Genesis 24
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1Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in everything.1And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
2Abraham said to his servant, the senior one in his household who was in charge of everything he had, "Put your hand under my thigh2And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
3so that I may make you solemnly promise by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth: You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living.3And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
4You must go instead to my country and to my relatives to find a wife for my son Isaac." 4But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
5The servant asked him, "What if the woman is not willing to come back with me to this land? Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?" 5And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
6"Be careful never to take my son back there!" Abraham told him.6And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
7"The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and the land of my relatives, promised me with a solemn oath, 'To your descendants I will give this land.' He will send his angel before you so that you may find a wife for my son from there.7The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
8But if the woman is not willing to come back with you, you will be free from this oath of mine. But you must not take my son back there!"8And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
9So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and gave his solemn promise he would carry out his wishes. 9And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
10Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed with all kinds of gifts from his master at his disposal. He journeyed to the region of Aram Naharaim and the city of Nahor.10And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
11He made the camels kneel down by the well outside the city. It was evening, the time when the women would go out to draw water.11And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
12He prayed, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, guide me today. Be faithful to my master Abraham.12And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
13Here I am, standing by the spring, and the daughters of the people who live in the town are coming out to draw water.13Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
14I will say to a young woman, 'Please lower your jar so I may drink.' May the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac reply, 'Drink, and I'll give your camels water too.' In this way I will know that you have been faithful to my master." 14And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
15Before he had finished praying, there came Rebekah with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah (Milcah was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor).15And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
16Now the young woman was very beautiful. She was a virgin; no man had ever had sexual relations with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came back up.16And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
17Abraham's servant ran to meet her and said, "Please give me a sip of water from your jug."17And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
18"Drink, my lord," she replied, and quickly lowering her jug to her hands, she gave him a drink.18And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
19When she had done so, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have drunk as much as they want."19And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
20She quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw more water until she had drawn enough for all his camels.20And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
21Silently the man watched her with interest to determine if the LORD had made his journey successful or not. 21And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
22After the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels and gave them to her.22And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
23"Whose daughter are you?" he asked. "Tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?" 23And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?
24She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom Milcah bore to Nahor.24And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
25We have plenty of straw and feed," she added, "and room for you to spend the night." 25She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
26The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD,26And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
27saying "Praised be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his faithful love for my master! The LORD has led me to the house of my master's relatives!" 27And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.
28The young woman ran and told her mother's household all about these things.28And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.
29(Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban.) Laban rushed out to meet the man at the spring.29And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
30When he saw the bracelets on his sister's wrists and the nose ring and heard his sister Rebekah say, "This is what the man said to me," he went out to meet the man. There he was, standing by the camels near the spring.30And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.
31Laban said to him, "Come, you who are blessed by the LORD! Why are you standing out here when I have prepared the house and a place for the camels?" 31And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
32So Abraham's servant went to the house and unloaded the camels. Straw and feed were given to the camels, and water was provided so that he and the men who were with him could wash their feet.32And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.
33When food was served, he said, "I will not eat until I have said what I want to say." "Tell us," Laban said. 33And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
34"I am the servant of Abraham," he began.34And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
35"The LORD has richly blessed my master and he has become very wealthy. The Lord has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.35And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
36My master's wife Sarah bore a son to him when she was old, and my master has given him everything he owns.36And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.
37My master made me swear an oath. He said, 'You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,37And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
38but you must go to the family of my father and to my relatives to find a wife for my son.'38But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
39But I said to my master, 'What if the woman does not want to go with me?'39And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
40He answered, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you. He will make your journey a success and you will find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father's family.40And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:
41You will be free from your oath if you go to my relatives and they will not give her to you. Then you will be free from your oath.'41Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
42When I came to the spring today, I prayed, 'O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you have decided to make my journey successful, may events unfold as follows:42And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:
43Here I am, standing by the spring. When the young woman goes out to draw water, I'll say, "Give me a little water to drink from your jug."43Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;
44Then she will reply to me, "Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too." May that woman be the one whom the LORD has chosen for my master's son.' 44And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son.
45"Before I finished praying in my heart, along came Rebekah with her water jug on her shoulder! She went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'45And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
46She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I'll give your camels water too.' So I drank, and she also gave the camels water.46And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
47Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She replied, 'The daughter of Bethuel the son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to Nahor.' I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.47And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
48Then I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right path to find the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son.48And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.
49Now, if you will show faithful love to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me as well, so that I may go on my way." 49And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.
50Then Laban and Bethuel replied, "This is the LORD's doing. Our wishes are of no concern.50Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
51Rebekah stands here before you. Take her and go so that she may become the wife of your master's son, just as the LORD has decided." 51Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.
52When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.52And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
53Then he brought out gold, silver jewelry, and clothing and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave valuable gifts to her brother and to her mother.53And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
54After this, he and the men who were with him ate a meal and stayed there overnight. When they got up in the morning, he said, "Let me leave now so I can return to my master."54And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.
55But Rebekah's brother and her mother replied, "Let the girl stay with us a few more days, perhaps ten. Then she can go."55And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
56But he said to them, "Don't detain me--the LORD has granted me success on my journey. Let me leave now so I may return to my master."56And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
57Then they said, "We'll call the girl and find out what she wants to do."57And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
58So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Do you want to go with this man?" She replied, "I want to go." 58And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
59So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, accompanied by her female attendant, with Abraham's servant and his men.59And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
60They blessed Rebekah with these words: "Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands! May your descendants possess the strongholds of their enemies." 60And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
61Then Rebekah and her female servants mounted the camels and rode away with the man. So Abraham's servant took Rebekah and left. 61And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
62Now Isaac came from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev.62And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.
63He went out to relax in the field in the early evening. Then he looked up and saw that there were camels approaching.63And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
64Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel64And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
65and asked Abraham's servant, "Who is that man walking in the field toward us?" "That is my master," the servant replied. So she took her veil and covered herself. 65For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.
66The servant told Isaac everything that had happened.66And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
67Then Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah's tent. He took her as his wife and loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. 67And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
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Genesis 23
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