1 Abraham was old, and well stricken in age. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh. 3 I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live. 4 But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac." 5 The servant said to him, "What if the woman isn't willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?" 6 Abraham said to him, "Beware that you don't bring my son there again. 7 Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, 'I will give this land to your seed.' He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 If the woman isn't willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this my oath. Only you shall not bring my son there again." 9 The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter. 10 The servant took ten camels, of his master's camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master's with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 11 He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water. 12 He said, "Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, 'Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,' and she will say, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,' - let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master." 15 It happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder. 16 The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin, neither had any man known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up. 17 The servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher." 18 She said, "Drink, my lord." She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him drink. 19 When she had done giving him drink, she said, "I will also draw for your camels, until they have done drinking." 20 She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels. 21 The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not. 22 It happened, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold, 23 and said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father's house for us to lodge in?" 24 She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor." 25 She said moreover to him, "We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in." 26 The man bowed his head, and worshiped Yahweh. 27 He said, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me in the way to the house of my master's relatives." 28 The young lady ran, and told her mother's house about these words. 29 Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man, to the spring. 30 It happened, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "This is what the man said to me," that he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. 31 He said, "Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels." 32 The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 33 Food was set before him to eat, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told my message." He said, "Speak on." 34 He said, "I am Abraham's servant. 35 Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys. 36 Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him. 37 My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, 38 but you shall go to my father's house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.' 39 I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not follow me?' 40 He said to me, 'Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son of my relatives, and of my father's house. 41 Then will you be clear from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don't give her to you, you shall be clear from my oath.' 42 I came this day to the spring, and said, 'Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go - 43 behold, I am standing by this spring of water. Let it happen, that the maiden who comes forth to draw, to whom I will say, "Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink," 44 and she will tell me, "Drink, and I will also draw for your camels," - let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master's son.' 45 Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.' 46 She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.' So I drank, and she also gave the camels a drink. 47 I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands. 48 I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter for his son. 49 Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left." 50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can't speak to you bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as Yahweh has spoken." 52 It happened that when Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh. 53 The servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and her mother. 54 They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master." 55 Her brother and her mother said, "Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go." 56 He said to them, "Don't hinder me, since Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master." 57 They said, "We will call the young lady, and ask her." 58 They called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will go." 59 They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham's servant, and his men. 60 They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, "Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your seed possess the gate of those who hate them." 61 Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 62 Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South. 63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming. 64 Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel. 65 She said to the servant, "Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." She took her veil, and covered herself. 66 The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
Abraham, being solicitous to get his son Isaac property married, calls his confidential servant, probably Eliezer, and makes him swear that he will not take a wife for Isaac from among the Canaanites, Genesis 24:1-3, but from among his own kindred, Genesis 24:4. The servant proposes certain difficulties, Genesis 24:5, which Abraham removes by giving him the strongest assurances of God's direction in the business, Genesis 24:6, Genesis 24:7, and then specifies the conditions of the oath, Genesis 24:8. The form of the oath itself, Genesis 24:9. The servant makes preparations for his journey, and sets out for Mesopotamia, the residence of Abraham's kindred, Genesis 24:10. Arrives at a well near to the place, Genesis 24:11. His prayer to God, Genesis 24:12-14. Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, Abraham's brother, comes to the well to draw water, Genesis 24:15. She is described, Genesis 24:16. Conversation between her and Abraham's servant, in which every thing took place according to his prayer to God, Genesis 24:17-21. He makes her presents, and learns whose daughter she is, Genesis 24:22-24. She invites him to her father's house, Genesis 24:25. He returns thanks to God for having thus far given him a prosperous journey, Genesis 24:26, Genesis 24:27. Rebekah runs home and informs her family, Genesis 24:28; on which her brother Laban comes out, and invites the servant home, Genesis 24:29-31. His reception, Genesis 24:32, Genesis 24:33. Tells his errand, Genesis 24:34, and how he had proceeded in executing the trust reposed in him, Genesis 24:35-48. Requests an answer, Genesis 24:49. The family of Rebekah consent that she should become the wife of Isaac, Genesis 24:50, Genesis 24:51. The servant worships God, Genesis 24:52, and gives presents to Milcah, Laban, and Rebekah, Genesis 24:53. He requests to be dismissed, Genesis 24:54-56. Rebekah, being consulted, consents to go, Genesis 24:57, Genesis 24:58. She is accompanied by her nurse, Genesis 24:59; and having received the blessing of her parents and relatives, Genesis 24:60, she departs with the servant of Abraham, Genesis 24:61. They are met by Isaac, who was on an evening walk for the purpose of meditation, Genesis 24:62-65. The servant relates to Isaac all that he had done, Genesis 24:66. Isaac and Rebekah are married, Genesis 24:67.
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, Genesis 24:1; which his servant agreed to, after having the nature of his charge, and of the oath, explained to him, Genesis 24:5; 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, Genesis 24:10; 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, Genesis 24:23; 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, Genesis 24:28; 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, Genesis 24:34; and then treats with the relations of the damsel about her marriage to his master's son, to which they agreed, Genesis 24:49; 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, Genesis 24:52; 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, Genesis 24:55; upon which they dismissed her with their blessing, Genesis 24:59; who being met by Isaac in the way, was received and introduced into his mother's tent, and married by him, Genesis 24:61.
(Genesis 24:1-9) Abraham's care for Isaac's marriage.
(v. 10-28) The journey of Abraham's servant to Mesopotamia, His meeting with Rebekah.
(v. 29-53) Rebekah and her relatives consent to her marriage.
(Genesis 24:54-67) The happy meeting and marriage of Isaac and Rebekah.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.