Genesis 24
1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in days, and YHWH had blessed Abraham in all things.
Now Abraham was old and of many days. 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 in charge of all that he had: “Place your 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,
so that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.
4 but you must go to my country and to my relatives, and get a wife for my son Isaac."
But that you will proceed to my land and kindred, and from there take a wife 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 responded, “If the woman is not willing to come with me into this land, must I lead your son back to the place from which you departed?”
6 Then Abraham told him, "Be careful that you do not take my son back there.
And Abraham said: “Beware that you never lead my son back to that place.
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 from my father’s house, and from the land of my nativity, who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ himself will send his Angel before you, and you will take from there 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 is not willing to follow you, you will not be held by the oath. Only do not lead my son back to that place.”
9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and gave his oath to him concerning this matter.
Therefore, the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his lord, and he swore to him on his 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 from his lord’s herd, and he went forth, carrying with him things from all of his goods. And he set out, and continued on, to the city of Nahor, in Mesopotamia.
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 outside of the town, near a well of water, in the evening, at the time when women are accustomed to go 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 lord Abraham, meet with me today, I beg you, and show mercy to my lord 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 near the fountain of water, and the daughters of the inhabitants of this city will go forth 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."
Therefore, the girl to whom I will say, ‘Tip your pitcher, so that I may drink,’ and she will respond, ‘Drink. In fact, I will give your camels a drink also,’ the same one is she whom you have prepared for your servant Isaac. And by this, I will understand that you have shown mercy to my lord.”
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.
But he had not yet completed these words within himself, when, behold, Rebekah went out, the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, 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.
She was an exceedingly elegant girl, and a most beautiful virgin, and unknown by man. And she descended to the spring, and she filled her pitcher, and then was returning.
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 he said, “Provide me with a little water to drink from your 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 responded, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly brought down the pitcher on her arm, and she gave him a 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 after he drank, she added, “In fact, I will draw water for your camels also, until 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 it 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 was contemplating her silently, wanting to know whether the Lord had caused his journey to prosper 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,
Then, after the camels drank, the man took out gold earrings, weighing two shekels, and the same number of bracelets, ten 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 to her: “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, is there any place in your 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."
She responded, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, to whom she gave birth for Nahor.”
25 And she also said to him, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room to lodge."
And she continued, saying, “There is very much straw and hay with us, and a spacious place to stay.”
26 Then the man bowed his head and worshiped God,
The man bowed himself down, and he 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, the God of my lord Abraham, who has not taken away his mercy and truth from my lord, and who has led me on a direct journey to the house of the brother of my lord.”
28 Then the young woman ran, and told her mother's household about these words.
And so the girl ran, and she reported all that she had heard in the house of her mother.
29 Now Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban, and he ran out to the man at the spring.
Now Rebekah had a brother, named Laban, who went out quickly to the man, where the spring was.
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 he had heard all the words being repeated, “This is what the man spoke to me,” he came to the man who stood by the camels and near 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 he said to him: “Enter, O blessed of the Lord. Why do you stand outside? 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 into his guest quarters. And he unharnessed the camels, and he distributed straw and hay, and water to wash his feet and that of the men who arrived 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 out in his sight. But he said, “I will not eat, until I have spoken my words.” He answered him, “Speak.”
34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.
Then 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 has blessed my lord greatly, and he has become great. And he has given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, men servants and women servants, camels and donkeys.
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, the wife of my lord, has given birth to a son for my lord in her old age, and he has 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 lord made me swear, saying: ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from 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 you shall travel to my father’s house, and you shall 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 truly, I answered my lord, ‘What if the woman is not willing to 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,’ he said, ‘in whose sight I walk, will send his Angel with you, and he will direct your way. And you shall take a wife for my son from my own 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.'
But you will be innocent of my curse, if, when you will arrive at my close relatives, they will not grant this to you.’
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 so, today I arrived at the well of water, and I said: ‘O Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, if you have directed my way, in which 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 next to the well of water, and the virgin, who will go forth to draw water, will hear from me, “Give me a little water to drink from your 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 she will say to me, “You drink, and I will also draw for your camels.” Let the same be the woman, whom the Lord has prepared for the son of my lord.’
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 while I thought over these things silently within myself, Rebekah appeared, arriving with a pitcher, which she carried on her shoulder. And she descended to the spring 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 quickly let down the pitcher from her arm, and said to me, ‘You drink, and to your camels I will also distribute drinking water.’ 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 questioned her, saying, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she responded, ‘I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ And so, I hung the earrings on her, to adorn her face, and I put the 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 prostrate, I adored the Lord, blessing the Lord, the God of my lord Abraham, who has led me along the straight path so as to take the daughter of my lord’s brother to 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."
For this reason, if you would act according to mercy and truth with my lord, tell me so. But if it pleases you otherwise, say that to me also, so that I may go either 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.
And Laban and Bethuel responded: “A word has proceeded from the Lord. We are not able to speak anything else to you, beyond what pleases him.
51 Look, Rebekah is before you. Take, and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as God has spoken."
Lo, Rebekah is in your sight. Take her and continue on, and let her be the wife of the son of your lord, just as the Lord has spoken.”
52 And it happened when Abraham's servant heard their words, that he bowed himself down to the ground.
When Abraham’s servant had heard this, 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, as well as garments, he gave them to Rebekah as a tribute. Likewise, he offered gifts to her brothers and 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 began, and they feasted and drank together, and they lodged there. And rising up in the morning, the servant said, “Release me, so that I may go to my lord.”
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 brothers and mother responded, “Let the girl remain for at least ten days with us, and after that, she will continue on.”
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."
“Do not be willing,” he said, “to delay me, for the Lord has directed my way. Release me, so that I may journey to my lord.”
57 Then they said, "We will call the young woman and ask her."
And they said, “Let us call the girl, 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 when, having been called, she arrived, they wanted to know, “Will you 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.
Therefore, they released her and her nurse, and the servant of Abraham and his companions,
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 for their sister, by saying: “You are our sister. May you increase to thousands of thousands. And may your offspring 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.
And so, Rebekah and her maids, riding upon camels, followed the man, who quickly returned to his lord.
62 Now Isaac had come from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the land of the Negev.
Then, at the same time, Isaac was walking along the way that leads to the well, whose name is: ‘of the One who lives and who sees.’ For he dwelt in the southern land.
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 had gone out to meditate in the field, as daylight was now declining. And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels advancing from afar.
64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel.
Likewise, Rebekah, having seen Isaac, descended from 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 to the servant, “Who is that man who advances to meet us through the field?” And he said to her, “That is my lord.” And so, quickly taking up her cloak, she covered herself.
66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
Then the servant explained to 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.
And he led her into the tent of Sarah his mother, and he accepted her as wife. And he loved her so very much, that it tempered the sorrow which befell him at his mother’s death.
