10 Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels(A) loaded with all kinds of good things(B) from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim[a](C) and made his way to the town of Nahor.(D) 11 He had the camels kneel down near the well(E) outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.(F)

12 Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham,(G) make me successful(H) today, and show kindness(I) to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.(J) 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink,(K) and I’ll water your camels too’(L)—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.(M) By this I will know(N) that you have shown kindness to my master.”

15 Before he had finished praying,(O) Rebekah(P) came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel(Q) son of Milkah,(R) who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.(S) 16 The woman was very beautiful,(T) a virgin;(U) no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.

17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”(V)

18 “Drink,(W) my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.

19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels(X) too,(Y) until they have had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.(Z) 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.(AA)

22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring(AB) weighing a beka[b] and two gold bracelets(AC) weighing ten shekels.[c] 23 Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you?(AD) Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?(AE)

24 She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor.(AF) 25 And she added, “We have plenty of straw and fodder,(AG) as well as room for you to spend the night.”

26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord,(AH) 27 saying, “Praise be to the Lord,(AI) the God of my master Abraham,(AJ) who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness(AK) to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey(AL) to the house of my master’s relatives.”(AM)

28 The young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things.(AN)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 24:10 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
  2. Genesis 24:22 That is, about 1/5 ounce or about 5.7 grams
  3. Genesis 24:22 That is, about 4 ounces or about 115 grams

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