1 ARST Abraham had lived a long time and was{ now}{ very} old, and Yahweh had blessed him in every way. BSB BSB: By now Abraham was old and well along in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
2 ARST { One day} Abraham said to his chief household servant, who managed his entire estate for him,“Please put your hand under my thigh{ to show that you will do what I ask}. BSB BSB: So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
3 ARST I want you to vow{ to me}, with Yahweh the God who rules the heavens and the earth as your witness, that you will not arrange for my son{ Isaac} to marry{ any of} the Canaanite women who live around us here. BSB BSB: and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling,
4 ARST Rather, you must go to the country where I grew up, to my relatives{ who live there}, and find a wife for him{ from there}.” BSB BSB: but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”
5 ARST But{ Abraham’ s} servant asked him,“What{ should I do} if the{ young} woman{ I find} refuses to come{ back} with me to this land{ to live}? Do you want me to take your son back{ there} to your home country{ to marry her}{ and live there}?” BSB BSB: The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?”
6 ARST Abraham answered him,“{ No,} be sure that you never take my son back there{ to live}, BSB BSB: Abraham replied, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there.
7 ARST { because} Yahweh, the God who rules the heavens, brought me{ here} from my father’ s household and from the land where{ the rest of} my relatives live, and he vowed to me that he will give this land to my descendants. He will send one of his angels ahead of you{ to help you}, so that you will find a woman from my home land for my son{ to marry}. BSB BSB: The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you so that you can take a wife for my son from there.
8 ARST But if the woman{ you find} refuses to come back{ here} with you, then you will be free from{ keeping} this vow that you are making to me{ now}. But{ no matter what happens,} never take my son back to my home country!” BSB BSB: And if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”
9 ARST So{ Abraham’ s} servant put his hand under his master’ s thigh and vowed to him that he would do what Abraham had requested him to do. BSB BSB: So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
11 ARST { When they arrived there,} Abraham’ s servant had the camels kneel down{ to rest} outside the city near the well{ that was there}. It was evening time, when the{ young} women{ of the city} were starting to come out{ to the well} to draw water. BSB BSB: As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water.
12 ARST Then Abraham’ s servant prayed,“{ Dear} Yahweh,{ who is} the God{ who takes care} of my master Abraham, please help me succeed today and{ in that way} be kind to my master. BSB BSB: “O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13 ARST As you see, I am standing by this well, and young women from the city are coming{ here} to draw water. BSB BSB: Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.
14 ARST { Please} make it happen{ that} when I say to one of the young women,‘Please lower your jug so that I can have a drink,’ she will say{ to me},‘Have a drink and I will also draw water for your camels.’{ Then I will know that} she{ is the one} you have chosen to be the wife of Isaac who serves you, and that you have been kind to my master.” BSB BSB: Now may it happen that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well’—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 ARST Before Abraham’ s servant had{ even} finished praying, he saw{ a young woman named} Rebekah coming out{ of the city} carrying a water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel,{ who was} the son of Milcah and Abraham’ s brother Nahor. BSB BSB: Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.
16 ARST She was a very beautiful unmarried young woman, who had never had{ marital} relations with a man. She walked down to the well, filled her jug{ with water} and came{ back} up{ carrying it on her shoulder}. BSB BSB: Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin who had not had relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up again.
17 ARST Then{ Abraham’ s} servant ran to meet her and said{ to her},“Please let me have a little water to drink from your jug.” BSB BSB: So the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jar.”
18 ARST She replied,“{ Please} have a drink, sir.” Then she quickly lowered her jug{ from her shoulder} to her hands and let him drink{ some water}{ from it}. BSB BSB: “Drink, my lord,” she replied, and she quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19 ARST After that, she said{ to him},“I will also draw water for your camels until they have had enough to drink.” BSB BSB: After she had given him a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels, until they have had enough to drink.”
20 ARST Then she quickly emptied{ the rest of the water from} her jug into the{ animal drinking} trough{ that was there} and ran back{ and forth} to the well to draw{ more water}, until she had drawn{ enough} for all of the camels. BSB BSB: And she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran back to the well to draw water, until she had drawn water for all his camels.
21 ARST Meanwhile{ Abraham’ s} servant silently watched Rebekah{ and waited} to find out whether or not Yahweh had made him successful on his journey{ to find a wife for Isaac}. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the man watched her silently to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success.
22 ARST Finally, when the camels had finished drinking, the servant{ gave Rebekah} a gold nose ring that weighed one beka, and two gold bracelets for her wrists that weighed ten shekels{ each}. BSB BSB: And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka, and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels.
23 ARST Then he asked{ her},“Please tell me who your father{ is}.{ Also,} is there room at his house for me and my men to spend the night{ there}?” BSB BSB: “Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
24 ARST Rebekah answered him,“My father{ is} Bethuel,{ and he is} one of Nahor and Milcah’ s sons.” BSB BSB: She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor.”
25 ARST Then she added,“We have plenty of both straw and{ other} feed{ at our house}{ for the camels to eat},{ and there is} also{ enough} room{ for you all} to stay{ there} tonight.” BSB BSB: Then she added, “We have plenty of straw and feed, as well as a place for you to spend the night.”
26 ARST Then the servant bowed to the ground and worshiped Yahweh, BSB BSB: Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,
27 ARST by saying,“Praise Yahweh, the God{ who takes care} of my master Abraham! He has never stopped being kind and faithful to my master, and he has guided me on{ my} journey{ here}{ to} the home of my master’ s relatives!” BSB BSB: saying, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”
28 ARST Then Rebekah hurried{ home} and told her mother’ s family about what had happened. BSB BSB: The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things.
29 ARST Rebekah had a brother whose name{ was} Laban, and he rushed out to the well where Abraham’ s servant was. BSB BSB: Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he rushed out to the man at the spring.
30 ARST As soon as Laban had seen the nose ring{ that his sister was wearing} and the bracelets on her arms and had heard her announce what the servant had said to her, he went{ out} to meet him. He found him standing with{ his} camels at the well. BSB BSB: As soon as he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and heard Rebekah’s words, “The man said this to me,” he went and found the man standing by the camels near the spring.
31 ARST Then Laban said{ to him},“Come{ with me}, you whom Yahweh has blessed. There is no need for you to stand out here. I have gotten our house ready{ for you and your men to stay with us} and{ there is also} a place for{ your} camels{ to stay}.” BSB BSB: “Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” said Laban. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”
32 ARST So Abraham’ s servant went home{ with Laban}.{ When they arrived there,} Laban unloaded the camels, and he gave straw and{ other} feed to them{ to eat}.{ He} also{ gave} water{ to the servant} and the men who{ were} with him to wash their feet. BSB BSB: So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of his companions.
33 ARST Then{ Laban’ s family} served them a meal to eat, but the servant said{ to them},“Before I can eat, I need to tell{ you} why I am here.” Laban responded{ to him},“{ Please} tell{ us}{ what you have to say}.” BSB BSB: Then a meal was set before the man, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I came to say.” So Laban said, “Please speak.”
34 ARST So the servant told{ them},“I am Abraham’ s servant. BSB BSB: “I am Abraham’s servant,” he replied.
35 ARST Yahweh has abundantly blessed my master, so that he has become wealthy. Yahweh has given him{ many} sheep and cattle,{ much} silver and gold,{ many} male and female servants, and{ many} camels and donkeys. BSB BSB: “The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.
36 ARST Besides that, my master’ s wife Sarah gave birth to a son for him when she was old, and my master has given him everything that he owns. BSB BSB: My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns.
37 ARST { Before I came here,} my master made me vow{ to do something for him}. He said,‘You must not arrange for my son{ Isaac} to marry{ any of} the Canaanite women whose land we have been living in. BSB BSB: My master made me swear an oath and said, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell,
38 ARST Rather, go to my father’ s family, to my{ own} relatives, and find a wife for my son{ from among them}.’ BSB BSB: but you shall go to my father’s house and to my kindred to take a wife for my son.’
39 ARST So I asked my master,‘What{ should I do} if the{ young} woman{ I find} refuses to come{ back}{ here} with me?’ BSB BSB: Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’
40 ARST He answered me,‘Yahweh whom I serve will send one of his angels with you. He will make you succeed on your journey, so that you will find a wife for my son from{ among} my relatives,{ someone} from my father’ s family. BSB BSB: And he told me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you may take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house.
41 ARST At that time you will be free from{ keeping} the vow{ you are making} to me: If you find a wife for Isaac but my family refuses to let her go with you, then you will be free from{ keeping} your vow to me.’ BSB BSB: And when you go to my kindred, if they refuse to give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’
42 ARST “Then today when I came to{ your city’ s} well, I prayed,‘{ Dear} Yahweh,{ who is} the God{ who takes care} of my master Abraham, if you are willing, please give me success on this journey that I have made. BSB BSB: So when I came to the spring today, I prayed: O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if only You would make my journey a success!
43 ARST As you see, I am standing{ here} near{ this} well.{ Please} make it happen{ that} when a young woman comes out{ of the city} to draw water and I ask her,“Please let me drink a little water from your jug,” BSB BSB: Here I am, standing beside this spring. Now if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jar,’
44 ARST if she replies,“{ Yes,} have a drink and I will also draw water for your camels,”{ then}{ let} her{ be} the woman whom{ you} Yahweh have chosen to be the wife of my master’ s son.’ BSB BSB: and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will draw water for your camels as well,’ may she be the woman the LORD has appointed for my master’s son.
45 ARST “Before I had{ even} finished praying quietly, suddenly I saw Rebekah coming out{ of the city} carrying her{ empty}{ water} jug on her shoulder. She walked down to the well and filled her jug with water, so I asked her,‘May I please have a drink{ of water}?’ BSB BSB: And before I had finished praying in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’
46 ARST She quickly lowered her jug from her{ shoulder} and said,‘Have a drink, and I will also draw water for your camels.’ So I took a drink{ from her jug}, and she also gave water to my camels. BSB BSB: She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels.
47 ARST Then I asked her,‘Who{ is} your father?’ She answered,‘My father is Bethuel,{ who is} one of Nahor and Milcah’ s sons.’ After that I gave her a nose ring and bracelets to wear. BSB BSB: Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.
48 ARST Then I bowed{ to the ground} and worshiped and praised Yahweh, the God{ who takes care} of my master Abraham, because he guided me right where I should go to find the granddaughter of my master’ s brother{ to be the wife} for my master’ s son. BSB BSB: Then I bowed down and worshiped the LORD; and I blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right road to take the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.
49 ARST So now,{ please} tell me whether or not you are willing to be kind and faithful to my master{ by letting her come with me}, so that I can decide what to do{ next}.” BSB BSB: Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; but if not, let me know, so that I may go elsewhere.”
50 ARST Then Laban and Bethuel answered{ Abraham’ s servant},“{ It is clear that} Yahweh has made{ all} this happen,{ so} it is not our place to tell you anything different. BSB BSB: Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we have no choice in the matter.
51 ARST Look, here{ is} Rebekah. Take{ her with you} and return{ home} so that she can marry your master’ s son as Yahweh has guided.” BSB BSB: Rebekah is here before you. Take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, just as the LORD has decreed.”
52 ARST When Abraham’ s servant heard what they said, he bowed to the ground{ and thanked} Yahweh. BSB BSB: When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
53 ARST Then he took out{ expensive gifts, including} silver and gold jewelry, and{ also}{ beautiful} clothing, and gave{ them} to Rebekah. He{ also} gave{ valuable} gifts to her brother and mother. BSB BSB: Then he brought out jewels of silver and gold, and articles of clothing, and he gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother.
54 ARST Then Abraham’ s servant and his men ate{ supper} and slept{ there} that night.{ Early} the next morning after everyone got up, Abraham’ s servant said{ to Rebekah’ s family},“{ Please} let me return{ home}{ now} to my master.” BSB BSB: Then he and the men with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, “Send me on my way to my master.”
55 ARST But Rebekah’ s brother and her mother replied,“{ Please} let the young woman stay{ here} with us{ for another} ten days or so. Then you can go and take her{ with you}.” BSB BSB: But her brother and mother said, “Let the girl remain with us ten days or so. After that, she may go.”
56 ARST But the servant said to them,“{ Please} do not delay me. Now that Yahweh has made my journey successful, let me go so that I can return to my master.” BSB BSB: But he replied, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my journey a success. Send me on my way so that I may go to my master.”
57 ARST So they replied,“Let’ s call Rebekah and ask her what she wants to do.” BSB BSB: So they said, “We will call the girl and ask her opinion.”
58 ARST So they called for her and asked her,“Do you want to go{ now} with this man?” She answered{ them},“{ Yes,} I will go{ now}.” BSB BSB: They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she replied.
59 ARST So they{ agreed to} send their sister Rebekah and her{ personal} servant{ who had helped raise her}, with Abraham’ s servant and his companions. BSB BSB: So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men.
60 ARST They blessed Rebekah by saying to her,“Sister, we pray that God will give you countless thousands{ of descendants}, and that he will help them conquer{ all} their enemies and rule over them!” BSB BSB: And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands upon thousands. May your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.”
61 ARST After Rebekah and her servants{ who were going with her} packed their things, they got up on the camels{ they were going to ride} and went with Abraham’ s servant. So{ Abraham’ s} servant took Rebekah{ with him} and started the journey{ back}{ home}. BSB BSB: Then Rebekah and her servant girls got ready, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.
62 ARST Meanwhile Isaac returned{ home} from visiting{ the place called} Beer Lahai Roi.{ At that time} he was living in the Negev{ Wilderness}. BSB BSB: Now Isaac had just returned from Beer-lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negev.
63 ARST { One day} as it was becoming evening, he went to the field to pray.{ As he was praying,} he looked up and suddenly he saw{ in the distance}{ some} camels coming{ toward him}. BSB BSB: Early in the evening, Isaac went out to the field to meditate, and looking up, he saw the camels approaching.
64 ARST Rebekah{ also} looked up and saw Isaac. Immediately she got down from the camel{ that she was riding}, BSB BSB: And when Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel
65 ARST and asked{ Abraham’ s} servant,“Who is that man in the field who is walking{ this way} to greet us?” The servant answered{ her},“He{ is} my master{ Isaac}.” So she covered her face with a veil{ to show modesty}. BSB BSB: and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “It is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.
66 ARST Then the servant told Isaac everything that he had done{ on the journey}. BSB BSB: Then the servant told Isaac all that he had done.
67 ARST Then Isaac took Rebekah into the tent where his mother Sarah had lived, and he married her, so that she became his wife. Isaac loved her, and he was happy again after{ mourning for} his mother{ who had died}. BSB BSB: And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah as his wife. And Isaac loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.