Genesis 24

Courting of Rebekah

1Now Abraham was old, advanced in years, and Adonai blessed Abraham in everything.

2Then Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household who managed everything that belonged to him, “Now put your hand under my thigh,

3so that I may make you take an oath by Adonai, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from among the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling.

4On the contrary, to my land and to my relatives you must go and get a wife for my son Isaac.

5But the servant said to him, “Suppose the woman were unwilling to follow after me to this land? Should I then have your son go back to the land you came from?

6Abraham said to him, “See to it that you don’t return my son there.

7Adonai, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from my native land and who spoke to me and made a pledge to me saying, ‘To your seed I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you and you will take a wife for my son from there.

8If the woman is not willing to follow after you, then you will be free from this oath of mine. Nevertheless, you must not return my son there.”

9So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and he made a pledge to him concerning this matter.

10Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and left with all the best of his master’s things in his hand. Then he arose and went to Aram-Naharaim, to Nahor’s city.

11Then he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at evening time, the time for the going out to draw water.

12“Adonai, the God of Abraham my master,” he said, “please make something happen before me today, and show loyalty to Abraham my master.

13Look, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are going out to draw water.

14Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please tip your jar so that I may drink,’ and she will say, ‘Drink—and I’ll also water your camels’—let her be the one You have appointed for your servant Isaac. So by this I’ll know that You have shown graciousness to my master.”

15Now before he had finished speaking, behold there was Rebekah (who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother) going out with her jar on her shoulder.

16Now the young woman was very good looking, a girl of marriageable age, and she was a virgin. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.

17Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me sip a little water from your jar.”

18So she said, “Drink, my lord,” and she quickly lowered her jar onto her hand and gave him a drink.

19Now when she finished giving him a drink, she said, “I’ll also draw water for your camels until they’ve finished drinking.”

20So she quickly poured out her jug into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew water for all his camels,

21while the man continued to pay close attention to her, keeping silent in order to know whether or not Adonai had made his way successful.

22Now after the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a nose ring of gold weighing a half-shekel and two bracelets on her hands weighing ten shekels of gold.

23“Whose daughter are you?” he said. “Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”

24She said to him, “I’m the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.”

25She also said to him, “There’s both straw and plenty of feed with us, as well as room to spend the night.”

26Then the man bowed down and worshipped Adonai,

27and he said, “Blessed be Adonai, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His loyalty and His truth toward my master. As for me, Adonai has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s brothers.”

28Then the young woman ran and told her mother’s house these things.

29Now Rebekah had a brother and his name was Laban, and Laban ran outside to the man at the spring.

30As soon as he saw the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister saying, “Thus the man said to me,” he went to the man. There he was, standing by the camels at the spring.

31So he said, “Come in, blessed of Adonai. Why are you standing outside when I’ve tidied up the house and there is room for the camels?”

32So the man came to the house and he unloaded the camels. Straw and feed were given to the camels and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

33Food was placed before him to eat, but he said, “I won’t eat until I’ve stated my business.” So he said, “Speak.”

34“I am Abraham’s servant,” he said.

35Adonai has blessed my master very much so that he has become great, and He has given to him flocks of sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male slaves and female slaves, camels and donkeys.

36Now Sarah, my master’s wife, gave birth to a son for my master after she was old, and He gave him everything he owns.

37Then my master made me take an oath, saying, ‘You must not take a wife for my son from among the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I’m dwelling.’

38Instead you must go to my father’s house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.’

39But I said to my master, ‘Suppose the woman won’t come back with me?’

40So he said to me, ‘Adonai, before whom I’ve walked continually, will send His angel with you, and He will make your way successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s household.

41Then you’ll be free from my oath—if you come to my family and if they don’t give her to you—then you’ll be free from my oath.’

42So I came today to the spring and I said, ‘Adonai, the God of Abraham my master, if You are really going to make my way upon which I am walking successful,

43look, I’m standing by the spring of water. So let it be that the unmarried girl who is going out to draw water, to whom I’ll say, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jug,”

44and she’ll say to me, “You drink, and I’ll also draw water for your camels”—let her be the woman whom Adonai appoints for my master’s son!’

45I had not yet finished speaking to my heart, and behold there was Rebekah going out—her jug was on her shoulder and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’

46And she quickly lowered her jug off of her and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll also water your camels.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels.

47Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ Then I placed the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her hands.

48I bowed down and worshipped Adonai and blessed Adonai, the God of my master Abraham, who guided me on the true way to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son.

49So now, if you’re really going to show loyalty and truth to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me and I’ll turn to the right or to the left.”

50Then Laban and Bethuel answered, and they said, “The matter proceeds from Adonai. We cannot speak to you bad or good.

51Rebekah is before you. Take her and go, and let her become a wife for our master’s son, just as Adonai has spoken.”

52Now when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground to Adonai.

53Then the servant brought out articles of silver and gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brothers and to her mother.

54Then they ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and spent the night. When they arose in the morning, he said, “Send me off to my master.”

55But her brother with her mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us a few days—or ten. Afterwards she may go.”

56But he said to them, “Don’t delay me, since Adonai has made my way successful. Send me off so that I can go to my master.”

57So they said, “We’ll call the young woman and let’s ask her opinion.”

58Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.”

59So they sent Rebekah their sister off with her nanny, and Abraham’s servant and his men,

60and they blessed Rebekah and said to her: “Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands, and may your seed possess the gate of those who hate him.”

61Then Rebekah got up, with her maids, and they mounted the camels and followed after the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.

62Now Isaac had come from visiting Beer-lahai-roi and was living in the land of the Negev.

63Isaac went out to meditate strolling in the field at dusk. Then he lifted up his eyes and saw, behold, camels were coming.

64Rebekah also lifted up her eyes and saw Isaac. Then she fell off her camel.

65Then she said to the servant, “Who is that man there who is walking in the field—to meet us?” The servant said, “He is my master.” So she took the veil and covered herself.

66Then the servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.

67Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother, took Rebekah and she became his wife—and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after the loss of his mother.

Bereshis 24

1And Avraham was zaken (old), and well stricken in age; and Hashem berach (had blessed) Avraham in all things.

2And Avraham said unto his eved zekan of his bais, hamoshel (that ruled) over all that he had, Put, now, thy yad under my thigh;

3And I will make thee swear by Hashem Elohei HaShomayim and Elohei Ha'Aretz, that thou shalt not take an isha unto beni of the Banot HaKena'ani, among whom I dwell:

4But thou shalt go unto my eretz, and to my moledet, and take an isha unto beni Yitzchak.

5And the eved said unto him, What if the isha will not be willing to follow me unto HaAretz Hazot: must I needs bring binecha back unto ha'aretz from where thou camest?

6And Avraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not beni to there!

7 Hashem Elohei HaShomayim, which took me from bais avi, and from the eretz of my moledet, and which spoke unto me, and that swore unto me, saying, Unto thy zera will I give HaAretz Hazot; He shall send His Malach before thee, and thou shalt take an isha unto beni from there.

8But if the isha will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be released from this my shevu'ah (oath): only do not bring back beni there.

9And the eved put his yad under yerech Avraham adonav, and swore to him concerning this matter.

10And the eved took asarah gemalim of the gemalei adonav, and departed; for all the goods of adonav were in his yad: and he arose, and went to Aram Naharayim (Mesopotamia), unto the Ir Nachor.

11And he made his gemalim to kneel down outside the Ir near a be'er hamayim at the time of erev, at the time that women go out to draw mayim.

12And he said Hashem Elohei adoni Avraham, now, send me success this yom, and show chesed unto adoni Avraham.

13Hinei, I stand here by the ayin hamayim; and the banot anshei haIr come out to draw mayim;

14And let it come to pass, that the na'arah to whom I shall say, Let down thy jug, now, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy gemalim drink also; let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy eved Yitzchak; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast showed chesed unto adoni.

15And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, hinei, Rivkah came out, who was born to Betuel Ben Milcah, eshet Nachor, achi Avraham, with her jug upon her shoulder.

16And the na'arah was tovat mareh me'od, a betulah, neither had any ish known her: and she went down to haayenah (the spring), and filled her jug, and came up.

17And the eved hurried to meet her, and said, Let me, now, drink a little mayim of thy jug.

18And she said, Drink, adoni: and she hasted, and let down her jug upon her yad, and gave him drink.

19And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw for thy gemalim also, until they have done drinking.

20And she hasted, and emptied her jug into the trough, and ran back unto the be'er to draw, and drew for all his gemalim.

21And the ish gazed at her and held his peace, so as to have da'as whether Hashem had made his derech prosperous or not.

22And it came to pass, just as the gemalim had done drinking, that the ish took a nezem zahav (gold ring) by weight a beka, and two tzemidim (bracelets) by weight ten [shekels of] gold for her wrists;

23And said, Whose bat art thou? Tell me, now: is there makom in the bais of thy av for us to spend the night?

24And she said unto him, I am Bat Betuel Ben Milcah, the ben which she bore unto Nachor.

25She said moreover unto him, We have both teven (straw) and mispo (fodder) enough, and makom (room) to spend the night.

26And the ish bowed his head, worshiped Hashem.

27And he said, Baruch Hashem Elohei adoni Avraham, who hath not left destitute of His chesed and His emes; I being on the derech, Hashem led me to the bais achei adoni.

28And the na'arah ran, and told them of her bais em these things.

29And Rivkah had an ach, shmo Lavan; Lavan ran out unto the ish, unto the ayin.

30And it came to pass, when he saw the nezem and tzemidim upon the wrists of his achot, and when he heard the words of Rivkah his achot, saying, Thus spoke the ish unto me; that he came unto the ish; and, hinei, he stood by the gemalim at the ayin.

31And he said, Come in, Baruch Hashem; why standest thou outside? for I have prepared the bais, and makom for the gemalim.

32And the ish came into the bais; and he unloaded his gemalim, and gave teven (straw) and mispo (fodder) for the camels, and mayim to wash his raglayim, and the raglei haanashim that were with him.

33And there was set ochel before him to eat; but he said, I will not eat, until I have stated my business. And he said, Speak on.

34And he said, I am eved Avraham.

35And Hashem hath blessed adoni me'od; and he is become prospered: and He hath given him tzon, and bakar, and kesef, and zahav, and avadim, and shefachot, and gemalim, and chamorim.

36And Sarah eshet adoni bore ben to adoni when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.

37And adoni made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take an isha for beni of the Banot HaKena'ani, in whose land I dwell;

38But thou shalt go unto bais avi, to my mishpokhot, and take an isha unto beni.

39And I said unto adoni, What if the isha will not follow me.

40And he said unto me, Hashem, before Whom I walk, will send His Malach with thee, and prosper thy derech; and thou shalt take an isha for beni of my mishpokhot, and of my bais avi;

41Then shalt thou be released from this my oath, when thou comest to my mishpokhot; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be released from my oath.

42And I came this day unto the ayin, and said, Hashem Elohei adoni Avraham, if now Thou do prosper my derech which I go;

43Hinei, I stand by the ayin hamayim; and it shall come to pass, that when haAlmah#24:43 haAlmah used here as synonym for na'arah-betulah, Gn 24:16; see Isa 7:14, Introduction cometh forth to draw mayim, and I say to her, Give me, now, a little mayim of thy jar to drink;

44And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy gemalim; let the same be the isha whom Hashem hath appointed for ben adoni.

45And before I had done davening in mine lev, hinei, Rivkah came forth with her jar on her shoulder; and she went down unto ha'ayenah, and drew: and I said unto her, Let me drink, now.

46And she made haste, and let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy gemalim drink also: so I drank, and she made the gemalim drink also.

47And I asked her, and said, Whose bat art thou? And she said, Bat Betuel Ben Nachor, the ben whom Milcah bore unto him: and I put the nezem upon her face, and the tzemidim upon her wrists.

48And I bowed down my head, and worshiped Hashem, and I said a brocha to Hashem Elohei adoni Avraham, which had led me on the derech emes to take bat achi adoni for bno.

49And now if ye will do chesed and emes to adoni, tell me; and if not, tell me; that I may turn to yamin, or to smol.

50Then Lavan and Betuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from Hashem; we cannot speak unto thee rah or tov.

51Hinei, Rivkah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be isha for ben adoneicha, just as Hashem hath spoken.

52And it came to pass, that, when eved Avraham heard their words, he worshiped Hashem, bowing himself to the ground.

53And the eved brought forth kelei kesef, and kelei zahav, and begadim, and gave them to Rivkah; he gave also to her ach and to her em migdanot (costly gifts).

54And they did eat and drink, he and the anashim that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the boker, and he said, Send me away unto adoni.

55And her ach and her em said, Let the na'arah abide with us ten days or so; after that she shall go.

56And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing Hashem hath prospered my derech; send me away that I may go to adoni.

57And they said, We will call the na'arah, and inquire at her mouth.

58And they called Rivkah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this ish? And she said, I will go.

59And they sent away Rivkah their achot, and her nurse, and eved Avraham, and his anashim.

60And they said a brocha over Rivkah, and said unto her, Thou art achoteinu, may thou be increased to thousands upon thousands and may thy zera possess the sha'ar of those which hate them.

61And Rivkah arose, and her na'arot, and they rode upon the gemalim, and followed the ish: and the eved took Rivkah, and went his way.

62And Yitzchak had come from Be'er Lachai Roi; for he dwelt in the eretz hanegev.

63And Yitzchak went out to meditate in the sadeh at erev: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, hinei, the gemalim (camels) were coming.

64And Rivkah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Yitzchak, she got down from the gamal.

65For she had said unto the eved, Who is that ish that walketh in the sadeh to meet us? And the eved had said, He is adoni: therefore she took a veil, and covered herself.

66And the eved told Yitzchak all things that he had done.

67And Yitzchak brought her into the ohel of Sarah immo, and took Rivkah, and she became his isha; and he loved her: and Yitzchak was comforted after the [mot] immo.

Choose your language

Genesis 24

Bereshis 24