Genesis 24

1By now AbrahamH85 was oldH2204 and well alongH935 in yearsH3117, and the LORDH3068 had blessedH1288 himH85 in every wayH3605. 2So AbrahamH85 instructedH559H413 the chiefH2205 servantH5650 of his householdH1004, who managedH4910 all he ownedH3605, “PlaceH7760H4994 your handH3027 underH8478 my thighH3409, 3and I will have you swearH7650 by the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of heavenH8064 and the GodH430 of earthH776, thatH834 you will notH3808 takeH3947 a wifeH802 for my sonH1121 from the daughtersH1323 of the CanaanitesH3669 amongH7130 whomH834 IH595 am dwellingH3427, 4butH3588 will goH1980 toH413 my countryH776 andH413 my kindredH4138 to takeH3947 a wifeH802 for my sonH1121 IsaacH3327.”

5The servantH5650 askedH559 himH413, “What ifH194 the womanH802 is unwillingH3808H14 to follow meH1980H310 toH413 thisH2063 landH776? Shall I then take your son backH7725H1121 toH413 the landH776 fromH8033 whichH834 you cameH3318?”

6AbrahamH85 repliedH559H413, “Make sureH8104 that you do notH6435 take my sonH1121 backH7725 thereH8033. 7The LORDH3068, the GodH430 of heavenH8064, whoH834 brought meH3947 from my father’sH1 houseH1004 and my nativeH4138 landH776, whoH834 spokeH1696 to me andH834 promised me on oathH7650, sayingH559, ‘To your offspringH2233 I will giveH5414 thisH2063 landH776’—HeH1931 will sendH7971 His angelH4397 before youH6440 so that you can takeH3947 a wifeH802 for my sonH1121 from thereH8033. 8And ifH518 the womanH802 is unwillingH3808H14 to followH1980 youH310, then you are releasedH5352 from thisH2063 oath of mineH7621. OnlyH7535 do notH3808 takeH7725 my sonH1121 back thereH8033.”

9So the servantH5650 placedH7760 his handH3027 underH8478 the thighH3409 of his masterH113 AbrahamH85 and swore an oathH7650 to him concerningH5921 thisH2088 matterH1697.

10Then the servantH5650 tookH3947 tenH6235 of his master’sH113 camelsH1581 and departedH1980 with all mannerH3605 of good thingsH2898 from his masterH113 in handH3027. And he set outH6965H1980 forH413 Nahor’sH5152 hometownH5892 in Aram-naharaimH763.1 11As evening approachedH6153H6256, he made the camelsH1581 kneel downH1288 nearH413 the wellH875H4325 outsideH2351 the townH5892 at the timeH6256 when the women went outH3318 to draw waterH7579.

12“O LORDH3068, GodH430 of my masterH113 AbrahamH85,” he prayedH559, “pleaseH4994 grant me success todayH7136H6440H3117, and showH6213 kindnessH2617 toH5973 my masterH113 AbrahamH85. 13HereH2009 I amH595, standingH5324 besideH5921 the springH5869H4325, and the daughtersH1323 of the townspeopleH582H5892 are coming outH3318 to drawH7579 waterH4325. 14Now may it happenH1961 that the girlH5291 toH413 whomH834 I sayH559, ‘PleaseH4994 let downH5186 your jarH3537 that I may drinkH8354,’ and who respondsH559, ‘DrinkH8354, and I will waterH8248 your camelsH1581 as wellH1571’—let her be the one You have appointedH3198 for Your servantH5650 IsaacH3327. By this I will knowH3045 thatH3588 You have shownH6213 kindnessH2617 toH5973 my masterH113.”

15

Rebekah Is Chosen

BeforeH2962 the servant had finishedH3615 prayingH1696, RebekahH7259 came outH3318 with her jarH3537 onH5921 her shoulderH7926. SheH834 wasH3205 the daughter of BethuelH1328 sonH1121 of MilcahH4435, the wifeH802 of Abraham’sH85 brotherH251 NahorH5152. 16Now the girlH5291 was veryH3966 beautifulH2896H4758, a virginH1330H3808 who had not had relationsH3045 with any manH376. She went downH3381 to the springH5869, filledH4390 her jarH3537, and came up againH5927.

17So the servantH5650 ranH7323 to meet herH7122 and saidH559, “PleaseH4994 let me haveH1572 a littleH4592 waterH4325 from your jarH3537.”

18“DrinkH8354, my lordH113,” she repliedH559, and she quicklyH4116 loweredH3381 her jarH3537 toH5921 her handsH3027 and gave him a drinkH8248.

19After sheH3615 had given him a drinkH8248, she saidH559, “I will alsoH1571 draw waterH7579 for your camelsH1581, untilH5704H518 they have had enoughH3615 to drinkH8354.” 20And she quicklyH4116 emptiedH6168 her jarH3537 intoH413 the troughH8268 and ranH7323 backH5750 toH413 the wellH875 to draw waterH7579, until she had drawn waterH7579 for allH3605 his camelsH1581.

21Meanwhile, the manH376 watchedH7583 her silentlyH2790 to seeH3045 whetherH518 or notH3808 the LORDH3068 had made his journeyH1870 a successH6743.

22AndH1961 afterH834 the camelsH1581 had finishedH3615 drinkingH8354, he took outH3947 a goldH2091 ringH5141 weighingH4948 a bekaH1235,2 and twoH8147 goldH2091 braceletsH6781 forH5921 her wristsH3027 weighingH4948 tenH6235 shekels.3 23“WhoseH4310 daughterH1323 are youH859?” he askedH559. “PleaseH4994 tellH5046 me, is thereH3426 roomH4725 in your father’sH1 houseH1004 for us to spend the nightH3885?”

24She repliedH559H413, “IH595 am the daughterH1323 of BethuelH1328, the sonH1121 thatH834 MilcahH4435 boreH3205 to NahorH5152.” 25Then she addedH559H413, “We haveH5973H1571 plentyH7227 of strawH8401 andH1571 feedH4554, as well asH1571 a placeH4725 for you to spend the nightH3885.”

26Then the manH376 bowed downH6915 and worshipedH7812 the LORDH3068, 27sayingH559, “BlessedH1288 be the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of my masterH113 AbrahamH85, whoH834 has notH3808 withheldH5800 His kindnessH2617 and faithfulnessH571 fromH5973 my masterH113. As for meH595, the LORDH3068 has led meH5148 on the journeyH1870 to the houseH1004 of my master’sH113 relativesH251.”

28The girlH5291 ranH7323 and toldH5046 her mother’sH517 householdH1004 about theseH428 thingsH1697. 29Now RebekahH7259 had a brotherH251 namedH8034 LabanH3837, andH3837 he rushedH7323 outH2351 toH413 the manH376 atH413 the springH5869. 30As soon as he sawH7200 the ringH5141, andH853 the braceletsH6781 onH5921 his sister’sH269 wristsH3027, and heardH8085 Rebekah’sH7259 wordsH1697, “The manH376 saidH1696 thisH3541 to meH413,” he went and foundH935 the manH376 standingH5975 byH5921 the camelsH1581 nearH5921 the springH5869.

31“ComeH935, you who are blessedH1288 by the LORDH3068,” said LabanH559. “WhyH4100 are you standingH5975 out hereH2351? IH595 have preparedH6437 the houseH1004 and a placeH4725 for the camelsH1581.” 32So the manH376 cameH935 to the houseH1004, and the camelsH1581 were unloadedH6605. StrawH8401 and feedH4554 were broughtH5414 to the camelsH1581, and waterH4325 to washH7364 his feetH7272 and the feetH7272 of his companionsH582.

33Then a meal was setH3455 beforeH6440 the man, but he saidH559, “I will notH3808H398 eatH398 untilH5704H518 I have told youH1696 what I came to sayH1697.”

So Laban saidH559, “Please speakH1696.”

34“IH595 am Abraham’sH85 servantH5650,” he repliedH559. 35“The LORDH3068 has greatlyH3966 blessedH1288 my masterH113, and he has become richH1431. He has givenH5414 him sheepH6629 and cattleH1241, silverH3701 and goldH2091, menservantsH5650 and maidservantsH8198, camelsH1581 and donkeysH2543. 36My master’sH113 wifeH802 SarahH8283 has borneH3205 him a sonH1121 inH310 her old ageH2209, and my master has givenH5414 him everything he ownsH3605.

37My masterH113 made me swear an oathH7650 and saidH559, ‘You shall notH3808 takeH3947 a wifeH802 for my sonH1121 from the daughtersH1323 of the CanaanitesH3669 in whose landH776 IH595 dwellH3427, 38butH518H3808 you shall goH1980 toH413 my father’sH1 houseH1004 and toH413 my kindredH4940 to takeH3947 a wifeH802 for my sonH1121.’

39Then I askedH559H413 my masterH113, ‘What ifH194 the womanH802 will notH3808 comeH1980 back with meH310?’

40And he toldH559 meH413, ‘The LORDH3068, beforeH6440 whomH834 I have walkedH1980, will sendH7971 His angelH4397 with youH854 and make your journeyH1870 a successH6743, so that you may takeH3947 a wifeH802 for my sonH1121 from my kindredH4940 and from my father’sH1 houseH1004. 41And whenH3588 you goH935 toH413 my kindredH4940, ifH518 they refuse toH3808 give herH5414 to you, thenH227 you will beH1961 releasedH5355 from my oathH423.’

42So when I cameH935 toH413 the springH5869 todayH3117, I prayedH559: O LORDH3068, GodH430 of my masterH113 AbrahamH85, if onlyH518 You wouldH3426H4994 make my journeyH1870 a successH6743! 43HereH2009 I amH595, standingH5324 besideH5921 this springH5869H4325. NowH1961 if a maidenH5959 comes outH3318 to draw waterH7579 and I sayH559 to herH413, ‘PleaseH4994 let me drinkH8248 a littleH4592 waterH4325 from your jarH3537,’ 44and she repliesH559H413, ‘DrinkH8354H1571, and I will draw waterH7579 for your camelsH1581 as wellH1571H859,’ may sheH1931 be the womanH802 the LORDH3068 has appointedH3198 for my master’sH113 sonH1121.

45And beforeH2962 IH589 had finishedH3615 prayingH1696 inH413 my heartH3820, thereH2009 was RebekahH7259 coming outH3318 with her jarH3537 onH5921 her shoulderH7926, and she went downH3381 to the springH5869 and drew waterH7579. So I saidH559 to herH413, ‘PleaseH4994 give me a drinkH8248.’

46She quicklyH4116 loweredH3381 her jarH3537 from herH5921 shoulder and saidH559, ‘DrinkH8354, and I will waterH8248 your camelsH1581 as wellH1571.’ So I drankH8354, and she alsoH1571 wateredH8248 the camelsH1581.

47Then I asked herH7592, ‘WhoseH4310 daughterH1323 are youH859H559?’

She repliedH559, ‘The daughterH1323 of BethuelH1328 sonH1121 of NahorH5152, whomH834 MilcahH4435 boreH3205 to him.’ So I putH7760 the ringH5141 onH5921 her noseH639 and the braceletsH6781 onH5921 her wristsH3027. 48Then I bowed downH6915 and worshipedH7812 the LORDH3068; and I blessedH1288 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of my masterH113 AbrahamH85, whoH834 led meH5148 on the rightH571 roadH1870 to takeH3947 the granddaughterH1323 of my master’sH113 brotherH251 for his sonH1121.

49NowH6258 ifH518 you willH3426 showH6213 kindnessH2617 and faithfulnessH571 toH854 my masterH113, tellH5046 me; but ifH518 notH3808, let me knowH5046, so that I may goH6437 elsewhereH5921H3225H176H8040.”

50LabanH3837 and BethuelH1328H559 answeredH6030, “This is fromH3318 the LORDH3068; we have no choiceH3808H3201H1696H413H7451H176H2896 in the matterH1697. 51RebekahH7259 is hereH2009 before youH6440. Take herH3947 and goH1980, and let her becomeH1961 the wifeH802 of your master’sH113 sonH1121, just asH834 the LORDH3068 has decreedH1696.”

52

WhenH834 Abraham’sH85 servantH5650 heardH8085 their wordsH1697, he bowed downH7812 to the groundH776 before the LORDH3068. 53Then heH5650 brought outH3318 jewelsH3627 of silverH3701H3627 and goldH2091, and articles of clothingH899, and he gave themH5414 to RebekahH7259. He also gaveH5414 precious giftsH4030 to her brotherH251 and her motherH517. 54Then heH1931 and the menH582 with himH5973 ateH398 and drankH8354 and spent the night thereH3885.

When they got upH6965 the next morningH1242, he saidH559, “Send me on my wayH7971 to my masterH113.”

55But her brotherH251 and motherH517 saidH559, “Let the girlH5291 remainH3427 with usH854 tenH6218 daysH3117 or soH176. After thatH310, she may goH1980.”

56But he repliedH559H413, “Do notH408 delay meH309, since the LORDH3068 has made my journeyH1870 a successH6743. Send me on my wayH7971 so that I may goH1980 to my masterH113.”

57So they saidH559, “We will callH7121 the girlH5291 and askH7592 her opinionH6310.”

58They calledH7121 RebekahH7259 and askedH559 herH413, “Will you goH1980 withH5973 thisH2088 manH376?”

“I will goH1980,” she repliedH559.

59So they sentH7971 their sisterH269 Rebekah on her wayH7259, along with her nurseH3243 and Abraham’sH85 servantH5650 and his menH582. 60And they blessedH1288 RebekahH7259 and saidH559 to her,

61Then RebekahH7259 and her servant girlsH5291 got readyH6965, mountedH7392H5921 the camelsH1581, and followedH1980H310 the manH376. So the servantH5650 tookH3947 RebekahH7259 and leftH1980.

Isaac Marries Rebekah

62Now IsaacH3327 had just returnedH935 fromH935 Beer-lahai-roiH883, for heH1931 was livingH3427 in the NegevH5045H776. 63Early in the eveningH6153, IsaacH3327 went outH3318 to the fieldH7704 to meditateH7742H6437, and looking upH5375H5869, he sawH7200H2009 the camelsH1581 approachingH935.

64And when RebekahH7259 looked upH5375 and sawH7200 IsaacH3327, she got downH5307 fromH5921 her camelH1581 65and askedH559H413 the servantH5650, “WhoH4310 is thatH1976 manH376 in the fieldH7704 comingH1980 to meet usH7122?”

“ItH1931 is my masterH113,” the servantH5650 answeredH559. So she tookH3947 her veilH6809 and covered herselfH3680. 66Then the servantH5650 toldH5608 IsaacH3327 allH3605H1697 thatH834 he had doneH6213.

67And IsaacH3327 broughtH935 her into the tentH168 of his motherH517 SarahH8283 and tookH3947 RebekahH7259 asH1961 his wifeH802. And IsaacH3327 loved herH157 and was comfortedH5162 afterH310 his mother’s deathH517.