Genesis 24
1 And Abraham was old, and well advanced in years: and the LORD 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 eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy 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 thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
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 thou shalt go to my country, and to my kindred, and take 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 said to him, It may be the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land: must I needs bring thy son again 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 And Abraham said to him, Beware that thou bring not my son there again.
And Abraham said: “Beware that you never lead my son back to that place.
7 The LORD God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, To thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take 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 And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son there again.
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 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning that matter.
Therefore, the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his lord, and he swore to him on his word.
10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hands: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, 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 his camels to kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time of the 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 And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, prosper me this day, 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 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come 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 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will water thy camels also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and by that shall I know that thou hast 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 came to pass, before he had finished speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
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 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, 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 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water from thy pitcher.
And the servant ran to meet her, and he said, “Provide me with a little water to drink from your pitcher.”
18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, 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 And when she had finished giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, till 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 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw water, 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 wondering at her held his peace, to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous 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 came to pass, as the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her wrists of ten shekels weight 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 art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?
And he said to her: “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, is there any place in your father’s house to lodge?”
24 And 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 She said moreover to him, We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge in.
And she continued, saying, “There is very much straw and hay with us, and a spacious place to stay.”
26 And the man bowed his head, and worshipped the LORD.
The man bowed himself down, and he adored the Lord,
27 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left my master destitute of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.
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 And the damsel ran, and told these things to her mother’s house.
And so the girl ran, and she reported all that she had heard in the house of her mother.
29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out to the man, to the well.
Now Rebekah had a brother, named Laban, who went out quickly to the man, where the spring was.
30 And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spoke the man to me; that he came to the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.
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, thou blessed of the LORD; why standest thou 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 And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that 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 there was set food before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told my errand. And he said, Speak on.
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 And he said, I am Abraham’s servant.
Then he said: “I am the servant of Abraham.
35 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 male and female servants, and 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 hath he given all that he hath.
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 And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
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 thou shalt go to my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take 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, It may be the woman will not follow me.
But truly, I answered my lord, ‘What if the woman is not willing to come with me?’
40 And he said to me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, 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 shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear 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 And I came this day to the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou dost prosper my way 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 Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy 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 saith to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed 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 And before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down to the well, and drew water: and I said to her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
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 made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will water thy camels also: so I drank, and she watered the camels also.
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 And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon 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 And I bowed my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter 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 And now if you will deal kindly and truly with 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 and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak to thee 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 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the LORD hath 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 came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
When Abraham’s servant had heard this, falling down to the ground, he adored the Lord.
53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
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 And they ate and drank, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose 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 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall 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 And he said to them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; 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 And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
And they said, “Let us call the girl, and ask her will.”
58 And they called Rebekah, and said to her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, 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 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, 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, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed 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 arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
And so, Rebekah and her maids, riding upon camels, followed the man, who quickly returned to his lord.
62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.
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 to meditate in the field at evening: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
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 got off the camel.
Likewise, Rebekah, having seen Isaac, descended from the camel.
65 For she had said to the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a 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 things that he had done.
Then the servant explained to Isaac all that he had done.
67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and 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.
