Genesis 24:33-53

33 When the food was put in front of him, he said, "I won't eat until I've said what I have to say." "Speak up," Laban said.
34 "I am Abraham's servant," he said.
35 "The LORD has blessed my master, and he has become wealthy. The LORD has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys.
36 My master's wife Sarah gave him a son in her old age, and my master has given that son everything he has.
37 My master made me swear this oath: 'Don't get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I'm living.
38 Instead, go to my father's home and to my relatives, and get my son a wife.'
39 "I asked my master, 'What if the woman won't come back with me?'
40 "He answered me, 'I have been living the way the LORD wants me to. The LORD will send his angel with you to make your trip successful. You will get my son a wife from my relatives and from my father's family.
41 Then you will be free from your oath to me. You will also be free of your oath to me if my relatives are not willing to do this when you go to them.'
42 "When I came to the spring today, I prayed, 'LORD God of my master Abraham, please make my trip successful.
43 I'm standing by the spring. I'll say to the young woman who comes out to draw water, "Please give me a drink of water."
44 If she says to me, "Not only may you have a drink, but I will also draw water for your camels," let her be the woman the LORD has chosen for my master's son.'
45 "Before I had finished praying, Rebekah came with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water. "So I asked her, 'May I have a drink?'
46 She quickly lowered her jar and said, 'Have a drink, and I'll water your camels too.' So I drank, and she also watered the camels.
47 "Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' "She answered, 'The daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor and Milcah.' "I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.
48 I knelt, bowing down to the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham. The LORD led me in the right direction to get the daughter of my master's relative for his son.
49 Tell me whether or not you're going to show my master true kindness so that I will know what to do."
50 Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD. We can't say anything to you one way or another.
51 Here's Rebekah! Take her and go! She will become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has said."
52 When Abraham's servant heard their answer, he bowed down to the LORD.
53 The servant took out gold and silver jewelry and clothes and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive presents to her brother and mother.

Genesis 24:33-53 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.

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