1 N ow Abraham was old. He had lived many years. And the Lord had brought good to Abraham in every way.

Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.

2 A braham said to the oldest servant in his house and the one who took care of all that he owned, “Place your hand under my hip,

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

3 a nd I will have you promise by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth. Promise that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, who live around me.

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

4 B ut go to my country and to those of my family. Take a wife for my son Isaac from there.”

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

5 T he servant said to Abraham, “What if the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land? Should I take your son to the land you came from?”

And the servant said to him, “Perhaps 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?”

6 A braham said to him, “Make sure that you do not take my son there.

But 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 and from the land of my birth, spoke to me and promised me. He said, ‘I will give this land to your children and to their children’s children.’ He will send His angel in front of you. And you will 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 family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

8 B ut if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this promise to me. Only do not take my son there.”

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

9 S o the servant placed his hand under the hip of Abraham, and he promised to do this.

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

10 T hen the servant took ten of Abraham’s camels and left. He took with him all kinds of gifts from Abraham. Then he went to the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia.

Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, for all his master’s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.

11 H e made the camels get down on their knees outside the city by the well of water in the evening. It was the time when women go out to get water.

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

12 H e said, “O Lord, the God of my boss Abraham, let all go well for me today. Show loving-kindness to my boss Abraham.

Then he said, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

13 S ee, I am standing here by the well of water. And the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to get water.

Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.

14 I f I say to a girl, ‘Let down your jar so that I may drink,’ and she answers, ‘Drink, and I will give water to your camels also,’ let her be the one whom You have chosen for your servant Isaac. I will know by this that You have shown loving-kindness to my boss.”

Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’— let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”

15 B efore he had finished speaking, Rebekah came out, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor, the brother of Abraham. She had a jar on her shoulder.

And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder.

16 T he girl was very beautiful and had never lain with a man. She went down to the well, filled her jar and came up.

Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up.

17 T hen the servant ran to meet her. He said, “Let me drink a little water from your jar.”

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

18 S he said, “Drink, my lord.” And she was quick to lift her jar to her hand and give him a drink.

So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink.

19 W hen she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will get water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.”

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

20 S he was quick to empty her jar into the animals’ drinking place. Then she ran to the well for more water, and got enough for all his camels.

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

21 T he man was quiet and watched her, waiting to know if the Lord had made all go well or not during his visit.

And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.

22 W hen the camels had finished drinking, the man took a heavy gold ring and two heavy gold objects to wear on her arms.

So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold,

23 H e said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, is there a place for us to stay in your father’s house?”

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

24 S he said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor.”

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

25 S he also said, “We have both enough straw and food, and a place to stay.”

Moreover she said to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge.”

26 T hen the man bowed low and worshiped the Lord.

Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord.

27 H e said, “Honor and thanks be to the Lord, the God of my boss Abraham. He has not kept His loving-kindness and His truth from my boss. He has led me in the way to the house of my boss’s brothers.”

And he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

28 T hen the girl ran and told about all this to those in her mother’s house.

So the young woman ran and told her mother’s household these things.

29 R ebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. And Laban ran outside to the man at the well.

Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well.

30 W hen he saw the gold objects his sister was wearing, and heard his sister Rebekah saying, “This is what the man said to me,” he went to the man. He saw him standing by the camels at the well.

So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus the man spoke to me,” that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well.

31 L aban said, “Come in, you who receive good from the Lord! Why do you stand outside? I have made the house ready, and a place for the camels.”

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

32 S o the man came into the house. Laban took the load off the camels, and gave them straw and food. He got water to wash the feet of Abraham’s servant and the feet of the men who were with him.

Then the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

33 T hen food was set in front of the man to eat. But he said, “I will not eat until I have told you why I came here.” Laban said, “Tell it.”

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

34 S o he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.

So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.

35 A nd the Lord has brought much good to my boss. He has become rich. The Lord has given him flocks and cattle, silver and gold, men and women servants, and camels and donkeys.

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

36 M y boss’s wife Sarah gave birth to my boss’s son when she was very old. And he has given him all he has.

And 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.

37 “ My boss made me promise, saying, ‘Do not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live.

Now 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 dwell;

38 B ut go to my father’s house, to those of my family, and take a wife for my son there.’

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

39 I said to my owner, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’

And I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’

40 H e said to me, ‘The Lord, Whom I have always obeyed, will send His angel with you to make all go well during your visit there. You will take a wife for my son from those of my family and from my father’s house.

But he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house.

41 T hen you will be free from your promise to me. When you come to those of my family, and if they do not give her to you, then you will be free from your promise to me.’

You will be clear from this oath when you arrive among my family; for if they will not give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’

42 “ So I came to the well today. I said, ‘O Lord, the God of my boss Abraham, may all go well during my visit here.

“And this day I came to the well and said, ‘O Lord God of my master Abraham, if You will now prosper the way in which I go,

43 S ee, I am standing by the well of water. If I say to the girl who comes out for water, “Let me drink a little water from your jar,”

behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,”

44 a nd she says, “You drink, and I will get water for your camels also,” then let her be the woman whom the Lord has chosen for my boss’s son.’

and she says to me, “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 B efore I had finished speaking in my heart, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the well and got water. I asked her, ‘Let me drink.’

“But before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah, coming out with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’

46 A nd she was quick to take down her jar from her shoulder. She said, ‘Drink, and I will give water to your camels also.’ So I drank and she gave water to the camels also.

And she made haste and let her pitcher down from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels a drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels a drink also.

47 T hen I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah and Nahor.’ And I put the gold objects on her nose and 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.’ So I put the nose ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.

48 T hen I bowed low and worshiped the Lord. I gave honor and thanks to the Lord, the God of my boss Abraham. For He had led me in the right way to take the daughter of my boss’s brother for his son.

And I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son.

49 S o now if you will show kindness and be true to my boss, tell me. And if not, tell me so I may know which way to turn.”

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.”

50 T hen Laban and Bethuel answered, “This thing comes from the Lord. We cannot speak for or against it.

Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing comes from the Lord; we cannot speak to you either bad or good.

51 S ee, Rebekah is in front of you. Take her and go. Let her be the wife of your boss’s son, as the Lord has spoken.”

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

52 W hen Abraham’s servant heard their words, he put his face to the ground before the Lord.

And it came to pass, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, that he worshiped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth.

53 H e brought out things made of silver and gold, and clothes, and gave them to Rebekah. He gave things of much worth to her brother and mother also.

Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

54 T hen he and the men with him ate and drank and stayed the night there. When they got up in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my boss.”

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

55 B ut her brother and her 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 young woman stay with us a few days, at least ten; after that she may go.”

56 B ut he said to them, “Do not make me stay any more days, since the Lord has made my way go well. Send me away so I may go to my boss.”

And he said to them, “Do not hinder me, since the Lord has prospered my way; send me away so that I may go to my master.”

57 T hey said, “We will call the girl and ask her what she wants to do.”

So they said, “We will call the young woman and ask her personally.”

58 T hey called Rebekah and asked 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 their sister Rebekah and her nurse. They went with Abraham’s servant and the men who were with him.

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

60 T hey prayed that good would come to Rebekah, and said to her, “You are our sister. May you become the mother of millions. May your children and all their children’s children after them take over the cities of those who hate them.”

And they blessed Rebekah and said to her: “Our sister, may you become The mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess The gates of those who hate them.”

61 T hen Rebekah and her servants got up on the camels and followed the man. So the servant of Abraham took Rebekah and left.

Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.

62 N ow Isaac had come from Beerlahairoi, and was living in the Negev.

Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South.

63 I saac had gone out to pray in the field in the evening. He looked up and saw that camels were coming.

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

64 A nd Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She got off the camel

Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel;

65 a nd said to Abraham’s servant, “Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?” Abraham’s servant said, “He is my boss.” So she took a cloth and covered her face.

for she had said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took a veil and covered herself.

66 T he servant told Isaac all the things he had done.

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

67 T hen Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, and she became his wife. And he loved her. So Isaac found comfort 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. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.