Genesis 24:22-62

22 When 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

23 and asked, "Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please. Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"

24 She answered, "I am the daughter of B'tu'el the son Milkah bore to Nachor,"

25 adding, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room for staying overnight."

26 The man bowed his head and prostrated himself before ADONAI.

27 Then 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."

28 The girl ran off and told her mother's household what had happened.

29 Rivkah 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.

30

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?"

32 So 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.

33 But when a meal was set before him, he said, "I won't eat until I say what I have to say." Lavan said, "Speak."

34 He said, "I am Avraham's servant.

35 ADONAI 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.

36 Sarah my master's wife bore my master a son when she was old, and he has given him everything he has.

37 My 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;

38 rather, you are to go to my father's house, to my kinsmen, to choose a wife for my son.'

39 I said to my master, 'Suppose the woman isn't willing to follow me.'

40 Avraham 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;

41 this 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,

43 then, 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."

44 If 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.'

45 And 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,'

46 she 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,

48 bowed 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."

50 Lavan and B'tu'el replied, "Since this comes from ADONAI, we can't say anything to you either bad or good.

51 Rivkah is here in front of you; take her and go. Let her be your master's son's wife, as ADONAI has said."

52 When Avraham's servant heard what they said, he prostrated himself on the ground to ADONAI.

53 Then 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.

54 He 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."

55 Her brother and mother said, "Let the girl stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that, she will go."

56 He answered them, "Don't delay me, since ADONAI has made my trip successful, but let me go back to my master."

57 They said, "We will call the girl and see what she says."

58 They called Rivkah and asked her, "Will you go with this man?" and she replied, "I will."

59 So they sent their sister Rivkah away, with her nurse, Avraham's servant and his men.

60 They 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."

61 Then Rivkah and her maids mounted the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rivkah and went on his way.

62 Meanwhile, Yitz'chak, one evening after coming along the road from Be'er-Lachai-Ro'i - he was living in the Negev -

Genesis 24:22-62 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 24

This chapter shows Abraham's concern to get a suitable wife for his son Isaac, for which purpose he commits the affair into the hands of his eldest servant, and makes him swear that he will not take one from among the Canaanites, but out of his own country, and from among his own kindred, Ge 24:1-4; which his servant agreed to, after having the nature of his charge, and of the oath, explained to him, Ge 24:5-9; upon which he departed to Mesopotamia, and coming to the city of Nahor, and to a well near it, he prayed for success, and desired direction by a token, which was granted him, Ge 24:10-22; and inquiring of the damsel, who answered to the token, whose daughter she was, and whether they had room for him and his in their house; and an agreeable answer being returned, he gave thanks to God that had directed him, and had so far made his journey prosperous, Ge 24:23-27; the damsel acquainting her parents whom and what she met with at the well, a brother of her steps out, and invites the servant in, and makes him welcome, Ge 24:28-33; but before he would eat anything, he tells his errand he was come upon, at the instance of his master; how, he had prayed for direction, and was heard, and for which he had given thanks, Ge 24:34-48; and then treats with the relations of the damsel about her marriage to his master's son, to which they agreed, Ge 24:49-51; and after having blessed God, and given his presents he brought with him to the damsel, and her family, and ate and drank with them, was for departing the next morning, Ge 24:52-54; but the friends of the damsel being desirous of her stay with them some few days, and he urgent to be gone, the affair was referred to her, and she agreed to go with him directly, Ge 24:55-58; upon which they dismissed her with their blessing, Ge 24:59,60; who being met by Isaac in the way, was received and introduced into his mother's tent, and married by him, Ge 24:61-67.