Genesis 24
24
Abraham’s Servant Finds a Wife for Isaac
1By that time Abraham was very old. The Lord had blessed Abraham in every way. 2The best servant in his house was in charge of everything Abraham had. Abraham said to him, “Put your hand under my thigh. 3The Lord is the God of heaven and the God of earth. I want you to make a promise to me in his name. I’m living among the people of Canaan. But I want you to promise me that you won’t get a wife for my son from their daughters. 4Instead, promise me that you will go to my country and to my own relatives. Get a wife for my son Isaac from there.”
5The servant asked Abraham, “What if the woman doesn’t want to come back with me to this land? Then should I take your son back to the country you came from?”
6“Make sure you don’t take my son back there,” Abraham said. 7“The Lord, the God of heaven, took me away from my father’s family. He brought me out of my own land. He made me a promise. He said, ‘I will give this land to your family after you.’ The Lord will send his angel ahead of you. So you will be able to get a wife for my son from there. 8The woman may not want to come back with you. If she doesn’t, you will be free from your promise. But don’t take my son back there.” 9So the servant put his hand under Abraham’s thigh. He promised to do what his master wanted.
10The servant chose ten of his master’s camels and left. He loaded the camels with all kinds of good things from his master. He started out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. 11He stopped near the well outside the town. There he made the camels get down on their knees. It was almost evening, the time when women go out to get water.
12Then he prayed, “Lord, you are the God of my master Abraham. Make me successful today. Be kind to my master Abraham. 13I’m standing beside this spring. The daughters of the people who live in the town are coming out here to get water. 14I will speak to a young woman. I’ll say to her, ‘Please lower your jar so I can have a drink.’ Suppose she says, ‘Have a drink of water, and I’ll get some for your camels too.’ Then let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. That’s how I’ll know you have been kind to my master.”
15Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out. She was carrying a jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Milkah’s son Bethuel. Milkah was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16The young woman was very beautiful. No man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring. She filled her jar and came up again.
17The servant hurried to meet her. He said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”
18“Have a drink, sir,” she said. She quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll get water for your camels too. I’ll keep doing it until they have had enough to drink.” 20So she quickly emptied her jar into the stone tub. Then she ran back to the well to get more water. She got enough for all his camels. 21The man didn’t say a word. He watched her closely. He wanted to learn whether the Lord had given him success on the journey he had made.
22The camels finished drinking. Then the man took out a gold nose ring. It weighed about a fifth of an ounce. He also took out two gold bracelets. They weighed about four ounces. 23Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? And please tell me something else. Is there room in your father’s house for us? Can we spend the night there?”
24She answered, “I’m the daughter of Bethuel. He’s the son Milkah had by Nahor.” 25She continued, “We have plenty of straw and feed for your camels. We also have room for you to spend the night.”
26Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord. 27He said, “I praise the Lord, the God of my master Abraham. The Lord hasn’t stopped being kind and faithful to my master. The Lord has led me on this journey. He has brought me to the house of my master’s relatives.”
28The young woman ran home. She told her mother’s family what had happened. 29Rebekah had a brother named Laban. He hurried out to the spring to meet the man. 30Laban had seen the nose ring. He had seen the bracelets on his sister’s arms. And he had heard Rebekah tell what the man had said to her. So Laban went out to the man. He found him standing by the camels near the spring. 31“The Lord has given you his blessing,” he said. “So come with me. Why are you standing out here? I’ve prepared my house for you. I also have a place for the camels.”
32So the man went to the house. The camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought for the camels. And water was brought for him and his men to wash their feet. 33Then food was placed in front of him. But he said, “I won’t eat until I’ve told you what I have to say.”
“Then tell us,” Laban said.
34So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35The Lord has blessed my master greatly, and he has become rich. The Lord has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold. He has also given him male and female servants, camels and donkeys. 36My master’s wife Sarah had a son by him when she was old. He has given that son everything he owns. 37My master made me promise him. He said, ‘I’m living in the land of the people of Canaan. But promise me that you won’t get a wife for my son from their daughters. 38Instead, go to my father’s family and to my own relatives. Get a wife for my son there.’
39“Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman won’t come back with me?’
40“He replied, ‘I have walked faithfully with the Lord. He will send his angel with you. He will give you success on your journey. So you will be able to get a wife for my son. She will be from my own relatives and from my father’s family. 41When you go to my relatives, suppose they refuse to give her to you. Then you will be free from the promise you made to me.’
42“Today I came to the spring. I said, ‘Lord, you are the God of my master Abraham. Please make me successful on this journey I’ve made. 43I’m standing beside this spring. A young woman will come out to get water. I’ll say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar.” 44Suppose she says, “Have a drink of water, and I’ll get some for your camels too.” Then 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. She was carrying a jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and got water. I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’
46“She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder. She said, ‘Have a drink, and I’ll get water for your camels too.’ So I drank. She also got water for the camels.
47“I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’
“She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel. He’s the son Milkah had by Nahor.’
“Then I put the ring in her nose. I put the bracelets on her arms. 48And I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham. He had led me on the right road. He had led me to get for my master’s son the granddaughter of my master’s brother. 49Now will you be kind and faithful to my master? If you will, tell me. And if you won’t, tell me. Then I’ll know which way to turn.”
50Laban and Bethuel answered, “The Lord has done all of this. We can’t say anything to you one way or the other. 51Here is Rebekah. Take her and go. Let her become the wife of your master’s son, just as the Lord has said.”
52Abraham’s servant heard what they said. So he bowed down to the Lord with his face to the ground. 53He brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing. He gave all of them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and her mother. 54Then Abraham’s servant and the men who were with him ate and drank. They spent the night there.
When they got up the next morning, Abraham’s servant said, “Send me back to my master.”
55But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the young woman stay with us ten days or so. Then you can go.”
56But he said to them, “Don’t make me wait. The Lord has given me success on my journey. Send me on my way so I can go to my master.”
57Then they said, “Let’s get Rebekah and ask her about it.” 58So they sent for her and asked, “Will you go with this man?”
“Yes, I’ll go,” she said.
59So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way with Abraham’s servant and his men. They also sent Rebekah’s servant with her. 60And they gave Rebekah their blessing. They said to her,
“Dear sister, may your family grow
by thousands and thousands.
May they take over
the cities of their enemies.”
61Then Rebekah and her female servants got ready. They got on their camels to go back with the man. So Abraham’s servant took Rebekah and left.
62By that time Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi. He was living in the Negev Desert. 63One evening he went out to the field. He wanted to spend some time thinking. When he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel. 65She asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”
“He’s my master,” the servant answered. So she covered her face with her veil.
66Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done. 67Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent that had belonged to his mother Sarah. And he married Rebekah. She became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother died.
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Genesis 24: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Genesis 24
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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