Genesis 24. 34-38, 42-49, 58-end
So he said, ‘I am Abraham’s servant. The LORD has greatly blessed my
master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and herds,
silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. And Sarah
my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and he has
given him all that he has. My master made me swear, saying, “You shall
not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose
land I live; but you shall go to my father’s house, to my kindred, and get a
wife for my son.”
‘I came today to the spring, and said, “O LORD, the God of my master
Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going! I am
standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out
to draw, to whom I shall say, ‘Please give me a little water from your jar to
drink,’ and who will say to me, ‘Drink, and I will draw for your camels
also’—let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master’s
son.”
‘Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out
with her water-jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and
drew. I said to her, “Please let me drink.” She quickly let down her jar
from her shoulder, and said, “Drink, and I will also water your camels.” So
I drank, and she also watered the camels. Then I asked her, “Whose
daughter are you?” She said, “The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom
Milcah bore to him.” So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on
her arms. Then I bowed my head and worshipped the LORD, and blessed
the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right
way to obtain the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. Now then,
if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell
me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left.’
And they called Rebekah, and said to her, ‘Will you go with this man?’ She
said, ‘I will.’ So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along
with Abraham’s servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said
to her,
‘May you, our sister, become
thousands of myriads;
may your offspring gain possession
of the gates of their foes.’
Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed
the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi, and was settled in the
Negeb. Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field; and looking up,
he saw camels coming. And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac,
she slipped quickly from the camel, and said to the servant, ‘Who is the
man over there, walking in the field to meet us?’ The servant said, ‘It is my
master.’ So she took her veil and covered herself. And the servant told
Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his
mother Sarah’s tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he
loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
