Genesis 24
1 Now Abraham was very old and Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things.
By now Abraham was old and well along in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
2 Abraham said to his servant, the one who was the oldest of his household and who was in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh
So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
3 and I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I make my home.
and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling,
4 But you will go to my country, and to my relatives, and get a wife for my son Isaac.”
but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”
5 The servant said to him, “What if the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land? Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?”
The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?”
6 Abraham said to him, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there!
Abraham replied, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there.
7 Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my relatives, and who promised me with a solemn oath saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land,' 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 brought me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you so that you can take a wife for my son from there.
8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine. Only you are not to take my son back there.”
And if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”
9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
10 The servant took ten of his master's camels and departed. He also took with him all kinds of gifts from his master. He departed and went to the region of Aram Naharaim, to the city of Nahor.
Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim.
11 He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water. It was evening, the time that women go out to draw water.
As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water.
12 Then he said, “Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, grant me success today and show covenant faithfulness to my master Abraham.
“O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13 Look, here I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.
14 Let it happen like this. When I say to a young woman, 'Please lower your pitcher so that I may drink,' and she says to me, 'Drink, and I will water your camels too,' then let her be the one that you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown covenant faithfulness to my master.”
Now may it happen that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”
15 It came about that even before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out with her water pitcher on her shoulder. Rebekah was born to Bethuel son of Milkah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother.
Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.
16 The young woman was very beautiful and a virgin. No man had slept with her. She went down to the spring and filled her pitcher, and came up.
Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin who had not had relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up again.
17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little drink of water from your pitcher.”
So the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jar.”
18 She said, “Drink, my master,” and she quickly let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink.
“Drink, my lord,” she replied, and she quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.”
After she had given him a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels, until they have had enough to drink.”
20 So she hurried and emptied her pitcher into the trough, then ran again to the well to draw water, and drew water for all his camels.
And she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran back to the well to draw water, until she had drawn water for all his camels.
21 The man watched her in silence to see whether Yahweh had prospered his journey or not.
Meanwhile, the man watched her silently to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success.
22 As the camels finished drinking, the man brought out a gold nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two gold bracelets for her arms weighing ten shekels,
And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka, and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels.
23 and asked, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me please, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?”
“Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
24 She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, whom she bore to Nahor.”
She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor.”
25 She also said to him, “We have plenty of both straw and feed, and also room for you to spend the night.”
Then she added, “We have plenty of straw and feed, as well as a place for you to spend the night.”
26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped Yahweh.
Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,
27 He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his covenant faithfulness and his trustworthiness toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me directly to the house of my master's relatives.”
saying, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”
28 Then the young woman ran and told her mother's household about all of these things.
The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things.
29 Now Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran to the man who was out at the road by the spring.
Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he rushed out to the man at the spring.
30 When he had seen the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and when he had heard the words of Rebekah his sister, “This is what the man said to me,” he went to the man, and, behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
As soon as he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and heard Rebekah’s words, “The man said this to me,” he went and found the man standing by the camels near the spring.
31 Then Laban said, “Come, you blessed of Yahweh. Why are you standing outside? I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.”
“Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” said Laban. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”
32 So the man came to the house and he unloaded the camels. The camels were given straw and feed, and water was provided to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of his companions.
33 They set food before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.” So Laban said, “Speak on.”
Then a meal was set before the man, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I came to say.” So Laban said, “Please speak.”
34 He said, “I am Abraham's servant.
“I am Abraham’s servant,” he replied.
35 Yahweh has blessed my master very much and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
“The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.
36 Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master when she was old, and he has given everything that he owns to him.
My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns.
37 My master made me swear, saying, 'You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I make my home.
My master made me swear an oath and said, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell,
38 Instead, you must go to my father's family, and to my relatives, and get a wife for my son.'
but you shall go to my father’s house and to my kindred to take a wife for my son.’
39 I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not follow me.'
Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’
40 But he said to me, 'Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you and he will prosper your way, so that you will get a wife for my son from among my relatives and from my father's family line.
And he told me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you may take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house.
41 But you will be free from my oath if you come to my relatives and they will not give her to you. Then you will be free from my oath.'
And when you go to my kindred, if they refuse to give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’
42 So I arrived today at the spring, and said, 'O Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, please, if you do indeed intend to make my journey successful—
So when I came to the spring today, I prayed: O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if only You would make my journey a success!
43 here I am, standing by the spring of water—let the young woman who comes out to draw water, the woman to whom I say, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,”
Here I am, standing beside this spring. Now if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jar,’
44 the woman who says to me, “Drink, and I will also draw water for your camels”—let her be the woman whom you, Yahweh, have chosen for my master's son.'
and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will draw water for your camels as well,’ may she be the woman the LORD has appointed for my master’s son.
45 Even before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'
And before I had finished praying in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’
46 She quickly lowered her pitcher from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I will give your camels water also.' So I drank, and she watered the camels also.
She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels.
47 I asked her and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milkah bore to him.' Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms.
Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.
48 Then I bowed down and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to find the daughter of my master's relative for his son.
Then I bowed down and worshiped the LORD; and I blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right road to take the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.
49 Now therefore, if you are prepared to show covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me, so that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.”
Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; but if not, let me know, so that I may go elsewhere.”
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from Yahweh; we cannot speak to you either bad or good.
Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter.
51 Look, Rebekah is before you. Take her and go, so she may be the wife of your master's son, as Yahweh has spoken.”
Rebekah is here before you. Take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, just as the LORD has decreed.”
52 When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the ground to Yahweh.
When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
53 The servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and to her mother.
Then he brought out jewels of silver and gold, and articles of clothing, and he gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother.
54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank. They stayed there overnight, and when they arose in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my master.”
Then he and the men with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, “Send me on my way to my master.”
55 Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us for a few more days, at least ten. After that she may go.”
But her brother and mother said, “Let the girl remain with us ten days or so. After that, she may go.”
56 But he said to them, “Do not hinder me, since Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me on my way so that I may go to my master.”
But he replied, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my journey a success. Send me on my way so that I may go to my master.”
57 They said, “We will call the young woman and ask her.”
So they said, “We will call the girl and ask her opinion.”
58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” She replied, “I will go.”
They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she replied.
59 So they sent their sister Rebekah, along with her female servant, on her journey with Abraham's servant and his men.
So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men.
60 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 to her, “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands upon thousands. May your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.”
61 Then Rebekah arose, and she and her servant girls mounted the camels, and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
Then Rebekah and her servant girls got ready, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.
62 Now Isaac was living in the Negev, and had just returned from Beer Lahai Roi.
Now Isaac had just returned from Beer-lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negev.
63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening. When he looked up and saw, behold, there were camels coming!
Early in the evening, Isaac went out to the field to meditate, and looking up, he saw the camels approaching.
64 Rebekah looked, and when she saw Isaac, she jumped down from the camel.
And when Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel
65 She said to the servant, “Who is that man who is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil, and covered herself.
and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “It is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.
66 The servant recounted to Isaac all the things that he had done.
Then 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.
And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.
