Genesis 24:29-61

29(Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban.) Laban rushed out to meet the man at the spring.

30When he saw the bracelets on his sister’s wrists and the nose ring and heard his sister Rebekah say, “This is what the man said to me,” he went out to meet the man. There he was, standing by the camels near the spring.

31Laban said to him, “Come, you who are blessed by the Lord! Why are you standing out here when I have prepared the house and a place for the camels?”

32So Abraham’s servant went to the house and unloaded the camels. Straw and feed were given to the camels, and water was provided so that he and the men who were with him could wash their feet.

33When food was served, he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I want to say.” “Tell us,” Laban said.

34“I am the servant of Abraham,” he began.

35“The Lord has richly blessed my master and he has become very wealthy. The Lord has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

36My master’s wife Sarah bore a son to him when she was old, and my master has given him everything he owns.

37My master made me swear an oath. He said, ‘You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,

38but you must go to the family of my father and to my relatives to find a wife for my son.’

39But I said to my master, ‘What if the woman does not want to go with me?’

40He answered, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you. He will make your journey a success and you will find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father’s family.

41You will be free from your oath if you go to my relatives and they will not give her to you. Then you will be free from your oath.’

42When I came to the spring today, I prayed, ‘O Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you have decided to make my journey successful, may events unfold as follows:

43Here I am, standing by the spring. When the young woman goes out to draw water, I’ll say, “Give me a little water to drink from your jug.”

44Then she will reply to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too.” May that woman be the one whom the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’

45“Before I finished praying in my heart, along came Rebekah with her water jug on her shoulder! She went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’

46She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll give your camels water too.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels water.

47Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘The daughter of Bethuel the son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to Nahor.’ I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.

48Then I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right path to find the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.

49Now, if you will show faithful love to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me as well, so that I may go on my way.”

50Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “This is the Lord’s doing. Our wishes are of no concern.

51Rebekah stands here before you. Take her and go so that she may become the wife of your master’s son, just as the Lord has decided.”

52When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord.

53Then he brought out gold, silver jewelry, and clothing and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave valuable gifts to her brother and to her mother.

54After this, he and the men who were with him ate a meal and stayed there overnight. When they got up in the morning, he said, “Let me leave now so I can return to my master.”

55But Rebekah’s brother and her mother replied, “Let the girl stay with us a few more days, perhaps ten. Then she can go.”

56But he said to them, “Don’t detain me – the Lord has granted me success on my journey. Let me leave now so I may return to my master.”

57Then they said, “We’ll call the girl and find out what she wants to do.”

58So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Do you want to go with this man?” She replied, “I want to go.”

59So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, accompanied by her female attendant, with Abraham’s servant and his men.

60They blessed Rebekah with these words: “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands! May your descendants possess the strongholds of their enemies.”

61Then Rebekah and her female servants mounted the camels and rode away with the man. So Abraham’s servant took Rebekah and left.