1 N ow Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.

Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in every way.

2 A nd Abraham said to the eldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, I beg of you, put your hand under my thigh;

Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, “ Please place your hand under my thigh,

3 A nd you shall 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 have settled,

and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live,

4 B ut you shall go to my country and to my relatives and take a wife for my son Isaac.

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

5 T he servant said to him, But perhaps the woman will not be willing to come along after me to this country. Must I take your son to the country from which you came?

The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?”

6 A braham said to him, See to it that you do not take my son back there.

Then Abraham said to him, “ Beware that you do not take my son back there!

7 T he Lord, the God of heaven, Who took me from my father’s house, from the land of my family and my birth, Who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, To your offspring I will give this land—He will send His Angel before you, and you will take a wife from there for my son.

The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, ‘ To your descendants I will give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there.

8 A nd if the woman should not be willing to go along after you, then you will be clear from this oath; only you must not take my son back there.

But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this my oath; only do not take my son back there.”

9 S o 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 Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.

10 A nd the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking some of all his master’s treasures with him; thus he journeyed to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.

Then the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and set out with a variety of good things of his master’s in his hand; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.

11 A nd he made his camels to kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time of the evening when women go out to draw water.

He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water.

12 A nd he said, O Lord, God of my master Abraham, I pray You, cause me to meet with good success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

He said, “ O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham.

13 S ee, I stand here by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming to draw water.

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

14 A nd let it so be that the girl to whom I say, I pray you, let down your jar that I may drink, and she replies, Drink, and I will give your camels drink also—let her be the one whom You have selected and appointed and indicated for Your servant Isaac; and by it I shall know that You have shown kindness and faithfulness to my master.

now may it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar so that I may drink,’ and who answers, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels also’— may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master.” Rebekah Is Chosen

15 B efore he had finished speaking, behold, out came Rebekah, who was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Nahor the brother of Abraham, with her water jar on her shoulder.

Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor, came out with her jar on her shoulder.

16 A nd the girl was very beautiful and attractive, chaste and modest, and unmarried. And she went down to the well, filled her water jar, and came up.

The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, and no man had had relations with her; and she went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.

17 A nd the servant ran to meet her, and said, I pray you, let me drink a little water from your water jar.

Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, “ Please let me drink a little water from your jar.”

18 A nd she said, Drink, my lord; and she quickly let down her jar onto her hand and gave him a drink.

She said, “Drink, my lord”; and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand, and gave him a drink.

19 W hen she had given him a drink, she said, I will draw water for your camels also, until they finish drinking.

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

20 S o she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well and drew water for all his camels.

So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran back to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels.

21 T he man stood gazing at her in silence, waiting to know if the Lord had made his trip prosperous.

Meanwhile, the man was gazing at her in silence, to know whether the Lord had made his journey successful or not.

22 A nd when the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold earring or nose ring of half a shekel in weight, and for her hands two bracelets of ten shekels in weight in gold,

When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half-shekel and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels in gold,

23 A nd said, Whose daughter are you? I pray you, tell me: Is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge there?

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

24 A nd she said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah and Nahor.

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

25 S he said also to him, We have both straw and provender (fodder) enough, and also room in which to lodge.

Again she said to him, “We have plenty of both straw and feed, and room to lodge in.”

26 T he man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord

Then the man bowed low and worshiped the Lord.

27 A nd said, Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, Who has not left my master bereft and destitute of His loving-kindness and steadfastness. As for me, going on the way the Lord led me to the house of my master’s kinsmen.

He said, “ Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, the Lord has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s brothers.”

28 T he girl related to her mother’s household what had happened.

Then the girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things.

29 N ow Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man at the well.

Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran outside to the man at the spring.

30 F or when he saw the earring or nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and when he heard Rebekah his sister saying, The man said this to me, he went to the man and found him standing by the camels at the well.

When he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “ This is what the man said to me,” he went to the man; and behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

31 H e cried, Come in, you blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside? For I have made the house ready and have prepared a place for the camels.

And he said, “ Come in, blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside since I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels?”

32 S o the man came into the house; and ungirded his camels and gave straw and provender for the camels and water to bathe his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

So the man entered the house. Then Laban unloaded the camels, and he gave straw and feed to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

33 A meal was set before him, but he said, I will not eat until I have told of my errand. And said, Speak on.

But when food was set before him to eat, he said, “I will not eat until I have told my business.” And he said, “Speak on.”

34 A nd he said, I am Abraham’s servant.

So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.

35 A nd the Lord has blessed my master mightily, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks, herds, silver, gold, menservants, maidservants, camels, and asses.

The Lord has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys.

36 A nd Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has.

Now Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master in her old age, and he has given him all that he has.

37 A nd my master made me swear, saying, You must not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell,

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;

38 B ut you shall go to my father’s house and to my family and take a wife for my son.

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

39 A nd I said to my master, But suppose the woman will not follow me.

I said to my master, ‘Suppose the woman does not follow me.’

40 A nd he said to me, The Lord, in Whose presence I walk, will send His Angel with you and prosper your way, and you will take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house.

He said to me, ‘ The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you to make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father’s house;

41 T hen you shall be clear from my oath, when you come to my kindred; and if they do not give her to you, you shall be free and innocent of my oath.

then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my relatives; and if they do not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.’

42 I came today to the well and said, O Lord, God of my master Abraham, if You are now causing me to go on my way prosperously—

“So I came today to the spring, and said, ‘O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now You will make my journey on which I go successful;

43 S ee, I am standing by the well of water; now let it be that when the maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, I pray you, give me a little water from your jar to drink,

behold, I am standing by the spring, and may it be that the maiden who comes out to draw, and to whom I say, “ Please let me drink a little water from your jar”;

44 A nd if she says to me, You drink, and I will draw water for your camels also, let that same woman be the one whom the Lord has selected and indicated for my master’s son.

and she will say to me, “You drink, and I will draw for your camels also”; let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’

45 A nd before I had finished praying in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, I pray you, let me have a drink.

“Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder, and went down to the spring and drew, and I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’

46 A nd she quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, Drink, and I will water your camels also. So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also.

She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder, and said, ‘ Drink, and I will water your camels also’; so I drank, and she watered the camels also.

47 I asked her, Whose daughter are you? She said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him. And I put the earring or nose ring on her face and the bracelets on her arms.

Then I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him’; and I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists.

48 A nd I bowed down 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 to his son.

And I bowed low and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had guided me in the right way to take the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son.

49 A nd 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 or to the left.

So now if you are going to deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, let me know, that I may turn to the right hand or the left.”

50 T hen Laban and Bethuel answered, The thing comes forth from the Lord; we cannot speak bad or good to you.

Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “ The matter comes from the Lord; so we cannot speak to you bad or good.

51 R ebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has said.

Here is Rebekah before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.”

52 A nd when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground before the Lord.

When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground before the Lord.

53 A nd the servant brought out jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and garments and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and her mother.

The servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

54 T hen they ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed there all night. And in the morning they arose, and he said. Send me away to my master.

Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night. When they arose in the morning, he said, “ Send me away to my master.”

55 B ut brother and mother said, Let the girl stay with us a few days—at least ten; then she may go.

But her brother and her mother said, “ Let the girl stay with us a few days, say ten; afterward she may go.”

56 B ut said to them, Do not hinder and delay me, seeing that the Lord has caused me to go prosperously on my way. Send me away, that I may go to my master.

He said to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.”

57 A nd they said, We will call the girl and ask her her desire.

And they said, “We will call the girl and consult her wishes.”

58 S o they called Rebekah and said to her, Will you go with this man? And she said, I will go.

Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.”

59 S o they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men.

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

60 A nd they blessed Rebekah and said to her, You are our sister; may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your posterity possess the gate of their enemies.

They blessed Rebekah and said to her, “May you, our sister, Become thousands of ten thousands, And may your descendants possess The gate of those who hate them.”

61 A nd Rebekah and her maids arose and followed the man upon their camels. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went on his way.

Then Rebekah arose with her maids, and they mounted the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed. Isaac Marries Rebekah

62 N ow Isaac had returned from going to the well Beer-lahai-roi, for he dwelt in the South country (the Negeb).

Now Isaac had come from going to Beer-lahai-roi; for he was living in the Negev.

63 A nd Isaac went out to meditate and bow down in the open country in the evening; and he looked up and saw that, behold, the camels were coming.

Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, camels were coming.

64 A nd Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel.

Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from the camel.

65 F or she said to the servant, Who is that man walking across the field to meet us? And the servant said, He is my master. So she took a veil and concealed herself with it.

She said to the servant, “Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?” And the servant said, “He is my master.” Then she took her veil and covered herself.

66 A nd the servant told Isaac everything that he had done.

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

67 A nd Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her; thus Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; thus Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.