The First Book of Moses: Genesis

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- Chapter 24 -

Abraham was now a very old man. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in many ways.

One day Abraham said to the chief servant of his household, the man who was in charge of all Abraham owned, “Put your hand between my thighs to solemnly promise you will do what I tell you.

Knowing that Yahweh, God who created the heavens and the earth, is listening, promise that you will not get a wife for my son, Isaac, from the daughters of the Canaan people among whom I am now living.

Instead, go to my country and to my relatives. Get a wife for my son Isaac from among them.”

The servant asked him, “If I find a woman among your relatives, what should I do if she is not willing to come back with me to this land? Should I take your son back there to the country you came from, so he can find a wife and live there?”

Abraham replied to him, “No! Be certain that you do not take my son there!

Yahweh, God who created the heavens, brought me here. He brought me from my father’s household and from the land where my relatives lived. He spoke to me and made a solemn promise to me. He said, ‘I will give this land of Canaan to your descendants.’ He will send an angel who will go there ahead of you and enable you to get a wife for my son and bring her to live here.

But if the woman you find will not come back with you, you are free to disregard the promise you are making. The only thing that you must not do is to take my son to live there.”

So the servant put his hand between Abraham’s thighs and made a solemn promise about the matter.

Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and loaded them with all kinds of goods that his master gave him to take along. Then he left to go to Aram Naharaim, which is in northern Mesopotamia. He arrived in the city of Nahor.

When the servant arrived at Nahor, it was in late afternoon, at the time when the women go to the well to get water. He made the camels kneel down near the well, which was outside the city.

The servant prayed, “Yahweh, God whom my master Abraham worships, enable me to be successful today! Keep faith with my master, Abraham!

Listen to me. I am standing near a well of water, and the daughters of the people of the city are coming to get water.

I am asking you this: I will say to one of the girls, ‘Please lower your jar so that I may drink some water.’ If she says, ‘Drink some water, and I will draw some water for your camels, too,’ I will know that she is the woman whom you chose to be a wife for your servant, Isaac, and I will know that you have kept faith with my master.”

Rebekah Is Chosen

Before he finished praying, a young woman named Rebekah arrived there, carrying a jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milkah, the wife of Abraham’s younger brother Nahor.

She was very beautiful and a virgin. No man had ever slept with her. She went down to the edge of the well, filled her jar with water, and then came back up.

Abraham’s servant immediately ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”

She replied, “Drink some, sir!” She lowered her jar from her shoulder to her hands and gave him a drink.

After she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will also get some water for your camels, until they have had enough to drink.”

She quickly emptied the water in her jar into the animals’ water trough. Then she ran back to the well, and kept getting water for all the camels.

The servant just watched her, without saying anything. He wanted to know if Yahweh had caused his trip to be successful or not.

Finally, after the camels finished drinking, the servant took out a gold nose ring that weighed six grams, and two gold bracelets for her arms, each weighing about 110 grams, gave them to Rebekah, and told her to put them on.

Then he said, “Tell me whose daughter you are. Also, tell me, is there room in your father’s house for me and my men to sleep there tonight?”

She replied, “My father’s name is Bethuel. He is the son of Nahor and his wife Milkah.

Yes, we have room where you all can sleep tonight, and we also have plenty of straw and grain to feed the camels.”

The servant bowed and worshiped Yahweh.

He said, “I thank Yahweh, God whom my master Abraham worships. He has continued to show that he is faithful and trustworthy toward my master. Yahweh led me on this journey straight to the house of my master’s relatives!”

The girl ran and told everyone in her mother’s household about what had happened.

Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban went quickly to the servant, who was outside by the well.

He was surprised to have seen the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms and to have heard Rebekah tell what the man had said to her. So he went out and saw the man standing near the camels, close to the well.

He said to the man, “You who have been blessed by Yahweh, come! Why are you standing out here? I have prepared a room for you in the house, and a place for the camels to stay.”

So the servant went to the house, and Laban’s servants unloaded the camels. They brought straw and grain for the camels, and water for him and the men with him to wash their feet.

They set food in front of him for him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I tell you what I need to tell you.” So Laban said, “Tell us!”

So the servant said, “I am Abraham’s servant.

Yahweh has greatly blessed my master so that he has become very rich. Yahweh has given him many sheep and cattle, a lot of gold and silver, male and female servants, camels and donkeys.

My master’s wife, Sarah, bore a son for him when she was very old, and my master has given to his son everything he owns.

My master made me solemnly promise, saying, ’Do not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaan people, in whose land we are living.

Instead, go back to my father’s family, to my own clan, and get from them a wife for my son.’

Then I asked my master, ‘What shall I do if the woman they give me will not come back with me?’

He replied, ’Yahweh, whom I have always obeyed, will send his angel with you, and he will cause your journey to be successful. He will make you able to get a wife for my son from my clan, from my father’s family.

But if my clan refuses to allow her to return with you, you will be freed from being cursed because you could not obey me.’

When I came today to the well, I prayed, ’Yahweh, God whom my master, Abraham, worships, if you are going to make me successful on this journey, please do this for me:

I am standing alongside a well, where girls will come to draw water. I am asking you that if I say to a girl, “Please, give me a little water to drink from your jar,”

and if she says to me, “Certainly, drink some, and I will also draw some water for your camels,” then let that be the woman whom you have chosen for my master’s son!’

Before I finished praying, Rebekah approached with her water jar on her shoulder. She went down to the well and got some water. I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink!’

She quickly lowered her jar and said, ‘Drink some! And I will draw water for your camels, too.’ So I drank some water, and she also got water for the camels.

Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor and his wife, Milkah.’ I had her put the ring in her nose and put the bracelets on her arms.

Then I bowed and worshiped Yahweh, and I thanked Yahweh God, the one my master Abraham worships, the one who led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother to be a wife for my master’s son.

Now, if you act faithfully toward my master as part of his extended family, tell me that you will do what I am asking. If you will not do that, tell me that also, so I may know what to do.”

Laban and Bethuel answered, “This clearly has come from Yahweh. So we two cannot say that it is the right thing or the wrong thing to do.

Rebekah is here in front of you. Take her and go, and let her be a wife for your master’s son, just as Yahweh has indicated.”

When Abraham’s servant heard these words, he bowed down to the ground to Yahweh.

Then the servant brought out silver and gold jewelry and clothes, and gave them to Rebekah. And he gave gifts to her brother Laban and to her mother.

Then they ate a meal and drank. The men who were with Abraham’s servant also slept there that night. The next morning, the servant said, “Allow me now to return to my master.”

But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the girl remain with us for about ten days. After that, you may take her and go.”

But he replied to them, “Yahweh has made my journey successful, so do not delay me. Let me take her back to my master now!”

They said, “Let us call the girl and ask her to say what she wants to do.”

So they summoned Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man now?” She replied, “Yes, I will go.”

So they sent Rebekah, along with the female servant who had cared for her all her life, to go with Abraham’s servant and the men who had come with him.

Then they asked God to bless Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, we ask that Yahweh will cause you to have millions of descendants, and allow them to completely defeat all those that hate them.”

Then Rebekah and her servant girls got ready. They got on their camels and went with Abraham’s servant. He took Rebekah and left.

Isaac Marries Rebekah

Now Isaac was living in the southern Judean wilderness. He had come from Beer Lahai Roi.

One evening he went out into the field to meditate as he walked. He looked up and was surprised to see some camels coming.

Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got off the camel

and asked the servant, “Who is that man who is approaching?” The servant replied, “That is Isaac, my master.” So she took her veil and covered her face, in order to show modesty in front of him.

The servant told Isaac all that had happened.

Then Isaac took Rebekah into the tent that had belonged to his mother, Sarah, and she became his wife. He loved her. In this way Isaac was comforted about his mother’s death.

Abraham was old, and well advanced in age. The LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.

Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh.

I will make you swear by the LORD, 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.

But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

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?”

Abraham said to him, “Beware that you don’t bring my son there again.

The LORD, 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.

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.”

The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.

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.

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.

He said, “LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.

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.”

Rebekah Is Chosen

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.

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.

The servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher.”

She said, “Drink, my lord.” She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink.

When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished drinking.”

She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.

The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

As the camels had done drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel

(a)

weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold,

and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay?”

She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.”

She said moreover to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge in.”

The man bowed his head, and worshiped the LORD.

He said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the way to the house of my master’s relatives.”

The young lady ran, and told her mother’s house about these words.

Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring.

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.

He said, “Come in, you blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.”

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.

Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told my message.” Laban said, “Speak on.”

He said, “I am Abraham’s servant.

The LORD has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. The LORD has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

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 made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,

but you shall go to my father’s house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’

I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’

He said to me, ‘The LORD, 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.

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.’

I came today to the spring, and said, ‘The LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go—

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,”

then she tells me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master’s son.’

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.’

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.

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.

I bowed my head, and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, 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.

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.”

Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The thing proceeds from the LORD. We can’t speak to you bad or good.

Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the LORD has spoken.”

When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to the LORD.

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.

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.”

Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go.”

He said to them, “Don’t hinder me, since the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.”

They said, “We will call the young lady, and ask her.”

They called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.”

They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men.

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.”

Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

Isaac Marries Rebekah

Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South.

Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. Behold, there were camels coming.

Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got off the camel.

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.

The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.

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.

Footnotes

(a)24:22 A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces.