Genesis 24

1. And Abraham was old, well advanced in age. And the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.

2. And Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “I pray you, 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 shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell.

4. But you shall go to my country and to my kindred, 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 then bring your son again to the land from which you came?”

6. And Abraham said to him, “Take care that you do not bring my son there again.

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 Who swore to me, saying, ‘To your seed I will give this land’—He shall send His angel before you. And you shall take a wife for my son from there.

8. And if the woman will not be willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath of mine. Only do not bring my son there again.”

9. And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning the matter.

10. And the servant took ten camels from 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 to the city of Nahor.

11. And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, the time that women go out to draw water.

12. And he said, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, I pray You, send me good speed this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

13. Behold, I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water.

14. And let it be that the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Let down your pitcher, please, so that I may drink,’ that she shall say, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.’ Let her be the one that You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by it I shall know that You have shown kindness to my master.”

15. And it came to pass before he had finished 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 young woman was very beautiful 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, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.”

18. And she said, “Drink, my lord.” And she hurried and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave a drink to him.

19. And when she had finished giving him drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also until they have finished drinking.”

20. And she hurried, and emptied her pitcher in the trough, and ran again to the well to draw water. And she drew for all his camels.

21. And the man was watching her, keeping silent, in order to know whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not.

22. And it came to pass, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands, weighing ten shekels of gold.

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

24. And she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.”

25. And she said to him, “We have both straw and fodder enough, and room to lodge in.”

26. And 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 left my master destitute of His mercy and His truth. The LORD led me, I being in the way, to the house of my master’s brothers.”

28. And the young woman ran and told her mother’s household these things.

29. And Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. And Laban ran out to the man at 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, “So spoke the man to me,” he came to the man. And behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

31. And he said, “Come in, blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.”

32. And the man came into the house. And he unloaded his camels, and gave straw and fodder to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men that were with him.

33. And food was set before him to eat. But he said, “I will not eat until I have told my errand.” And he said, “Speak on.”

34. And he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.

35. And the LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great. And He has given him flocks and herds and silver and gold, and men servants and maid servants, and camels and donkeys.

36. And Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. And he has given to him all that he has.

37. And my master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I live.

38. But you shall go to my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son.’

39. And I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’

40. And 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 kindred, and from my father’s house.

41. Then shall you be clear from my oath when you come to my kindred, and if they do not give you one, you shall be clear from my oath.’

42. And I came this day to the well, and said, ‘O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if now You prosper my way in which I go,

43. Behold, I stand by the well of water. And it shall be when the virgin comes forth to draw water, and I say to her, “Give me, please, a little water from your pitcher to drink,”

44. And she says to me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels”—may she be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master’s son.’

45. And before I finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came 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 hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will give drink to your camels also.’ So I drank, and she made the camels drink also.

47. And I asked her and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ And I put the earring upon her ear and the bracelets upon her hands.

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 right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son.

49. And now if you will deal kindly and truthfully with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me so that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.”

50. And Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come forth 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, even as the LORD has spoken.”

52. And it came to pass, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.

53. And the servant brought forth jewelry of silver and jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

54. And they ate and drank, he and the men with him, and stayed all night. And they rose up in the morning, and he said, “Send me away to my master.”

55. And her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us perhaps ten days. After that she shall go.”

56. And he said to them, “Do not hinder me since the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away, that I may go away to my master.”

57. And they said, “We will call the young woman and inquire of her directly.”

58. And they called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you 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 to her, “Our sister, be the mother of thousands of millions, and let your seed possess the gate of those who hate them.”

61. And Rebekah rose up, and her young women, 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, The Well of the Living One, My Beholder, for he lived in the south country.

63. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the beginning of the evening. And he lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold—camels coming!

64. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and she saw Isaac. And she dismounted from the camel,

65. For she said to the servant, “What man is this that walks in the field to meet us?” And the servant said, “It is my master.” Therefore she took a veil 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.