Genesis 24 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Genesis 24 meaning explained in AI Summary

Abraham sends his servant, Eliezer, to find a wife for Isaac from his own extended family. Eliezer prays for guidance and meets Rebekah, who fulfills all the criteria he had set. Rebekah agrees to marry Isaac, and they return to Abraham's home, where the marriage is celebrated.

This chapter tells the story of how Abraham found a wife for his son Isaac.

1. Abraham's Mission: Abraham, now old, wants to find a wife for Isaac from his own people, not from the Canaanites. He sends his most trusted servant (likely Eliezer) back to his homeland with a solemn oath to fulfill this task.

2. The Servant's Prayer: Arriving at a well near the city of Nahor, the servant prays for a sign: the woman who offers him and his camels water will be the one God has chosen.

3. Rebekah's Appearance: Rebekah, Abraham's grand-niece, appears and generously draws water for the servant and all his camels.

4. Divine Providence: The servant is amazed by this fulfillment of his prayer and gives Rebekah gifts of jewelry. He then inquires about her family and discovers she is related to Abraham.

5. Invitation and Hospitality: Rebekah's brother, Laban, welcomes the servant and his men into their home. The servant recounts Abraham's wealth and his mission to find a wife for Isaac.

6. Rebekah's Consent: Rebekah's family agrees to let her go with the servant, and she herself consents to the marriage.

7. Journey and Reunion: The servant and Rebekah journey back to Canaan. Isaac, out in the field meditating, sees them approaching. Rebekah veils herself, as was the custom for brides.

8. Isaac's Love: Isaac brings Rebekah into his mother Sarah's tent, and she becomes his wife. Isaac finds comfort in Rebekah after his mother's death.

Key Themes:

God's Providence: God guides the servant to Rebekah and orchestrates events to fulfill Abraham's desire.
Faithfulness: The servant demonstrates faithfulness to Abraham and to God in fulfilling his mission.
Importance of Lineage: Abraham's insistence on a wife from his own people highlights the significance of lineage and preserving the faith within the family.
Marriage as a Covenant: The story emphasizes the seriousness and sacredness of marriage, foreshadowing the covenant relationship between God and his people.

Genesis 24 bible study ai commentary

Genesis 24 is a masterful narrative of God's providential care in fulfilling His covenant promise to Abraham. It details a mission of faith, centered on finding a wife for the heir of the promise, Isaac, from within the family line, thus preserving their spiritual and ethnic identity. The chapter unfolds through the faithful actions of an unnamed servant, whose prayerful and diligent search is guided at every step by the hand of the LORD, illustrating that God's plans are accomplished through the willing obedience of his people.

Genesis 24 Context

This chapter is set in the patriarchal era, governed by specific cultural norms. Marriages were typically arranged by the parents, with the father's authority being paramount. Securing a wife from one's own kin (endogamy) was crucial for preserving inheritance, tribal alliances, and, in this case, the unique covenant faith. The prohibition against marrying Canaanites was not based on racism but on preventing syncretism and idolatry, a theme that becomes a major law in the Torah. Oaths were solemn, binding contracts, and wells were central social hubs, often serving as the setting for significant encounters, including betrothals.

Genesis 24:1-9

Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed him in every way... 'put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the Lord... that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites... but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.' ...The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me...?” ...He will send his angel before you... If the woman is unwilling to come, you will be released from this oath of mine. So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

In-depth-analysis

Abraham, blessed and old, focuses on the one remaining task: securing the next generation of the covenant line.
Prohibition: The command against a Canaanite wife is a spiritual boundary to protect the "holy seed" from pagan influences.
Oath: Placing the hand "under the thigh" (yarek) is a solemn oath invoking one's descendants or posterity. Abraham is making the servant swear by the very lineage he is being sent to perpetuate.
The Servant's Role: The servant is a model of loyalty and wisdom. He foresees potential obstacles ("What if she won't come?") but remains obedient. The text doesn't name him, though tradition suggests Eliezer of Damascus (Gen 15:2). His anonymity allows him to function typologically.
Faith: Abraham expresses profound faith that the same God who called him out of that land will now providentially provide a wife from it, sending an "angel" (or divine messenger/guidance) to ensure success.

Bible references

Deuteronomy 7:3-4: "...Do not intermarry with them... For they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods..." (The legal basis for Abraham's concern).
Exodus 23:20: "See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared." (God's promise of divine guidance).
Hebrews 11:8-9: "By faith Abraham, when called... made his home in the promised land like a stranger..." (Abraham's faith in God's promises drives his actions).

Cross references

Gen 47:29 (Jacob makes Joseph swear the same way), Deut 29:29 (God's providence), 2 Cor 6:14 (prohibition against being unequally yoked).

Genesis 24:10-14

Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and left... He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town toward evening, the time when women go out to draw water. Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness (chesed) to my master Abraham... may it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen..."

In-depth-analysis

Ten Camels: This number signifies the great wealth of Abraham and the seriousness of the mission. A large caravan ensured safety and provided an impressive dowry.
The Well: A strategic location, the social center for women, where character could be observed.
The Prayer: The servant’s prayer is a model of dependence and specificity.
- He appeals to God based on His covenant relationship with Abraham.
- He asks for chesed (covenant faithfulness, steadfast love), not just for himself but for his master.
- He devises a test that is not arbitrary. It tests for specific virtues: hospitality, generosity, diligence, and kindness. Watering ten thirsty camels is an act of extraordinary effort and a giving spirit.

Bible references

Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart... and he will make your paths straight." (The servant's reliance on God for guidance).
1 Samuel 14:9-10: "If they say... ‘Wait till we come to you,’ we will stay... but if they say... ‘Come up to us,’ we will... for the Lord has given them into our hands. This will be our sign." (Precedent for seeking a confirmatory sign).
Genesis 29:2-10: Jacob meets Rachel at a well, an event that leads to marriage.

Cross references

Psa 37:5 (commit your way to the LORD), Jas 1:5 (asking for wisdom), Ex 2:15-17 (Moses meets Zipporah at a well).

Genesis 24:15-27

Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out... she was very beautiful, a virgin... She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. The servant hurried to meet her... she said, “Drink, my lord.” ...After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” So she quickly emptied her jar... and ran back to the well... for all his camels... the man watched her in silence to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful. ...Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord...

In-depth-analysis

Immediate Answer: "Before he had finished praying" emphasizes God's sovereign and immediate response, showing that He orchestrated these events.
Rebekah's Character: She fulfills the sign perfectly, and more. Her eagerness ("hurried," "quickly ran") demonstrates a proactive and generous spirit. This is a divine appointment, not a coincidence. Watering ten camels could involve hauling hundreds of gallons of water, a monumental task.
Servant's Response: He waits in stunned "silence" to confirm the event, and his immediate reaction is not relief but worship. He recognizes God's hand and gives Him full credit.
Identity: He only asks who she is after the sign is confirmed and he has worshiped. His priority was seeking God's will, not just finding a beautiful relative.

Bible references

Isaiah 65:24: "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." (God's proactive answer to prayer).
Proverbs 31:17, 20: "She sets about her work vigorously... She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy." (Rebekah exhibits the virtues of a noble woman).
Nehemiah 2:4: "The king said to me, 'What is it you want?' Then I prayed to the God of heaven." (Instant, silent prayer in a crucial moment).

Cross references

Dan 9:20-21 (Gabriel appears while Daniel is praying), Rom 8:28 (all things work together for good), Psa 66:19-20 (God hears prayer).

Genesis 24:28-49

The young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things. Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban... when he saw the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists... he hurried out to the man at the spring. ... [The servant said] “...I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say.” ...So he told them the whole story... “...the Lord has led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.”

In-depth-analysis

Laban's Motive: The text highlights that Laban acts after "he saw the nose ring and the bracelets." This subtly introduces his materialistic character, which will be fully revealed in his dealings with Jacob later.
Servant's Testimony: He refuses hospitality until he completes his mission. His retelling of the story is not a simple report but a powerful testimony. He systematically recounts every detail, always framing it as the Lord’s direct leading: "The LORD has prospered my way," "the LORD led me." He acts as a witness to God's work.
Rhetorical Power: By presenting the story as a completed act of God, he puts Laban and Bethuel in a position where refusing the match would be to go against the will of God Himself.

Bible references

Genesis 29:15-30: Laban's deceptive and greedy nature is fully exposed in his dealings with Jacob over wages and wives.
Acts 10:28-33: Peter recounts his vision and God's guidance to Cornelius, providing a divine basis for his actions.
Joshua 2:9-11: Rahab retells what she has heard of God's mighty acts, showing faith based on testimony.

Cross references

Prov 16:3 (commit your work to God), Acts 22:1-21 (Paul's testimony before the crowd), Psa 145:4-7 (declaring God's mighty acts).

Genesis 24:50-61

Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go...” But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so...” But he said... “Do not detain me, now that the Lord has prospered my way...” Then they said, “Let’s call the young woman and ask her about it.” So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she said... and they blessed Rebekah...

In-depth-analysis

Divine Sovereignty Acknowledged: The family's response, "This is from the Lord," shows they recognize the divine orchestration.
Delay Tactic: The request for "ten days or so" is a test of the servant's resolve and a natural parental desire to delay a final farewell.
Rebekah's Faith: The final decision rests with her. Her immediate response, "I will go," is a significant act of faith. She is choosing to leave her family and homeland for a foreign land and an unknown husband, based entirely on the testimony of God's guidance. This parallels Abraham's own call.
The Blessing: The family's blessing—"may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the an gate of their enemies"—directly echoes the covenant blessing God gave Abraham (Gen 22:17).

Bible references

Psalm 45:10: "Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention: Forget your people and your father’s house." (A call for a bride to give her allegiance to her new husband, echoed in Rebekah's decision).
Ruth 1:16-17: "But Ruth replied, 'Don’t urge me to leave you... Where you go I will go...'" (Another example of a woman's radical faith and commitment).
Luke 14:26: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother... such a person cannot be my disciple." (Rebekah's choice prefigures the radical commitment required by faith).

Cross references

Prov 19:21 (the Lord's purpose prevails), Gen 12:1 (Abraham's call to leave his country), Phil 3:7-8 (counting all as loss for Christ).

Genesis 24:62-67

Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi... He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel and asked the servant, “Who is that man...?” ...he told Isaac everything he had done. Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

In-depth-analysis

Isaac's Location: He is at Beer Lahai Roi, "the well of the Living One who sees me" (Gen 16:14), a place associated with divine encounter and care. He is meditating (lasuach), suggesting prayerful contemplation, awaiting the fulfillment of God's promise.
Rebekah's Humility: Getting down from her camel and veiling herself were signs of respect and modesty before her future husband.
Completion: Isaac brings Rebekah into his mother's tent, symbolically establishing her as the new matriarch of the covenant family.
Love and Comfort: This is the first mention of romantic love in the Bible. His love for her brings comfort after the loss of Sarah, showing the goodness of God's provision for relational needs and signaling the healing and continuation of the family line.

Bible references

Song of Solomon 4:1: "How beautiful you are, my darling... behind your veil." (Veiling as an act associated with bridal beauty and intimacy).
Ephesians 5:25, 28-29: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church..." (Isaac's love for Rebekah becomes a model for marital love).
Psalm 119:15: "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways." (Isaac's practice of meditation aligns with the life of the righteous).

Cross references

Gen 16:14 (God who sees), 1 Tim 2:9 (modesty), Psa 23:4-6 (God's comfort).

Polemics: The narrative serves as a subtle polemic against fatalism and pagan divination. Unlike Mesopotamian epics where destiny is fixed or gods are manipulated through rituals, this story presents a personal God, Yahweh, who works sovereignly yet invites human participation through prayer, faith, and obedience. Success comes not from magical signs but from seeking and following God's evident leading, which is confirmed through virtuous human character.

Genesis Chapter 24 analysis

Typology: Christian interpretation has long seen this chapter as a rich typology of salvation:
- The Father (Abraham), who desires a bride for his beloved son, represents God the Father.
- The Son (Isaac), the heir for whom the bride is sought, represents God the Son, Jesus Christ.
- The Unnamed Servant, sent to a far country to secure the bride with the Father's riches, represents the Holy Spirit, who seeks and calls the Church. His refusal to speak of himself (John 16:13-14) and his sole focus on glorifying the son are key parallels.
- The Bride (Rebekah), who accepts the call based on testimony and leaves her old life behind, represents the Church (the Bride of Christ), called out of the world by faith.
Prayer as Narrative Engine: The entire plot hinges on prayer. The servant's prayer (v. 12-14) sets the standard for success, God's answer (v. 15) provides the miracle, and the servant's prayerful worship (v. 26-27) confirms the mission. Isaac is meditating/praying when his bride arrives.
Faithfulness: The chapter is a case study in faithfulness on three levels: God's faithfulness to His covenant promise, Abraham's faithfulness in acting to secure that promise, and the servant's faithfulness in executing his mission with precision and dependence on God. Rebekah’s own act is one of faith.
The Sovereignty-Responsibility balance: God is completely sovereign, with his "angel" going ahead and His answer arriving "before he had finished praying." Yet, human responsibility is essential: Abraham must send, the servant must travel and pray specifically, and Rebekah must choose to go. God's plan is worked out through, not in spite of, human choices.

Genesis 24 summary

Abraham sends his most trusted servant on a faith-based mission to find a wife for Isaac from their kin in Mesopotamia. The servant prays for a specific sign of divine guidance, which God immediately grants through the extraordinary generosity of Rebekah. After securing her family's consent, Rebekah agrees by faith to go to Canaan, where she marries Isaac, securing the covenant line and demonstrating God’s absolute faithfulness to His promises.

Genesis 23 AI Genesis 25 AI

Genesis 24 AI Image Audio and Video

Genesis chapter 24 kjv

¹ And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
² And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
³ And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
⁴ But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
⁵ And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
⁶ And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
⁷ The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
⁸ And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
⁹ And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
¹⁰ And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
¹¹ And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
¹² And he said O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.
¹³ Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
¹⁴ And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master.
¹⁵ And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
¹⁶ And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
¹⁷ And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
¹⁸ And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
¹⁹ And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
²⁰ And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
²¹ And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
²² And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
²³ And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?
²⁴ And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
²⁵ She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
²⁶ And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
²⁷ And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.
²⁸ And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.
²⁹ And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
³⁰ And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.
³¹ And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
³² And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.
³³ And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
³⁴ And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
³⁵ And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
³⁶ And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.
³⁷ And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
³⁸ But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
³⁹ And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
⁴⁰ And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:
⁴¹ Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
⁴² And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:
⁴³ Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;
⁴⁴ And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son.
⁴⁵ And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
⁴⁶ And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
⁴⁷ And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, the daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
⁴⁸ And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.
⁴⁹ And now if ye 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 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
⁵¹ Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.
⁵² And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
⁵³ And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
⁵⁴ And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.
⁵⁵ And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
⁵⁶ And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
⁵⁷ And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
⁵⁸ And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
⁵⁹ And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
⁶⁰ And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
⁶¹ And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
⁶² And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.
⁶³ And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
⁶⁴ And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
⁶⁵ For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.
⁶⁶ And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
⁶⁷ And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Genesis chapter 24 nkjv

¹ Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
² 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 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 but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac."
⁵ 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 But Abraham said to him, "Beware that you do not take my son back there.
⁷ 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 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 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
¹⁰ 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 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 Then he said, "O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
¹³ 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 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 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 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 And the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher."
¹⁸ So she said, "Drink, my lord." Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink.
¹⁹ 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 Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
²¹ And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
²² 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 and said, "Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father's house for us to lodge?"
²⁴ So she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah's son, whom she bore to Nahor."
²⁵ Moreover she said to him, "We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge."
²⁶ Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the LORD.
²⁷ 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 So the young woman ran and told her mother's household these things.
²⁹ Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well.
³⁰ 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 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 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 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 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.
³⁵ 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 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 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 but you shall go to my father's house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.'
³⁹ And I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not follow me.'
⁴⁰ 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 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 "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 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 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 "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 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 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 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 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 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, "The thing comes from the LORD; we cannot speak to you either bad or good.
⁵¹ 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 And it came to pass, when Abraham's servant heard their words, that he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
⁵³ 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 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 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 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 So they said, "We will call the young woman and ask her personally."
⁵⁸ Then they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she said, "I will go."
⁵⁹ So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men.
⁶⁰ 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 Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.
⁶² Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South.
⁶³ 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 Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel;
⁶⁵ 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 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
⁶⁷ 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.

Genesis chapter 24 niv

¹ Abraham was now very old, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
² He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh.
³ I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,
⁴ but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac."
⁵ The servant asked him, "What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?"
⁶ "Make sure that you do not take my son back there," Abraham said.
⁷ "The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land'?he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.
⁸ If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there."
⁹ So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
¹⁰ Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master's camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor.
¹¹ He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.
¹² Then he prayed, "LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
¹³ See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.
¹⁴ May it be that when I say to a young woman, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'?let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."
¹⁵ Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor.
¹⁶ The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.
¹⁷ The servant hurried to meet her and said, "Please give me a little water from your jar."
¹⁸ "Drink, my lord," she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
¹⁹ After she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink."
²⁰ So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.
²¹ Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.
²² When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels.
²³ Then he asked, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"
²⁴ She answered him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor."
²⁵ And she added, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night."
²⁶ Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,
²⁷ saying, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."
²⁸ The young woman ran and told her mother's household about these things.
²⁹ Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he hurried out to the man at the spring.
³⁰ As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring.
³¹ "Come, you who are blessed by the LORD," he said. "Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels."
³² So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet.
³³ Then food was set before him, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say." "Then tell us," Laban said.
³⁴ So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.
³⁵ The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
³⁶ My master's wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns.
³⁷ And my master made me swear an oath, and said, 'You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,
³⁸ but go to my father's family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.'
³⁹ "Then I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not come back with me?'
⁴⁰ "He replied, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked faithfully, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father's family.
⁴¹ You will be released from my oath if, when you go to my clan, they refuse to give her to you?then you will be released from my oath.'
⁴² "When I came to the spring today, I said, 'LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come.
⁴³ See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar,"
⁴⁴ and if she says to me, "Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too," let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master's son.'
⁴⁵ "Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'
⁴⁶ "She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too.' So I drank, and she watered the camels also.
⁴⁷ "I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' "She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.' "Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms,
⁴⁸ and I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son.
⁴⁹ Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn."
⁵⁰ Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other.
⁵¹ Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has directed."
⁵² When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
⁵³ Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother.
⁵⁴ Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, "Send me on my way to my master."
⁵⁵ But her brother and her mother replied, "Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so; then you may go."
⁵⁶ But he said to them, "Do not detain me, now that the LORD has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master."
⁵⁷ Then they said, "Let's call the young woman and ask her about it."
⁵⁸ So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Will you go with this man?" "I will go," she said.
⁵⁹ So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham's servant and his men.
⁶⁰ And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the cities of their enemies."
⁶¹ Then Rebekah and her attendants got ready and mounted the camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.
⁶² Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev.
⁶³ He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching.
⁶⁴ Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel
⁶⁵ and asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?" "He is my master," the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.
⁶⁶ Then the servant told Isaac all he had done.
⁶⁷ Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Genesis chapter 24 esv

¹ Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
² And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh,
³ that I may make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and 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 but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac."
⁵ The servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?"
⁶ Abraham said to him, "See to it that you do not take my son back there.
⁷ The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, 'To your offspring I will give this land,' he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
⁸ But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there."
⁹ So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
¹⁰ Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor.
¹¹ And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.
¹² And he said, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.
¹³ Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
¹⁴ Let the young woman to whom I shall say, 'Please let down your jar that I may drink,' and who shall say, 'Drink, and I will water your camels' ? let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master."
¹⁵ Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder.
¹⁶ The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.
¹⁷ Then the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please give me a little water to drink from your jar."
¹⁸ She said, "Drink, my lord." And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink.
¹⁹ When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking."
²⁰ So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels.
²¹ The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not.
²² When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels,
²³ and said, "Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"
²⁴ She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."
²⁵ She added, "We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night."
²⁶ The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD
²⁷ and said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsmen."
²⁸ Then the young woman ran and told her mother's household about these things.
²⁹ Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out toward the man, to the spring.
³⁰ As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, "Thus the man spoke to me," he went to the man. And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
³¹ 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 So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels, and gave straw and fodder to the camels, and there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
³³ Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, "I will not eat until I have said what I have to say." He said, "Speak on."
³⁴ So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.
³⁵ The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys.
³⁶ 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 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 but you shall go to my father's house and to my clan and take a wife for my son.'
³⁹ I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not follow me.'
⁴⁰ But he said to me, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father's house.
⁴¹ Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my clan. And if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.'
⁴² "I came today to the spring and said, 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go,
⁴³ behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, "Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,"
⁴⁴ and who will say 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 "Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'
⁴⁶ She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.' So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also.
⁴⁷ Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms.
⁴⁸ Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son.
⁴⁹ Now then, if you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left."
⁵⁰ Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, "The thing has come from the LORD; we cannot speak to you bad or good.
⁵¹ Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has spoken."
⁵² When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the LORD.
⁵³ And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments.
⁵⁴ And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, "Send me away to my master."
⁵⁵ Her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go."
⁵⁶ But 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 They said, "Let us call the young woman and ask her."
⁵⁸ And they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will go."
⁵⁹ So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men.
⁶⁰ And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands, and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him!"
⁶¹ Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way.
⁶² Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb.
⁶³ And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming.
⁶⁴ And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel
⁶⁵ and said to the servant, "Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself.
⁶⁶ And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
⁶⁷ Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Genesis chapter 24 nlt

¹ Abraham was now a very old man, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
² One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, "Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh.
³ Swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women.
⁴ Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac."
⁵ The servant asked, "But what if I can't find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?"
⁶ "No!" Abraham responded. "Be careful never to take my son there.
⁷ For the LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son.
⁸ If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there."
⁹ So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham's instructions.
¹⁰ Then he loaded ten of Abraham's camels with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master, and he traveled to distant Aram-naharaim. There he went to the town where Abraham's brother Nahor had settled.
¹¹ He made the camels kneel beside a well just outside the town. It was evening, and the women were coming out to draw water.
¹² "O LORD, God of my master, Abraham," he prayed. "Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.
¹³ See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water.
¹⁴ This is my request. I will ask one of them, 'Please give me a drink from your jug.' If she says, 'Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!' ? let her be the one you have selected as Isaac's wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master."
¹⁵ Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham's brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah.
¹⁶ Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again.
¹⁷ Running over to her, the servant said, "Please give me a little drink of water from your jug."
¹⁸ "Yes, my lord," she answered, "have a drink." And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink.
¹⁹ When she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink."
²⁰ So she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels.
²¹ The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the LORD had given him success in his mission.
²² Then at last, when the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring for her nose and two large gold bracelets for her wrists.
²³ "Whose daughter are you?" he asked. "And please tell me, would your father have any room to put us up for the night?"
²⁴ "I am the daughter of Bethuel," she replied. "My grandparents are Nahor and Milcah.
²⁵ Yes, we have plenty of straw and feed for the camels, and we have room for guests."
²⁶ The man bowed low and worshiped the LORD.
²⁷ "Praise the LORD, the God of my master, Abraham," he said. "The LORD has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master's relatives."
²⁸ The young woman ran home to tell her family everything that had happened.
²⁹ Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, who ran out to meet the man at the spring.
³⁰ He had seen the nose-ring and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man had said. So he rushed out to the spring, where the man was still standing beside his camels.
³¹ Laban said to him, "Come and stay with us, you who are blessed by the LORD! Why are you standing here outside the town when I have a room all ready for you and a place prepared for the camels?"
³² So the man went home with Laban, and Laban unloaded the camels, gave him straw for their bedding, fed them, and provided water for the man and the camel drivers to wash their feet.
³³ Then food was served. But Abraham's servant said, "I don't want to eat until I have told you why I have come." "All right," Laban said, "tell us."
³⁴ "I am Abraham's servant," he explained.
³⁵ "And the LORD has greatly blessed my master; he has become a wealthy man. The LORD has given him flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, a fortune in silver and gold, and many male and female servants and camels and donkeys.
³⁶ "When Sarah, my master's wife, was very old, she gave birth to my master's son, and my master has given him everything he owns.
³⁷ And my master made me take an oath. He said, 'Do not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women.
³⁸ Go instead to my father's house, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son.'
³⁹ "But I said to my master, 'What if I can't find a young woman who is willing to go back with me?'
⁴⁰ He responded, 'The LORD, in whose presence I have lived, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful. Yes, you must find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father's family.
⁴¹ Then you will have fulfilled your obligation. But if you go to my relatives and they refuse to let her go with you, you will be free from my oath.'
⁴² "So today when I came to the spring, I prayed this prayer: 'O LORD, God of my master, Abraham, please give me success on this mission.
⁴³ See, I am standing here beside this spring. This is my request. When a young woman comes to draw water, I will say to her, "Please give me a little drink of water from your jug."
⁴⁴ If she says, "Yes, have a drink, and I will draw water for your camels, too," let her be the one you have selected to be the wife of my master's son.'
⁴⁵ "Before I had finished praying in my heart, I saw Rebekah coming out 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.'
⁴⁶ She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, 'Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!' So I drank, and then she watered the camels.
⁴⁷ "Then I asked, 'Whose daughter are you?' She replied, 'I am the daughter of Bethuel, and my grandparents are Nahor and Milcah.' So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists.
⁴⁸ "Then I bowed low and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master, Abraham, because he had led me straight to my master's niece to be his son's wife.
⁴⁹ So tell me ? will you or won't you show unfailing love and faithfulness to my master? Please tell me yes or no, and then I'll know what to do next."
⁵⁰ Then Laban and Bethuel replied, "The LORD has obviously brought you here, so there is nothing we can say.
⁵¹ Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has directed."
⁵² When Abraham's servant heard their answer, he bowed down to the ground and worshiped the LORD.
⁵³ Then he brought out silver and gold jewelry and clothing and presented them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive presents to her brother and mother.
⁵⁴ Then they ate their meal, and the servant and the men with him stayed there overnight. But early the next morning, Abraham's servant said, "Send me back to my master."
⁵⁵ "But we want Rebekah to stay with us at least ten days," her brother and mother said. "Then she can go."
⁵⁶ But he said, "Don't delay me. The LORD has made my mission successful; now send me back so I can return to my master."
⁵⁷ "Well," they said, "we'll call Rebekah and ask her what she thinks."
⁵⁸ So they called Rebekah. "Are you willing to go with this man?" they asked her. And she replied, "Yes, I will go."
⁵⁹ So they said good-bye to Rebekah and sent her away with Abraham's servant and his men. The woman who had been Rebekah's childhood nurse went along with her.
⁶⁰ They gave her this blessing as she parted: "Our sister, may you become
the mother of many millions!
May your descendants be strong
and conquer the cities of their enemies."
⁶¹ Then Rebekah and her servant girls mounted the camels and followed the man. So Abraham's servant took Rebekah and went on his way.
⁶² Meanwhile, Isaac, whose home was in the Negev, had returned from Beer-lahai-roi.
⁶³ One evening as he was walking and meditating in the fields, he looked up and saw the camels coming.
⁶⁴ When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she quickly dismounted from her camel.
⁶⁵ "Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?" she asked the servant. And he replied, "It is my master." So Rebekah covered her face with her veil.
⁶⁶ Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done.
⁶⁷ And Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah's tent, and she became his wife. He loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.