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
62 Now Isaac had come from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the land of the Negev.
And Isaac came from a walk to the well Lachai-roi; 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 Isaac was gone out to meditate in the field toward evening; and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, camels were coming.
64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel.
And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and she saw Isaac; and she alighted 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 she said unto the servant, Who is yonder man that walketh in the field toward us? And the servant said, This is my master; therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.
66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
And the servant told Isaac all the things 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.
And Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
