B'resheet (Gen) 24
24
1By now Avraham was old, advanced in years; and Adonai had blessed Avraham in everything. 2Avraham said to the servant who had served him the longest, who was in charge of all he owned, “Put your hand under my thigh; 3because I want you to swear by Adonai, God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from among the women of the Kena‘ani, among whom I am living; 4but that you will go to my homeland, to my kinsmen, to choose a wife for my son Yitz’chak.” 5The servant replied, “Suppose the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land. Must I then bring your son back to the land from which you came?” 6Avraham said to him, “See to it that you don’t bring my son back there. 7Adonai, the God of heaven — who took me away from my father’s house and away from the land I was born in, who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘I will give this land to your descendants’ — he will send his angel ahead of you; and you are to bring a wife for my son from there. 8But if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from your obligation under my oath. Just don’t bring my son back there.” 9The servant put his hand under the thigh of Avraham his master and swore to him concerning the matter.
(iii) 10Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and all kinds of gifts from his master, got up and went to Aram-Naharayim, to Nachor’s city. 11Toward evening, when the women go out to draw water, he had the camels kneel down outside the city by the well. 12He said, “Adonai, God of my master Avraham, please let me succeed today; and show your grace to my master Avraham. 13Here I am, standing by the spring, as the daughters of the townsfolk come out to draw water. 14I will say to one of the girls, ‘Please lower your jug, so that I can drink.’ If she answers, ‘Yes, drink; and I will water your camels as well,’ then let her be the one you intend for your servant Yitz’chak. This is how I will know that you have shown grace to my master.”
15Before he had finished speaking, Rivkah the daughter of B’tu’el son of Milkah the wife of Nachor Avraham’s brother, came out with her jug on her shoulder. 16The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, never having had sexual relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jug and came up. 17The servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a sip of water from your jug to drink.” 18“Drink, my lord,” she replied, and immediately lowered her jug onto her arm and let him drink. 19When she was through letting him drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels until they have drunk their fill.” 20She quickly emptied her jug into the trough, then ran again to the well to draw water, and kept on drawing water for all his camels. 21The man gazed at her in silence, waiting to find out whether Adonai had made his trip successful or not.
22When the camels were done drinking, the man took a gold nose-ring weighing one-fifth of an ounce and two gold bracelets weighing four ounces 23and asked, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” 24She answered, “I am the daughter of B’tu’el the son Milkah bore to Nachor,” 25adding, “We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room for staying overnight.” 26The man bowed his head and prostrated himself before Adonai. (iv) 27Then he said, “Blessed be Adonai, God of my master Avraham, who has not abandoned his faithful love for my master; because Adonai has guided me to the house of my master’s kinsmen.” 28The girl ran off and told her mother’s household what had happened.
29-30Rivkah had a brother named Lavan. When he saw the nose-ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists besides, and when he heard his sister Rivkah’s report of what the man had said to her, he ran out to the spring and found the man standing there by the camels. 31“Come on in,” he said, “you whom Adonai has blessed! Why are you standing outside when I have made room in the house and prepared a place for the camels?” 32So the man went inside, and while the camels were being unloaded and provided straw and fodder, water was brought for him to wash his feet and the feet of the men with him.
33But when a meal was set before him, he said, “I won’t eat until I say what I have to say.” Lavan said, “Speak.” 34He said, “I am Avraham’s servant. 35Adonai has greatly blessed my master, so that he has grown wealthy. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. 36Sarah my master’s wife bore my master a son when she was old, and he has given him everything he has. 37My master made me swear, saying, ‘You are not to choose a wife for my son from among the women of the Kena‘ani, among whom I am living; 38rather, you are to go to my father’s house, to my kinsmen, to choose a wife for my son.’ 39I said to my master, ‘Suppose the woman isn’t willing to follow me.’ 40Avraham answered me, ‘Adonai, in whose presence I live, will send his angel with you to make your trip successful; and you are to pick a wife for my son from my kinsmen in my father’s house; 41this will release you from your obligation under my oath. But if, when you come to my kinsmen, they refuse to give her to you, this too will release you from my oath.’
42“So today, I came to the spring and said, ‘Adonai, God of my master Avraham, if you are causing my trip to succeed in its purpose, 43then, here I am, standing by the spring. I will say to one of the girls coming out to draw water, “Let me have a sip of water from your jug.” 44If she answers, “Yes, drink; and I will water your camels as well,” then let her be the woman you intend for my master’s son.’ 45And even before I had finished speaking to my heart, there came Rivkah, going out with her jug on her shoulder; she went down to the spring and drew water. When I said to her, ‘Please let me have a drink,’ 46she immediately lowered the jug from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well.’ So I drank, and she had the camels drink too.
47“I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ and she answered, ‘The daughter of B’tu’el son of Nachor, whom Milkah bore to him.’ Then I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists, 48bowed my head, prostrated myself before Adonai and blessed Adonai, God of my master Avraham, for having led me in the right way to obtain my master’s brother’s [grand]daughter for his son.
49“So now if you people intend to show grace and truth to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me, so that I can turn elsewhere.”
50Lavan and B’tu’el replied, “Since this comes from Adonai, we can’t say anything to you either bad or good. 51Rivkah is here in front of you; take her and go. Let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Adonai has said.” 52When Avraham’s servant heard what they said, he prostrated himself on the ground to Adonai. (v) 53Then the servant brought out silver and gold jewelry, together with clothing, and gave them to Rivkah. He also gave valuable gifts to her brother and mother. 54He and his men then ate and drank and stayed the night.
In the morning they got up; and he said, “Send me off to my master.” 55Her brother and mother said, “Let the girl stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that, she will go.” 56He answered them, “Don’t delay me, since Adonai has made my trip successful, but let me go back to my master.” 57They said, “We will call the girl and see what she says.” 58They called Rivkah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” and she replied, “I will.”
59So they sent their sister Rivkah away, with her nurse, Avraham’s servant and his men. 60They blessed Rivkah with these words: “Our sister, may you be the mother of millions, and may your descendants possess the cities of those who hate them.” 61Then Rivkah and her maids mounted the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rivkah and went on his way.
62Meanwhile, Yitz’chak, one evening after coming along the road from Be’er-Lachai-Ro’i — he was living in the Negev — 63went out walking in the field; and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64Rivkah too looked up; and when she saw Yitz’chak, she quickly dismounted the camel. 65She said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?” When the servant replied, “It’s my master,” she took her veil and covered herself.
66The servant told Yitz’chak everything he had done. 67Then Yitz’chak brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent and took Rivkah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. Thus was Yitz’chak comforted for the loss of his mother.
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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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