Genesis 24
1 Now, Abraham, was old, far gone in days, —and, Yahweh, had blessed Abraham, in all things.
Abraham by now was old, really old, and the Lord had blessed him in every possible way.
2 So Abraham said unto his servant, elder of his house, ruler of all that he had, —Place, I pray thee thy 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 that I may put thee on oath, by Yahweh God of the heavens and God of the earth—That thou wilt not take a wife for my son, from among the daughters of the Canaanites in the midst of whom, I, am dwelling:
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 unto my own land and unto my own kindred, wilt go, —So shalt thou take a wife for my son—for 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, Peradventure the woman may not be willing to follow me into this land, —May I take back thy son, into the land from whence thou camest?
“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 that thou do not take back my son thither!
“No, you mustn't take my son back there,” Abraham replied.
7 Yahweh, God of the heavens, and God of the earth, who took me out of the house of my father, and out of the land of my kindred, and, who spake to me, and who sware to me, saying, To thy seed, will I give this land, he, will send his messenger before thee, so shalt thou take a wife for 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 But if unwilling be the woman to follow thee, then shalt thou be clear from this mine oath, —Only my son, shalt thou not take back thither
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 So the servant placed his hand, under the thigh of Abraham, his lord, —and sware to him, over this thing.
The servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to do as he had been told.
10 Then took the servant ten camels, from among the camels of his lord, and went his way, —all the goods of his master being in his hand, —so be mounted, and went his way unto 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 the camels kneel down outside the city, against the well of water, —at the time of evening, at the time of the coming forth of the women that drew 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 Then he said, O Yahweh, God of my lord Abraham! I pray thee cause it to fall out before me today, that thou deal in lovingkindness with my lord 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 Here am, I, stationed by the fountain of water, —and, the daughters of the men of the city, are coming forth to draw water:
Look, I'm standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming to get water.
14 so it shall come to pass that the young woman unto whom I shall say. Let down pray. thy pitcher that I may drink, and she shall say, Drink, and to thy camels also, will I give to drink, that, her! hast thou appointed for thy servant for Isaac, And, hereby, shall I get to know, that thou hast dealt in lovingkindness with my lord!
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, ere yet, he, had done speaking, that lo! Rebekah, was coming forth who had been born to Bethuel son of Milcah, wife of Nahor, brother of Abraham, —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 Now the young woman! was of very pleasing appearance, a virgin whom, no man, had known, —and she went down unto the fountain, 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, I pray thee let me drink a little water out of thy 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 hastened and lowered her pitcher on her hand and let 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 For thy camels also, will I draw, 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 So she hastened and emptied her pitcher into the drinking-trough, and ran again unto the well, to draw, —and she 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 Now the man, was eagerly watching her, —keeping silence to see—whether Yahweh had prospered his way., 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 when the camels had done drinking, that the man took a ring of gold, half a shekel its weight, —and two bracelets for her hands, ten of gold their weight;
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 art, thou? I pray thee, tell me. Is there in the house of thy father a place for us to tarry the night?
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, Daughter of Bethuel, am, I,—[Bethuel] son of Milcah whom she bare to 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 And she said unto him, Both straw and fodder in plenty, have we, —also a place to tarry the night.
and yes, we have room for you to spend the night.”
26 Then the man bowed his head, and bent himself down unto Yahweh;
The man kneeled down and bowed in worship to the Lord.
27 and said, Blessed be Yahweh. God of my lord Abraham, who hath not withdrawn his lovingkindness and his faithfulness, from my lord, —I—being in the way, Yahweh led me unto the house of the brethren of my lord!
“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 young woman ran, and told the household of her mother, —according to these words.
She ran to her mother's house and told her family what had happened.
29 Now, Rebekah, had a brother, whose name, was Laban, —so Laban ran unto the man outside, unto the fountain.
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 ring, and the bracelets on the hands of his sister, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister saying, Thus, did the man speak unto me, that he came unto the man, and lo! he was standing by the camels near the fountain;
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. thou blessed of Yahweh, —Wherefore shouldst thou stand outside, when I have made ready the house and a place 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 So the man came in towards the house, and ungirded the camels, —and there was given him straw and fodder for the camels, and water for bathing his own feet and the feet of the men who 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 [food] was set before him to eat, But he said, I cannot eat, until I have spoken my words. And he said—Speak!
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 Then said he, —Servant of Abraham, am I.
“I'm Abraham's servant,” the man began.
35 Now, Yahweh, having blessed my lord exceedingly, and made him great, —and given him flocks and herds and silver and gold, and men-servants and maid-servants, 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 then did Sarah wife of my lord, bear a son to my lord, after she had become old, —so he gave to him all that he had;
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 lord put me on oath saying, —Thou shalt not take a wife for my son, of the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land, I, am dwelling;
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, unto the house of my father, shalt thou go, and unto my family, —and take a wife for my son.
Instead, go to my family home where my relatives live, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.’
39 So I said unto my lord, —Peradventure 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, —Yahweh, before whom I have walked to and fro, will send his messenger with thee, so shall he prosper thy way, and thou shalt take a wife for my son out of my kindred and out of the house of my father.
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, shalt thou clear thyself from mine oath, for thou shalt go in unto my kindred, —and, if they will not grant her unto thee, then shalt thou be clear from mine 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 So I came in to-day, unto the fountain, —and I said O Yahweh God of my lord Abraham! if, I pray thee thou art prospering my way whereon I am going,
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 here, am I stationed by the fountain of water, —so then it shall come to pass that, the maiden that is coming forth to draw, and I shall say unto her Let me drink. I pray thee a little water out of thy pitcher;
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 shall say unto me Both, thou, drink, and for thy camels also, will I draw, the same, shall be the woman whom Yahweh hath appointed for the son of my lord.
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 Ere yet, I, could make an end of speaking unto mine own heart, lo! then Rebekah, coming forth, with her pitcher on her shoulder, and she went down to the fountain, and drew, —and I said unto her Let me drink I pray thee!
“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 So she hastened and lowered her pitcher from off her, and said. Drink! and to thy camels also, will I give to drink, —So I drank and the camels also, she let drink.
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 Then I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said Daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom, Milcah, bare to him, —Then put I the ring upon her nose, 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 bowed my head and bent myself down unto Yahweh, —and I blessed Yahweh God of my lord Abraham, who had led me in a way of faithfulness, to take the daughter of the brother of my lord for 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 Now, therefore, if ye are dealing in lovingkindness and faithfulness with my lord, tell me, —and, if not, tell me, that I may turn unto the right hand or unto 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 answered Laban and Bethuel and said, from Yahweh, hath come forth the word, —we cannot speak unto thee ill or well.
Laban and Bethuel replied, “Clearly all this is from the Lord, so we can't argue one way or the other.
51 Lo! Rebekah, is before thee, Take her and go thy way, —And let her become wife unto the son of thy lord, as Yahweh hath 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 when Abraham’s servant heard their words, that he bowed himself down towards the earth unto Yahweh.
As soon as Abraham's servant heard their decision, he bowed down in worship to the Lord.
53 Then the servant brought forth jewels of silver and jewels of gold and raiment, and gave unto Rebekah, —and precious things, gave he to her brother and to her mother.
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 who were with him, and they tarried the night, —and when they arose in the morning, he said Let me go unto my lord!
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 Then said her brother and her mother, Let the young woman remain with us some days or rather 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, Do not hinder me, when, Yahweh, hath prospered my journey, —Let me go, that I may take my journey unto my lord!
“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 Then said they, We must call the young woman and ask at her mouth.
“Let's call Rebekah and find out what she wants to do,” they suggested.
58 So they called Rebekah and said unto her, Wilt thou 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 So they let go 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 to her, Our sister! become thou, thousands of ten thousands, —And let thy seed take possession of the gate of them that 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 Then mounted Rebekah and her young woman and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man, —so 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 Now, Isaac, had come in at the entrance, of Beer-lahai-roi, —for, he, was dwelling in the land of the South:
Meanwhile Isaac, who was living in the Negev, had just come back from Beer-lahai-roi.
63 and Isaac came forth to meditate in the field at the approach of evening, —so he lifted up his eyes and looked, and lo! camels, coming in.
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 saw Isaac, —so she alighted with haste from off the camel;
Rebekah was also keeping a look out. When she saw Isaac, she got down from her camel.
65 and said unto the servant, Who is this man that is walking in the field to meet us? And the servant said, That, is my lord. So she took the veil 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 recounted to Isaac, —all the things which he had done.
The servant told Isaac everything he'd done.
67 And Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother; thus he took Rebekah and she became his wife and he loved her, —and Isaac consoled himself, for the loss of his mother.
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.
