Genesis 24
1 Abraham was old, and well advanced in age. 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 elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please 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 I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.
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 shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take 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 isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?”
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, “Beware that you don’t bring my son there again.
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 birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, ‘I will give this land to your offspring—he will send his angel before you, and you shall take 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 If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son there again.”
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 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, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, 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 at the time of 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 He said, “Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success today, and show kindness 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 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. 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, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,’—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.”
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 Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder.
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 lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin. No man had known her. She went down to the spring, 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 The servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a drink, a little 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 lord.” She hurried, and 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 also draw for your camels, 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 She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew 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 looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous 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 had done drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold,
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 said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay?”
“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 the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.”
She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor.”
25 She said moreover to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge in.”
Then she added, “We have plenty of straw and feed, as well as a place for you to spend the night.”
26 The man bowed his head, 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 loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me on the way 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 The young lady ran, and told her mother’s house about these words.
The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things.
29 Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring.
Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he rushed out to the man at the spring.
30 When he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “This is what the man said to me,” he came to the man. 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 He said, “Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room 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 The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and feed for the camels, and water 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 Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my message.” 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 greatly. He has become great. Yahweh 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. He has given all that he has 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 shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,
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 but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take 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 asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’
Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’
40 He said to me, ‘Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my relatives, and of my father’s house.
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 Then you will be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t give her to you, you shall be clear 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 I came today to the spring, and said, ‘Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go—
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 behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes out to draw, to whom I will 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 then she tells me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed 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 Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, ‘Please let me 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 hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels a drink.
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 Milcah bore to him.’ I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands.
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 I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter 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 if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, 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, “The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can’t speak to you bad or good.
Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter.
51 Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, 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 earth to Yahweh.
When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
53 The servant brought out jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and 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 They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and 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 lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go.”
But her brother and mother said, “Let the girl remain with us ten days or so. After that, she may go.”
56 He said to them, “Don’t hinder me, since Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away 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 lady, and ask her.”
So they said, “We will call the girl and ask her opinion.”
58 They called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.”
They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she replied.
59 They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, 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 let your offspring 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 Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. 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 Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South.
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 at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. 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 lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got off the camel.
And when Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel
65 She said to the servant, “Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” 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 told Isaac all the things that he had done.
Then the servant told Isaac all that he had done.
67 Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. 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.
