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以撒娶妻

24 亞伯拉罕年紀老邁,耶和華在一切事上都賜福給他。 亞伯拉罕對他家中管理他一切產業最老的僕人說:「把你的手放在我大腿底下。 我要叫你指着耶和華—天和地的 神起誓,不要為我兒子娶我所居住的迦南地的女子為妻。 你要往我的本地本族去,為我的兒子以撒娶妻。」 僕人對他說:「如果那女子不肯跟我來到這地,我必須把你的兒子帶回到你出來的地方嗎?」 亞伯拉罕對他說:「你要謹慎,不可帶我兒子回那裏去。 耶和華—天上的 神曾帶領我離開父家和本族的地,對我說話,向我起誓說:『我要將這地賜給你的後裔。』他要差遣使者在你面前,你就可以從那裏為我兒子娶妻。 倘若那女子不肯跟你來,我叫你起的誓就與你無關了,只是你不可帶我的兒子回到那裏去。」 僕人就把手放在他主人亞伯拉罕的大腿底下,為這事向他起誓。

10 那僕人從他主人的駱駝中取了十匹駱駝,他手中也帶着他主人各樣的貴重物品離開[a],起身往美索不達米亞去,到了拿鶴的城。 11 傍晚時,眾女子出來打水,他就讓駱駝跪在城外的水井旁。 12 他說:「耶和華—我主人亞伯拉罕的 神啊,求你施恩給我的主人亞伯拉罕,讓我今日就遇見吧! 13 看哪,我站在井旁,城內居民的女子們正出來打水。 14 我向哪一個少女說:『請你放下水瓶來,給我水喝』,她若說:『請喝!我也給你的駱駝喝』,願她作你所選定給你僕人以撒的妻。這樣,我就知道你施恩給我的主人了。」

15 話還沒說完,看哪,利百加肩頭上扛着水瓶出來。利百加彼土利所生的;彼土利亞伯拉罕的兄弟拿鶴妻子密迦的兒子。 16 那少女容貌極其美麗,是未曾與人親近的童女。她下到井旁,打滿了瓶子的水,就上來。 17 僕人跑上前去迎着她,說:「請你讓我喝你瓶子裏的一點水。」 18 少女說:「我主請喝!」就急忙拿下瓶子托在手上,給他喝水。 19 那少女給他喝足了,又說:「我也為你的駱駝打水,直到駱駝喝足了。」 20 她就急忙把瓶子裏的水倒在槽裏,又跑到井旁打水,為所有的駱駝打了水。 21 那人定睛看着少女,一句話也不說,要知道耶和華是否使他的道路亨通。

22 駱駝喝足了,那人就拿出一個比加[b]重的金環,一對十舍客勒重的金手鐲, 23 說:「請告訴我,你是誰的女兒?你父親家裏有沒有地方可以讓我們過夜?」 24 少女說:「我是密迦拿鶴生的兒子彼土利的女兒。」 25 又說:「我們家裏有充足的乾草和飼料,也有住宿的地方。」 26 那人就低頭向耶和華敬拜, 27 說:「耶和華—我主人亞伯拉罕的 神是應當稱頌的,因他不斷以慈愛信實待我主人。至於我,耶和華一路引領我,直到我主人的兄弟家裏。」

28 那少女跑去,把這些話告訴她母親家裏的人。 29 利百加有一個哥哥,名叫拉班拉班就跑到外面井旁那人那裏。 30 當他看見金環和戴在他妹妹手上的金鐲,又聽見他妹妹利百加說的話:「那人如此對我說」,他就來到那人面前,看哪,他還站在井旁的駱駝旁邊, 31 就對他說:「你這蒙耶和華賜福的人,請進來吧!為甚麼站在外面?我已經收拾了房屋,也為駱駝預備了地方。」 32 那人就進了拉班的家。拉班卸了駱駝,用飼料餵牠們,拿水給那人和隨從他的人洗腳, 33 把食物擺在他面前,請他吃。他卻說:「我不吃,等我把我的事情說完了再吃。」拉班說:「請說。」

34 他說:「我是亞伯拉罕的僕人。 35 耶和華大大地賜福給我主人,使他發達,賜給他羊羣、牛羣、金銀、奴僕、婢女、駱駝和驢。 36 我主人的妻子撒拉年老的時候為我主人生了一個兒子;我主人把他一切所有的都給了他。 37 我主人叫我起誓說:『不要為我兒子娶我所居住的迦南地的女子為妻。 38 你要往我父家、我本族那裏去,為我的兒子娶妻。』 39 我對我主人說:『恐怕那女子不肯跟我來。』 40 他就說:『我所事奉的耶和華必要差遣他的使者與你同去,使你的道路亨通,你就可以在我父家、我本族那裏,為我的兒子娶妻。 41 只要你到了我本族那裏,我叫你起的誓就與你無關。他們若不把女子交給你,我叫你起的誓也與你無關。』

42 「我今日到了井旁,就說:『耶和華—我主人亞伯拉罕的 神啊,願你使我所行的道路亨通。 43 看哪,我站在井旁,對哪一個出來打水的女子說:請你讓我喝你瓶子裏的一點水, 44 她若說:你只管喝,我也為你的駱駝打水;願那女子作耶和華給我主人兒子所選定的妻子。』

45 「我心裏的話還沒有說完,看哪,利百加肩頭上扛着水瓶出來,下到井旁打水。我對她說:『請你給我水喝。』 46 她就急忙從肩頭上拿下瓶子來,說:『請喝!我也給你的駱駝喝。』我就喝了;她也給我的駱駝喝了。 47 我問她說:『你是誰的女兒?』她說:『我是彼土利的女兒,彼土利密迦拿鶴生的兒子。』我就把環子戴在她鼻子上,把鐲子戴在她雙手上。 48 然後我低頭向耶和華敬拜,稱頌耶和華—我主人亞伯拉罕的 神,因為他引導我走合適的道路,使我得着我主人兄弟的孫女,給我主人的兒子為妻。 49 現在你們若願以慈愛誠信待我主人,就告訴我;若不然,也告訴我,使我可以或向左,或向右。」

50 拉班彼土利回答說:「這事既然出於耶和華,我們不能向你說好說歹。 51 看哪,利百加就在你面前,可以將她帶去,遵照耶和華所說的,給你主人的兒子為妻。」

52 亞伯拉罕的僕人聽見他們這些話,就向耶和華俯伏在地。 53 僕人拿出金器、銀器和衣服送給利百加,又將貴重的物品送給她哥哥和她母親。 54 然後,僕人和隨從的人才吃喝,並且住了一夜。早晨起來,僕人說:「請讓我回我主人那裏去吧。」 55 利百加的哥哥和母親說:「讓她同我們再住幾天,也許十天,然後她可以去。」 56 僕人對他們說:「耶和華既然使我道路亨通,你們就不要躭誤我,請讓我走,回我主人那裏去吧!」 57 他們說:「我們把她叫來問問她[c]。」 58 他們就叫了利百加來,對她說:「你和這人同去嗎?」她說:「我去。」 59 於是他們送他們的妹妹利百加和她的奶媽,同亞伯拉罕的僕人,以及隨從他的人走了。 60 他們就為利百加祝福,對她說:

「我們的妹妹啊,
願你作千萬人的母親!
願你的後裔得着仇敵的城門!」

61 利百加和她的女僕們起來,騎上駱駝,跟着那人去。僕人就帶着利百加走了。

62 那時,以撒住在尼革夫。他剛從庇耳‧拉海‧萊回來。 63 傍晚時,以撒出來,到田間默想。他舉目一看,看哪,來了一隊駱駝。 64 利百加舉目看見以撒,就急忙下了駱駝, 65 對那僕人說:「這從田間走來迎接我們的人是誰?」僕人說:「他是我的主人。」利百加就拿面紗蓋住自己。 66 僕人把他所做的一切事都告訴以撒 67 以撒就領利百加進了母親撒拉的帳棚,娶了她為妻,並且愛她。以撒自從母親離世以後,這才得了安慰。

Footnotes

  1. 24.10 七十士譯本沒有「離開」。
  2. 24.22 「比加」:重量單位;參「度量衡表」。
  3. 24.57 「她」:原文是「她的口」。

亞伯拉罕為以撒娶妻

24 亞伯拉罕已經年邁,耶和華在一切的事上都賜福給他。 亞伯拉罕對他的老總管說:「請你把手放在我大腿底下, 我要你憑耶和華——掌管天地的上帝起誓,你不會找這迦南的女子做我兒子的妻子。 你要回到我的家鄉,在我的親族中為以撒物色妻子。」 老總管問他:「如果那女子不肯跟我到這裡來,我要把你兒子帶回你的家鄉嗎?」 亞伯拉罕說:「你千萬不可帶我的兒子回那裡! 因為帶領我離開父家和本鄉的耶和華——天上的主,曾經向我說話,起誓應許把這片土地賜給我的後代。祂必派天使在你前面引路,幫助你在那裡為我兒子找到妻子。 如果那女子不肯跟你來,你也算履行了你向我起的誓,只是你不可帶我兒子回那裡。」 於是,老總管就把手放在他主人亞伯拉罕的大腿底下,為這事向他起誓。

10 老總管帶著主人的十匹駱駝和各種上好的禮物,啟程前往美索不達米亞,來到拿鶴住的城。 11 黃昏,婦女們出來打水的時候,他讓駱駝跪在城外的井旁, 12 然後禱告說:「我主人亞伯拉罕的上帝耶和華啊,求你施恩給我家主人亞伯拉罕,讓事情今天能夠成就。 13 現在,我站在這泉水旁,城裡的少女正出來打水。 14 如果我對哪個少女說『請放下你的水罐,讓我喝點水』,如果她說『請喝,我也打水給你的駱駝喝』,願那女子做你為自己的僕人以撒選定的妻子。這樣,我可以知道你施恩給我的主人了。」

老總管井旁遇利百加

15 老總管的話還沒有說完,就有一位名叫利百加的少女肩上扛著水罐走出來。她是彼土利的女兒,彼土利是亞伯拉罕的兄弟拿鶴和密迦所生的兒子。 16 利百加長得非常美麗,是個處女,沒有男人親近過她。她下到井旁,把水罐盛滿了水後上來。 17 老總管跑上前去對她說:「求你給我一點水喝。」 18 她回答說:「我主,請喝!」說完,立刻放下水罐,托在手上讓他喝。 19 等他喝完以後,利百加又說:「我再為你的駱駝打些水來,讓牠們喝個飽。」 20 於是,她馬上把水罐裡的水倒進水槽裡,又跑到井邊為所有的駱駝打水。 21 當時,老總管在一旁靜靜地注視著利百加,要看看耶和華是否使他此行順利。

22 駱駝喝過水以後,老總管拿出一隻約六克重的金環和一對約一百一十克重的金鐲給利百加, 23 對她說:「請問你是誰的女兒?你父親家裡有地方讓我們住宿嗎?」 24 利百加回答說:「我是彼土利的女兒,我父親是拿鶴和密迦的兒子。 25 我家裡有充足的糧草,也有地方讓你留宿。」 26 老總管聽了,就俯伏敬拜耶和華, 27 說:「我主人亞伯拉罕的上帝耶和華當受稱頌,因為祂一直以慈愛和信實對待我的主人,引導我一路走到我主人兄弟的家裡。」

28 利百加跑回家中,把這事告訴了母親和家人。 29 利百加有個哥哥名叫拉班。 30 他看見妹妹的金環和手上的金鐲,聽了她敘述老總管的話,就跑到井旁,見老總管跟駱駝仍然站在那裡, 31 便對他說:「你這蒙耶和華賜福的人,請到我家。為什麼站在外面呢?我已經為你預備好了房間,也為駱駝預備了地方。」 32 老總管就到了拉班的家裡,拉班卸下駱駝背上的東西,給駱駝餵上草料,打水給老總管和隨行的人洗腳。 33 他們備好了晚餐給他吃,老總管卻說:「不,等我說明來意後再吃。」拉班說:「請說。」

34 老總管說:「我是亞伯拉罕的僕人。 35 耶和華賜給我主人極大的福氣,使他非常富有。耶和華賜給他牛群、羊群、金子、銀子、男女僕婢、駱駝和驢。 36 我主人的妻子撒拉在晚年生了一個兒子,主人把所有的財產都給了他。 37 主人要我起誓,他說,『你不可以給我的兒子娶迦南女子為妻, 38 你要到我家鄉的親族中為我兒子物色妻子。』 39 我問我的主人,『如果那女子不願意跟我回來怎麼辦?』 40 他說,『我一向事奉的耶和華必會派天使與你同行,使你一路順利,為我兒子在家鄉的親族中物色妻子。 41 你去就是履行了你向我起的誓,如果我的親族不肯把女子交給你,你也算履行了你向我起的誓。』

42 「所以,今天我來到井旁時曾禱告說,『我主人亞伯拉罕的上帝耶和華啊,求你使我一路順利。 43 我現在站在井旁,有女子出來打水的時候,我會向她要水喝, 44 如果她說,請喝,我也打水給你的駱駝喝,就讓她做你為我家主人的兒子預備的妻子吧。』

45 「我心中的話還沒有說完,就看見利百加肩上扛著水罐到井旁打水。我上前向她要水喝, 46 她就連忙放下肩上的水罐,說,『請喝,我也打水給你的駱駝喝。』我喝了,她又打水給駱駝喝。 47 我問她是誰家的女兒,她說,『是拿鶴和密迦的兒子彼土利的女兒。』我就替她戴上金鼻環和金手鐲, 48 然後俯伏敬拜耶和華——我主人亞伯拉罕的上帝,因為祂引導我走正確的路,找到了主人兄弟的孫女兒給主人的兒子做妻子。 49 現在,你們若願意以慈愛和信實對待我的主人,答應這門親事,請告訴我;如果不答應,也請告訴我,好讓我知道應該怎麼辦。」

50 拉班和彼土利回答說:「既然是耶和華的安排,我們不能再多說什麼。 51 你看,利百加就在這裡,你可以照耶和華的話,把她帶回去給你主人的兒子做妻子。」 52 亞伯拉罕的僕人聽見這話,就俯伏在地上敬拜耶和華, 53 然後拿出金銀首飾和衣裳送給利百加,又把貴重的禮物送給她的哥哥和母親。 54 老總管和隨行的人用過晚飯以後,在那裡住了一夜。第二天早晨,老總管說:「請讓我返回我主人那裡。」 55 但利百加的哥哥和母親說:「讓利百加和我們住上十來天再去吧!」 56 可是,老總管說:「既然耶和華已經使我一路順利,請你們不要挽留我,請讓我回到我主人那裡。」 57 他們說:「我們問問利百加的意見吧。」 58 他們就叫來利百加,問她:「你願意跟這個人同去嗎?」利百加說:「我願意!」 59 於是,他們讓利百加和她的奶媽跟老總管及隨行的人一同離去, 60 並為利百加祝福,說:

「我們的妹妹啊,
願你成為千萬人之母!
願你的後代戰勝仇敵!」

以撒與利百加成婚

61 於是,利百加和她的婢女們準備妥當,騎上駱駝,跟著老總管離去。

62 那時,以撒住在南地,他剛從庇耳·拉海·萊回來。 63 傍晚的時候,以撒來到田間默想,他抬頭一看,見一隊駱駝迎面而來。 64 利百加抬頭看見以撒,就從駱駝上下來, 65 問老總管:「那從田間來迎接我們的是誰?」老總管說:「是我的主人!」利百加聽了就蒙上面紗。 66 老總管向以撒講述整個事情的經過。 67 以撒就帶利百加進入他母親撒拉的帳篷,娶她為妻,並且很愛她。自從母親去世後,以撒這才得到安慰。

亚伯拉罕为以撒娶妻

24 亚伯拉罕已经年迈,耶和华在一切的事上都赐福给他。 亚伯拉罕对他的老总管说:“请你把手放在我大腿底下, 我要你凭耶和华——掌管天地的上帝起誓,你不会找这迦南的女子做我儿子的妻子。 你要回到我的家乡,在我的亲族中为以撒物色妻子。” 老总管问他:“如果那女子不肯跟我到这里来,我要把你儿子带回你的家乡吗?” 亚伯拉罕说:“你千万不可带我的儿子回那里! 因为带领我离开父家和本乡的耶和华——天上的主,曾经向我说话,起誓应许把这片土地赐给我的后代。祂必派天使在你前面引路,帮助你在那里为我儿子找到妻子。 如果那女子不肯跟你来,你也算履行了你向我起的誓,只是你不可带我儿子回那里。” 于是,老总管就把手放在他主人亚伯拉罕的大腿底下,为这事向他起誓。

10 老总管带着主人的十匹骆驼和各种上好的礼物,启程前往美索不达米亚,来到拿鹤住的城。 11 黄昏,妇女们出来打水的时候,他让骆驼跪在城外的井旁, 12 然后祷告说:“我主人亚伯拉罕的上帝耶和华啊,求你施恩给我家主人亚伯拉罕,让事情今天能够成就。 13 现在,我站在这泉水旁,城里的少女正出来打水。 14 如果我对哪个少女说‘请放下你的水罐,让我喝点水’,如果她说‘请喝,我也打水给你的骆驼喝’,愿那女子做你为自己的仆人以撒选定的妻子。这样,我可以知道你施恩给我的主人了。”

老总管井旁遇利百加

15 老总管的话还没有说完,就有一位名叫利百加的少女肩上扛着水罐走出来。她是彼土利的女儿,彼土利是亚伯拉罕的兄弟拿鹤和密迦所生的儿子。 16 利百加长得非常美丽,是个处女,没有男人亲近过她。她下到井旁,把水罐盛满了水后上来。 17 老总管跑上前去对她说:“求你给我一点水喝。” 18 她回答说:“我主,请喝!”说完,立刻放下水罐,托在手上让他喝。 19 等他喝完以后,利百加又说:“我再为你的骆驼打些水来,让它们喝个饱。” 20 于是,她马上把水罐里的水倒进水槽里,又跑到井边为所有的骆驼打水。 21 当时,老总管在一旁静静地注视着利百加,要看看耶和华是否使他此行顺利。

22 骆驼喝过水以后,老总管拿出一只约六克重的金环和一对约一百一十克重的金镯给利百加, 23 对她说:“请问你是谁的女儿?你父亲家里有地方让我们住宿吗?” 24 利百加回答说:“我是彼土利的女儿,我父亲是拿鹤和密迦的儿子。 25 我家里有充足的粮草,也有地方让你留宿。” 26 老总管听了,就俯伏敬拜耶和华, 27 说:“我主人亚伯拉罕的上帝耶和华当受称颂,因为祂一直以慈爱和信实对待我的主人,引导我一路走到我主人兄弟的家里。”

28 利百加跑回家中,把这事告诉了母亲和家人。 29 利百加有个哥哥名叫拉班。 30 他看见妹妹的金环和手上的金镯,听了她叙述老总管的话,就跑到井旁,见老总管跟骆驼仍然站在那里, 31 便对他说:“你这蒙耶和华赐福的人,请到我家。为什么站在外面呢?我已经为你预备好了房间,也为骆驼预备了地方。” 32 老总管就到了拉班的家里,拉班卸下骆驼背上的东西,给骆驼喂上草料,打水给老总管和随行的人洗脚。 33 他们备好了晚餐给他吃,老总管却说:“不,等我说明来意后再吃。”拉班说:“请说。”

34 老总管说:“我是亚伯拉罕的仆人。 35 耶和华赐给我主人极大的福气,使他非常富有。耶和华赐给他牛群、羊群、金子、银子、男女仆婢、骆驼和驴。 36 我主人的妻子撒拉在晚年生了一个儿子,主人把所有的财产都给了他。 37 主人要我起誓,他说,‘你不可以给我的儿子娶迦南女子为妻, 38 你要到我家乡的亲族中为我儿子物色妻子。’ 39 我问我的主人,‘如果那女子不愿意跟我回来怎么办?’ 40 他说,‘我一向事奉的耶和华必会派天使与你同行,使你一路顺利,为我儿子在家乡的亲族中物色妻子。 41 你去就是履行了你向我起的誓,如果我的亲族不肯把女子交给你,你也算履行了你向我起的誓。’

42 “所以,今天我来到井旁时曾祷告说,‘我主人亚伯拉罕的上帝耶和华啊,求你使我一路顺利。 43 我现在站在井旁,有女子出来打水的时候,我会向她要水喝, 44 如果她说,请喝,我也打水给你的骆驼喝,就让她做你为我家主人的儿子预备的妻子吧。’

45 “我心中的话还没有说完,就看见利百加肩上扛着水罐到井旁打水。我上前向她要水喝, 46 她就连忙放下肩上的水罐,说,‘请喝,我也打水给你的骆驼喝。’我喝了,她又打水给骆驼喝。 47 我问她是谁家的女儿,她说,‘是拿鹤和密迦的儿子彼土利的女儿。’我就替她戴上金鼻环和金手镯, 48 然后俯伏敬拜耶和华——我主人亚伯拉罕的上帝,因为祂引导我走正确的路,找到了主人兄弟的孙女儿给主人的儿子做妻子。 49 现在,你们若愿意以慈爱和信实对待我的主人,答应这门亲事,请告诉我;如果不答应,也请告诉我,好让我知道应该怎么办。”

50 拉班和彼土利回答说:“既然是耶和华的安排,我们不能再多说什么。 51 你看,利百加就在这里,你可以照耶和华的话,把她带回去给你主人的儿子做妻子。” 52 亚伯拉罕的仆人听见这话,就俯伏在地上敬拜耶和华, 53 然后拿出金银首饰和衣裳送给利百加,又把贵重的礼物送给她的哥哥和母亲。 54 老总管和随行的人用过晚饭以后,在那里住了一夜。第二天早晨,老总管说:“请让我返回我主人那里。” 55 但利百加的哥哥和母亲说:“让利百加和我们住上十来天再去吧!” 56 可是,老总管说:“既然耶和华已经使我一路顺利,请你们不要挽留我,请让我回到我主人那里。” 57 他们说:“我们问问利百加的意见吧。” 58 他们就叫来利百加,问她:“你愿意跟这个人同去吗?”利百加说:“我愿意!” 59 于是,他们让利百加和她的奶妈跟老总管及随行的人一同离去, 60 并为利百加祝福,说:

“我们的妹妹啊,
愿你成为千万人之母!
愿你的后代战胜仇敌!”

以撒与利百加成婚

61 于是,利百加和她的婢女们准备妥当,骑上骆驼,跟着老总管离去。

62 那时,以撒住在南地,他刚从庇耳·拉海·莱回来。 63 傍晚的时候,以撒来到田间默想,他抬头一看,见一队骆驼迎面而来。 64 利百加抬头看见以撒,就从骆驼上下来, 65 问老总管:“那从田间来迎接我们的是谁?”老总管说:“是我的主人!”利百加听了就蒙上面纱。 66 老总管向以撒讲述整个事情的经过。 67 以撒就带利百加进入他母亲撒拉的帐篷,娶她为妻,并且很爱她。自从母亲去世后,以撒这才得到安慰。

Isaac and Rebekah

24 Abraham was now very old,(A) and the Lord had blessed(B) him in every way.(C) He said to the senior servant(D) in his household, the one in charge of all that he had,(E) “Put your hand under my thigh.(F) I want you to swear(G) by the Lord, the God of heaven(H) and the God of earth,(I) that you will not get a wife for my son(J) from the daughters of the Canaanites,(K) among whom I am living,(L) but will go to my country and my own relatives(M) and get a wife for my son Isaac.(N)

The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land?(O) Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?(P)

“Make sure that you do not take my son back there,”(Q) Abraham said. “The Lord, the God of heaven,(R) who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land(S) and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring[a](T) I will give this land’(U)—he will send his angel before you(V) so that you can get a wife for my son from there. If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath(W) of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”(X) So the servant put his hand under the thigh(Y) of his master(Z) Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

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

12 Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham,(AG) make me successful(AH) today, and show kindness(AI) to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.(AJ) 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,(AK) and I’ll water your camels too’(AL)—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.(AM) By this I will know(AN) that you have shown kindness to my master.”

15 Before he had finished praying,(AO) Rebekah(AP) came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel(AQ) son of Milkah,(AR) who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.(AS) 16 The woman was very beautiful,(AT) a virgin;(AU) 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.”(AV)

18 “Drink,(AW) 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(AX) too,(AY) 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.(AZ) 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.(BA)

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

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

26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord,(BH) 27 saying, “Praise be to the Lord,(BI) the God of my master Abraham,(BJ) who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness(BK) to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey(BL) to the house of my master’s relatives.”(BM)

28 The young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things.(BN) 29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban,(BO) and he hurried out to the man at the spring. 30 As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s arms,(BP) and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring. 31 “Come, you who are blessed by the Lord,”(BQ) he said. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”

32 So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder(BR) were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet.(BS) 33 Then food was set before him, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say.”

“Then tell us,” Laban said.

34 So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.(BT) 35 The Lord has blessed(BU) my master abundantly,(BV) and he has become wealthy.(BW) He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.(BX) 36 My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age,(BY) and he has given him everything he owns.(BZ) 37 And my master made me swear an oath,(CA) and said, ‘You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,(CB) 38 but go to my father’s family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.’(CC)

39 “Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’(CD)

40 “He replied, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked faithfully,(CE) will send his angel with you(CF) and make your journey a success,(CG) so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father’s family.(CH) 41 You will be released from my oath if, when you go to my clan, they refuse to give her to you—then you will be released from my oath.’(CI)

42 “When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success(CJ) to the journey on which I have come. 43 See, I am standing beside this spring.(CK) If a young woman(CL) comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar,”(CM) 44 and if she says to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,” let her be the one the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’(CN)

45 “Before I finished praying in my heart,(CO) Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder.(CP) She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’(CQ)

46 “She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’(CR) So I drank, and she watered the camels also.(CS)

47 “I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’(CT)

“She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel(CU) son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.’(CV)

“Then I put the ring in her nose(CW) and the bracelets on her arms,(CX) 48 and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord.(CY) I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham,(CZ) who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.(DA) 49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness(DB) to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn.”

50 Laban and Bethuel(DC) answered, “This is from the Lord;(DD) we can say nothing to you one way or the other.(DE) 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.(DF)

52 When Abraham’s servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord.(DG) 53 Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing(DH) and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts(DI) to her brother and to her mother. 54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there.

When they got up the next morning, he said, “Send me on my way(DJ) to my master.”

55 But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so;(DK) then you[e] may go.”

56 But he said to them, “Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success(DL) to my journey. Send me on my way(DM) so I may go to my master.”

57 Then they said, “Let’s call the young woman and ask her about it.”(DN) 58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”

“I will go,”(DO) she said.

59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way,(DP) along with her nurse(DQ) and Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 And they blessed(DR) Rebekah and said to her,

“Our sister, may you increase
    to thousands upon thousands;(DS)
may your offspring possess
    the cities of their enemies.”(DT)

61 Then Rebekah and her attendants(DU) got ready and mounted the camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi,(DV) for he was living in the Negev.(DW) 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate,[f](DX) and as he looked up,(DY) he saw camels approaching. 64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel(DZ) 65 and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”

“He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil(EA) and covered herself.

66 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 67 Isaac brought her into the tent(EB) of his mother Sarah,(EC) and he married Rebekah.(ED) So she became his wife, and he loved her;(EE) and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.(EF)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 24:7 Or seed
  2. Genesis 24:10 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
  3. Genesis 24:22 That is, about 1/5 ounce or about 5.7 grams
  4. Genesis 24:22 That is, about 4 ounces or about 115 grams
  5. Genesis 24:55 Or she
  6. Genesis 24:63 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.