Genesis 24

Isaac marries Rebekah

1As the days went by and Abraham became older, the LORD blessed Abraham in every way. 2Abraham said to the oldest servant of his household, who was in charge of everything he owned, “Put your hand under my thigh. 3By the LORD, God of heaven and earth, give me your word that you won’t choose a wife for my son from the Canaanite women among whom I live. 4Go to my land and my family and find a wife for my son Isaac there.”

5The servant said to him, “What if the woman doesn’t agree to come back with me to this land? Shouldn’t I take your son back to the land you left?”

6Abraham said to him, “Be sure you don’t take my son back there. 7The LORD, God of heaven—who took me from my father’s household and from my family’s land, who spoke with me and who gave me his word, saying, ‘I will give this land to your descendants’—he will send his messenger in front of you, and you will find a wife for my son there. 8If the woman won’t agree to come back with you, you will be free from this obligation to me. Only don’t take my son back there.” 9So the servant put his hand under his master Abraham’s thigh and gave him his word about this mission.

10The servant took ten of his master’s camels and all of his master’s best provisions, set out, and traveled to Nahor’s city in Aram-naharaim. 11He had the camels kneel down outside the city at the well in the evening, when women come out to draw water. 12He said, “LORD, God of my master Abraham, make something good happen for me today and be loyal to my master Abraham. 13I will stand here by the spring while the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water. 14When I say to a young woman, ‘Hand me your water jar so I can drink,’ and she says to me, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels water too,’ may she be the one you’ve selected for your servant Isaac. In this way I will know that you’ve been loyal to my master.” 15Even before he finished speaking, Rebekah—daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother—was coming out with a water jar on her shoulder. 16The young woman was very beautiful, old enough to be married, and hadn’t known a man intimately. She went down to the spring, filled her water jar, and came back up.

17The servant ran to meet her and said, “Give me a little sip of water from your jar.”

18She said, “Drink, sir.” Then she quickly lowered the water jar with her hands and gave him some water to drink. 19When she finished giving him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw some water for your camels too, till they’ve had enough to drink.” 20She emptied her water jar quickly into the watering trough, ran to the well again to draw water, and drew water for all of the camels. 21The man stood gazing at her, wondering silently if the LORD had made his trip successful or not.

22As soon as the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold ring, weighing a half shekel,#24.22 Heb beqa and two gold bracelets for her arms, weighing ten shekels. 23He said, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”

24She responded, “I’m the daughter of Bethuel, who is the son of Milcah and Nahor.” 25She continued, “We have plenty of straw and feed for the camels, and a place to spend the night.”

26The man bowed down and praised the LORD: 27“Bless the LORD, God of my master Abraham, who hasn’t given up his loyalty and his faithfulness to my master. The LORD has shown me the way to the household of my master’s brother.”

28The young woman ran and told her mother’s household everything that had happened. 29Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and Laban ran to the man outside by the spring. 30When he had seen the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and when he had heard his sister Rebekah say, “This is what the man said to me,” he went to the man, who was still standing by the spring with his camels. 31Laban said, “Come in, favored one of the LORD! Why are you standing outside? I’ve prepared the house and a place for the camels.” 32So the man entered the house. Then Laban unbridled the camels, provided straw and feed for them and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men with him, 33and set out a meal for him.

But the man said, “I won’t eat until I’ve said something.”

Laban replied, “Say it.”

34The man said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35The LORD has richly blessed my master, has made him a great man, and has given him flocks, cattle, silver, gold, men servants, women servants, camels, and donkeys. 36My master’s wife Sarah gave birth to a son for my master in her old age, and he’s given him everything he owns. 37My master made me give him my word: ‘Don’t choose a wife for my son from the Canaanite women, in whose land I’m living. 38No, instead, go to my father’s household and to my relatives and choose a wife for my son.’ 39I said to my master, ‘What if the woman won’t come back with me?’ 40He said to me, ‘The LORD, whom I’ve traveled with everywhere, will send his messenger with you and make your trip successful; and you will choose a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father’s household. 41If you go to my relatives, you will be free from your obligation to me. Even if they provide no one for you, you will be free from your obligation to me.’

42“Today I arrived at the spring, and I said, ‘LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you wish to make the trip I’m taking successful, 43when I’m standing by the spring and the young woman who comes out to draw water and to whom I say, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jar,” 44and she responds to me, “Drink, and I will draw water for your camels too,” may she be the woman the LORD has selected for my master’s son.’ 45Before I finished saying this to myself, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder and went down to the spring to draw water. And I said to her, ‘Please give me something to drink.’ 46She immediately lowered her water jar and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels something to drink too.’ So I drank and she also gave water to the camels. 47Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son whom Milcah bore him.’ I put a ring in her nose and bracelets on her arms. 48I bowed and worshipped the LORD and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who led me in the right direction to choose the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son. 49Now if you’re loyal and faithful to my master, tell me. If not, tell me so I will know where I stand either way.”

50Laban and Bethuel both responded, “This is all the LORD’s doing. We have nothing to say about it. 51Here is Rebekah, right in front of you. Take her and go. She will be the wife of your master’s son, just as the LORD said.” 52When Abraham’s servant heard what they said, he bowed low before the LORD. 53The servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and clothing and gave them to Rebekah. To her brother and to her mother he gave the finest gifts. 54He and the men with him ate and drank and spent the night.

When they got up in the morning, the servant said, “See me off to my master.”

55Her brother and mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us not more than ten days, and after that she may go.”

56But he said to them, “Don’t delay me. The LORD has made my trip successful. See me off so that I can go to my master.”

57They said, “Summon the young woman, and let’s ask her opinion.” 58They called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?”

She said, “I will go.”

59So they sent off their sister Rebekah, her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men. 60And they blessed Rebekah, saying to her,

“May you, our sister, become

thousands of ten thousand;

may your children possess

their enemies’ cities.”

61Rebekah and her young women got up, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

62Now Isaac had come from the region of#24.62 Heb uncertain; LXX through the desert of Beer-lahai-roi and had settled in the arid southern plain. 63One evening, Isaac went out to inspect the pasture,#24.63 Heb uncertain; possibly to walk around in the pasture or to meditate in the pasture and while staring he saw camels approaching. 64Rebekah stared at Isaac. She got down from the camel 65and said to the servant, “Who is this man walking through the pasture to meet us?”

The servant said, “He’s my master.” So she took her headscarf and covered herself. 66The servant told Isaac everything that had happened. 67Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent. He received Rebekah as his wife and loved her. So Isaac found comfort after his mother’s death.

Genesis 24

1And Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will] was old, [and] well stricken in age: and the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) had Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will] in all things.

2And Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will] said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray youi, youri hand under my thigh:

3And I will make youi swear by the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), the God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] of heaven, and the God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] of the earth, that youi shall not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Kena’ani (low/humbled ones; merchants), among whom I dwell:

4But youi shall go unto my country, and to my family, and take a wife unto my son Yitz’chak [Laughter].

5And the servant said unto him, Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring youri son again unto the land from which youi came?

6And Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will] said unto him, Beware youi that youi bring not my son there again.

7The Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my family, and which spoke unto me, and that swore unto me, saying, Unto youri seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before youi, and youi shall take a wife unto my son from there.

8And if the woman will not be willing to follow youi, then youi shall be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son there again.

9And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will] his master, and swore to him concerning that matter.

10And 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 Aram-Naharayim [Aram (Mesopotamia/Aram (Syria) [exalted]) [Elevated Between the Two Rivers]] (between two rivers), unto the city of Nokhor (a snort, a snorting; charred, scorched).

11And 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.

12And he said, O Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] of my master Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will], I pray youi, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will].

13Behold, I stand [here] by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

14And let it come to pass, that the girl to whom I shall say, Let down youri pitcher, I pray youi, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give youri camels drink also: [let the same be] she [that] youi have appointed for youri servant Yitz’chak [Laughter]; and thereby shall I know that youi have showed kindness unto my master.

15And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rivkah (Tied Up; Secured) came out, who was born to B’tu’el (meaning disputed), son of Milkah (Counsel; Queen), the wife of Nokhor (a snort, a snorting; charred, scorched), Avraham’s [exalted father/Fly They Will] brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

16And the girl [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.

17And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray youi, drink a little water of youri pitcher.

18And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

19And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw [water] for youri camels also, until they have done drinking.

20And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw [water], and drew for all his camels.

21And the man wondering at her held his peace, that is to say whether the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) had made his journey prosperous or not.

22And 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;

23And said, Whose daughter [are] youi? tell me, I pray youi: is there room [in] youri father’s house for us to lodge in?

24And she said unto him, I [am] the daughter of B’tu’el (meaning disputed) the son of Milkah (Counsel; Queen), which she bore unto Nokhor (a snort, a snorting; charred, scorched).

25She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender (food for livestock or cattle) enough, and room to lodge in.

26And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate).

27And he said, Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) [be] the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) God-Elohe [The Living Word - The Many Powered] of my master Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will], who has not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I [being] in the way, the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) led me to the house of my master’s brethren.

28And the girl ran, and told [them of] her mother’s house these things.

29And Rivkah (Tied Up; Secured) had a brother, and his name [was] Lavan (to be white; white guy): and Lavan ran out unto the man, unto the well.

30And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rivkah (Tied Up; Secured) his sister, saying, In the following manner spoke the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

31And he said, Come in, youi Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) of the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate); for what reason [do] youi stand outside? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

32And the man came into the house: and he unloaded his camels, and gave straw and provender (food for livestock or cattle) for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that [were] with him.

33And there was set [meat] before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told my errand. And he said, Speak on.

34And he said, I [am] Avraham’s [exalted father/Fly They Will] servant.

35And the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) has Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) my master greatly; and he is become great: and he has given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and donkeys.

36And Sarah [Princess] my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old: and unto him has he given all that he has.

37And my master made me swear, saying, Youi shall not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Kena’ani (low/humbled ones; merchants), in whose land I dwell:

38But youi shall go unto my father’s house, and to my family, and take a wife unto my son.

39And I said unto my master, Perhaps the woman will not follow me.

40And he said unto me, The Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), before whom I walk, will send his angel with youi, and prosper youri way; and youi shall take a wife for my son of my family, and of my father’s house:

41Then shall youi be clear from [this] my oath, when youi come to my family; and if they give not youi [one], youi shall be clear from my oath.

42And I came this day unto the well, and said, O Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] of my master Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will], if now youi do prosper my way which I go:

43Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin comes forth to draw [water], and I say to her, Give me, I pray youi, a little water of youri pitcher to drink;

44And she say to me, Both drink youi, and I will also draw for youri camels: [let] the same [be] the woman whom the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) has appointed out for my master’s son.

45And before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rivkah (Tied Up; Secured) 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 youi.

46And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her [shoulder], and said, Drink, and I will give youri camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.

47And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter [are] youi? And she said, The daughter of B’tu’el, Nokhor’s (a snort, a snorting; charred, scorched) son, whom Milkah (Counsel; Queen) bore unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

48And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), and Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) God-Elōhīm [The Living Word - The Many Powered] of my master Avraham [exalted father/Fly They Will], which had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter unto his son.

49And now if youf 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.

50Then Lavan (to be white; white guy) and B’tu’el answered and said, The thing proceeds from the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate): we cannot speak unto youi bad or good.

51Behold, Rivkah [is] before youi, take [her], and go, and let her be youri master’s son’s wife, as the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) has spoken.

52And it came to pass, that, when Avraham’s [exalted father/Fly They Will] servant heard their words, he worshipped the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), [bowing himself] to the earth.

53And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave [them] to Rivkah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

54And 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.

55And her brother and her mother said, Let the girl abide with us [a few] days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.

56And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) has prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

57And they said, We will call the girl, and enquire at her mouth.

58And they called Rivkah, and said unto her, Will youi go with this man? And she said, I will go.

59And they sent away Rivkah (Tied Up; Secured) their sister, and her nurse, and Avraham’s [exalted father/Fly They Will] servant, and his men.

60And they Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) Rivkah, and said unto her, Youi [are] our sister, be youi [the mother] of thousands of millions, and let youri seed possess the gate of those which hate them.

61And Rivkah (Tied Up; Secured) arose, and her female servants, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rivkah, and went his way.

62And Yitz’chak [Laughter] came from the way of the well Be’er-Lachai-Ro’i [The Well Of The Living One Who Sees Me]; for he dwelt in the south country.

63And Yitz’chak [Laughter] went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels [were] coming.

64And Rivkah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Yitz’chak [Laughter], she lighted off the camel.

65For she [had] said unto the servant, What man [is] this that walks in the field to meet us? And the servant [had] said, It [is] my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

66And the servant told Yitz’chak [Laughter] all things that he had done.

67And Yitz’chak [Laughter] brought her into his mother Sarah’s [Princess] tent, and took Rivkah (Tied Up; Secured), and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Yitz’chak [Laughter] was comforted after his mother’s [death].

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Genesis 24

Genesis 24