Génesis 24:4-14

4 Sino que vuelve a mi tierra natal, donde están mis parientes, y encuentra allí una esposa para mi hijo Isaac.

5 El siervo preguntó:
—¿Pero qué pasaría si no puedo encontrar una joven que esté dispuesta a viajar tan lejos de su casa? ¿Debería, entonces, llevar allí a Isaac para que viva entre sus parientes, en la tierra de donde usted proviene?

6 —¡No! —contestó Abraham—. Procura no llevar nunca a mi hijo allí.

7 Pues el Señor
, Dios del cielo, quien me sacó de la casa de mi padre y de mi tierra natal, prometió solemnemente dar esta tierra a mis descendientes.
Él enviará a su ángel delante de ti y se encargará de que encuentres allí una esposa para mi hijo.

8 Si ella no está dispuesta a regresar contigo, entonces quedarás libre de este juramento que haces conmigo; pero bajo ninguna circunstancia, llevarás a mi hijo allí.

9 Entonces el siervo hizo un juramento poniendo su mano debajo del muslo de su señor, Abraham, y juró seguir sus instrucciones.

10 Después tomó diez de los camellos de Abraham y los cargó con toda clase de regalos valiosos de parte de su señor, y viajó hasta la lejana tierra de Aram-naharaim. Una vez allí, se dirigió a la ciudad donde se había establecido Nacor, hermano de Abraham.

11 Hizo que los camellos se arrodillaran junto a un pozo justo a las afueras de la ciudad. Era la caída de la tarde, y las mujeres salían a sacar agua.

12 «Oh Señor
, Dios de mi amo, Abraham —oró—. Te ruego que hoy me des éxito y muestres amor inagotable a mi amo, Abraham.

13 Aquí me encuentro junto a este manantial, y las jóvenes de la ciudad vienen a sacar agua.

14 Mi petición es la siguiente: yo le diré a una de ellas: “Por favor, deme de beber de su cántaro”; si ella dice: “Sí, beba usted, ¡y también daré de beber a sus camellos!”, que sea ella la que has elegido como esposa para Isaac. De esa forma sabré que has mostrado amor inagotable a mi amo».

Génesis 24:4-14 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.