2001 Translation - An American English Bible

1By then Abraham was very old, and Jehovah had blest Abraham in everything. 2So Abraham said to his servant (the elder of his house, who was in charge of all his possessions), ‘Put your hand under my thigh, 3because I want you to swear by Jehovah the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you won’t take a wife for my son Isaac from the daughters of the CanaAnites, these [people] among whom I am living. 4Rather, I want you to go to my country – to the place where I was born and to my people – to find a wife for my son Isaac.’ 5And his servant replied, ‘But if the woman isn’t happy and willing to return with me to this land, then should I carry your son back to the land that you came from?’ 6And Abraham said to him, ‘Make sure that you don’t carry my son back there. 7Jehovah – the God of heaven and the God of earth, who took me out of my father’s house and out of the land where I was born, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, I will give this land to you and to your seed, will send His messenger ahead of you, and you must take a wife for my son from there. 8And if the woman isn’t willing to come with you into this land, you will be free from this oath. Just don’t carry my son there again.’ 9So, the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham, and swore this to him. 10Then the servant took ten camels from his master’s herd, and [some of] his master’s valuables, and traveled through MesoPotamia to the city of Nahor. 11And toward evening, he rested his camels outside the city, by the well where the young women went to draw water. 12And he [prayed], ‘O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham; Bless what I’m doing today, and be merciful with my master Abraham. 13{Look!} Here I am standing by the well where the daughters of those who live in this city come to draw water. 14And may it be that, whichever virgin to whom I say, Bring down the water jar so that I can have a drink, and she replies, Take a drink, and I will also [pour water] for your camels to drink until they are satisfied, [I will believe that] this is the one who You’ve prepared for Your servant Isaac. And it [will be by this sign] that I’ll know whether You’ve been merciful to my master Abraham.’ 15And before he was even done speaking in his mind, {Look!} Rebecca, the daughter of BathuEl (who was the son of Melcha, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother) came there carrying a water jug on her shoulders. 16This virgin was very beautiful, and she was in fact a virgin… no man ever had sexual relations with her. She went down to the well, filled her water jug, and [walked back] up. 17Then [Abraham’s] servant ran to meet her, and said, ‘Give me a little water to drink from your pitcher.’ 18And she said, ‘Have a drink, Sir.’ So she quickly removed the pitcher [from her head] and allowed him to drink until he was finished. 19Then she said, ‘I’ll also draw water for your camels, until they all have enough to drink.’ 20And she quickly emptied the water jug into the trough, and then ran to the well to draw, until she had drawn enough water for all the camels. 21And the man really paid attention to her, but he didn’t say anything, because he wanted to know whether Jehovah was blessing this or not. 22And after all the camels were finished drinking, he gave her [two] gold earrings (each weighing about an eighth of an ounce), and he [put] two bracelets on her hands (they weighed about the same as ten gold coins), 23and he asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you… tell me! And is there room for us to lodge with your father?’ 24And she replied, ‘I’m the daughter of BathuEl, who is the son of Melcha and whose father was Nahor.’ 25And she added, ‘We have straw, a lot of fodder, and a place for [you to] rest.’ 26Then the man (who was very happy) bowed low to Jehovah  27and said, ‘May Jehovah the God of my master Abraham be praised, [because He] hasn’t allowed His righteousness or His truth to fail my master. Jehovah has led me right to the house of my lord’s brother!’ 28Well, the young maiden ran and reported what he said to the household of her mother. 29Now, Rebecca had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran out to meet the man, all the way to the well. 30And when he saw the earrings and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard what his sister Rebecca said about what the man had told her, he went to the man, as he was standing at the well with his camels, 31and said to him, ‘Come on in, you who are blest by Jehovah; Why are you standing outside? I’ve prepared the house and I also made a place for your camels!’ 32So the man went into the house, and [Laban] unloaded the camels, gave them straw and fodder, got water to wash the feet [of Abraham’s servant], as well as the feet of the men who were with him; 33then he set loaves of bread before them to eat. However, [Abraham’s servant] said, ‘I’m not going to eat until I’ve told you why I’ve come.’ And [Laban] said, ‘Go ahead and speak.’ 34And he said, ‘I’m a servant of Abraham; 35and Jehovah has greatly blest my master. He is highly respected and has been given sheep, cattle, silver, gold, male and female servants, camels, and burros. 36And Sarah, my master’s wife, bore one son to my master after he had grown old; and he gave [this son] everything he has. 37‘Now, my master made me swear [an oath], saying, You must not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the CanaAnites… these [people] among whom I am living. 38But you should go to the house of my father and to my tribe, and take a wife for my son from there. 39‘Then I asked my master, What if the woman is unhappy about coming along? 40‘And he replied, Jehovah God, who has found me to be acceptable in His presence, will send His messenger along with you, and your journey will be blest. You should take a wife for my son from my tribe and from the house of my father. 41Then you will be free from the curse [of your oath]. Because, when you get to my tribe, and if they won’t give her to you, then you will be freed from your oath. 42‘So, today I came to this well, and I [prayed]: Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham; If you would bless this journey that I’m now on, 43{Look!} I will stand by this well where the daughters of the people of this city come to draw water. And whichever young woman to whom I will say, Give me a little water to drink out of your pitcher, 44and she replies, Take a drink, and I will also [pour water] for your camels to drink until they are satisfied; this is the wife that Jehovah has prepared for His servant Isaac. And that’s how I will know that You have been merciful to my master Abraham. 45‘And before I had even finished speaking in my mind, Rebecca arrived with her pitcher on her shoulders. And [after] she went down to the well and drew water, I said to her, Give me a drink; 46then she quickly took the pitcher from her head, and said, Take a drink, and I will also give your camels [something to] drink. So I drank, and she watered the camels. 47‘Then I asked her, Whose daughter are you… tell me! And she replied, I’m the daughter of BathuEl, who is the son of Melcha and whose father was Nahor. So I put the earrings on her, and the bracelets on her hands. 48‘All of this made me so happy that I bowed low and praised Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who has truly blest me in such a way that I might take the daughter of my master’s own brother for his son. 49Tell me whether you will be merciful and just with my lord, so I will know which way to turn.’ 50And at this, Laban and BathuEl answered, saying, ‘This thing has come from Jehovah, so we won’t be able to answer you either in a bad or a good way. 51Look! There’s Rebecca standing before you. Take her and go. Let her be the wife of your master’s son, just as Jehovah has said.’ 52And when Abraham’s servant heard these words, he bowed to the ground to Jehovah. 53Then he brought out jewelry of silver and gold, as well as clothing, and gave it to Rebecca. He also gave gifts to her brother and to her mother. 54And afterward, both he and the men who were with him ate and drank; then they went to sleep. Well, when he got up in the morning, he said to them, ‘Now allow me to leave, so I can return to my master.’ 55And her brothers and mother said, ‘Let the virgin stay here with us for about ten more days, and then she can go.’ 56But he replied to them, ‘Don’t hold me back, because Jehovah has blest my journey. Send me away, so I can return to my master!’ 57And they said, ‘Let’s call the girl and ask [what she wants to do]. 58So they called Rebecca and asked, ‘Will you go with this man?’ And she replied, ‘I’ll go.’ 59So they [agreed to] send their sister Rebecca and all her possessions along with Abraham’s servant and his attendants. 60Then they [gave] Rebecca a blessing, saying to her, ‘You are our sister; now become ten thousands of thousands, and may your seed own the cities of their enemies.’ 61Thereafter, Rebecca and her female attendants mounted the camels and went along with the man. And the servant, on having received Rebecca, departed. 62Now, Isaac had traveled through the desert toward the Well of the Vision, and he lived in the southern portion of that land. 63And toward evening, Isaac went out into the plains to meditate. And when he looked up, he saw camels coming. 64Also, Rebecca looked up and saw Isaac. So she quickly dismounted the camel 65and asked the servant, ‘Who is that man who is walking across the plains to meet us?’ And the servant said, ‘This is my master.’ So she took her veil and covered herself. 66Thereafter, the servant told Isaac everything that he had done. 67And Isaac went to the house of his mother and took Rebecca, so she became his wife… and he loved her… and Isaac was given comfort for [the death of] Sarah his mother.


Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary
 1   The effect of good example, good teaching, and the worship of God in a family, will generally appear in the piety, faithfulness, prudence, and affection of the servants. To live in such families, or to have such servants, both are blessings from God which should be highly valued, and thankfully acknowledged. But no concern in life is of greater importance to ourselves, to others, or to the church of God, than marriage. It therefore ought always to be undertaken with much care and prudence, especially with reference to the will of God, and with prayer for his direction and blessing. Where good parents are not consulted and regarded, the blessing of God cannot be expected. Parents, in disposing of their children, should carefully consult the welfare of their souls, and their furtherance in the way to heaven. Observe the charge Abraham gave to a good servant, one whose conduct, faithfulness, and affection, to him and his family, he had long known. Observe also, that Abraham remembers that God had wonderfully brought him out of the land of his birth, by the call of his grace; and therefore doubts not but He will prosper his care, not to bring his son thither again. God will cause that to end in our comfort, in which we sincerely aim at his glory.

 10   Abraham's servant devoutly acknowledged God. We have leave to be particular in recommending our affairs to the care of Divine providence. He proposes a sign, not that he intended to proceed no further, if not gratified in it; but it is a prayer that God would provide a good wife for his young master; and that was a good prayer. She should be simple, industrious, humble, cheerful, serviceable, and hospitable. Whatever may be the fashion, common sense, as well as piety, tells us, these are the proper qualifications for a wife and mother; for one who is to be a companion to her husband, the manager of domestic concerns, and trusted to form the minds of children. When the steward came to seek a wife for his master, he did not go to places of amusement and sinful pleasure, and pray that he might meet one there, but to the well of water, expecting to find one there employed aright. He prayed that God would please to make his way in this matter plain and clear before him. Our times are in God's hand; not only events themselves, but the times of them. We must take heed of being over-bold in urging what God should do, lest the event should weaken our faith, rather than strengthen it. But God owned him by making his way clear. Rebekah, in all respects, answered the characters he sought for in the woman that was to be his master's wife. When she came to the well, she went down and filled her pitcher, and came up to go home with it. She did not stand to gaze upon the strange man his camels, but minded her business, and would not have been diverted from it but by an opportunity of doing good. She did not curiously or confidently enter into discourse with him, but answered him modestly. Being satisfied that the Lord had heard his prayer, he gave the damsel some ornaments worn in eastern countries; asking at the same time respecting her kindred. On learning that she was of his master's relations, he bowed down his head and worshipped, blessing God. His words were addressed to the Lord, but being spoken in the hearing of Rebekah, she could perceive who he was, and whence he came.

 29   The making up of the marriage between Isaac and Rebekah is told very particularly. We are to notice God's providence in the common events of human life, and in them to exercise prudence and other graces. Laban went to ask Abraham's servant in, but not till he saw the ear-ring, and bracelet upon his sister's hands. We know Laban's character, by his conduct afterwards, and may think that he would not have been so free to entertain him, if he had not hoped to be well rewarded for it. The servant was intent upon his business. Though he was come off a journey, and come to a good house, he would not eat till he had told his errand. The doing our work, and the fulfilling our trusts, either for God or man, should be preferred by us before our food: it was our Saviour's meat and drink, John 4:34. He tells them the charge his master had given him, with the reason of it. He relates what had happened at the well, to further the proposal, plainly showing the finger of God in it. Those events which to us seem the effect of choice, contrivance, or chance, are appointed out of God. This hinders not, but rather encourages the use of all proper means. They freely and cheerfully close with the proposal; and any matter is likely to be comfortable, when it proceeds from the Lord. Abraham's servant thankfully acknowledges the good success he had met with. He was a humble man, and humble men are not ashamed to own their situation in life, whatever it may be. All our temporal concerns are sweet if intermixed with godliness.

 54   Abraham's servant, as one that chose his work before his pleasure, was for hastening home. Lingering and loitering no way become a wise and good man who is faithful to his duty. As children ought not to marry without their parents' consent, so parents ought not to marry them without their own. Rebekah consented, not only to go, but to go at once. The goodness of Rebekah's character shows there was nothing wrong in her answer, though it be not agreeable to modern customs among us. We may hope that she had such an idea of the religion and godliness in the family she was to go to, as made her willing to forget her own people and her father's house. Her friends dismiss her with suitable attendants, and with hearty good wishes. They blessed Rebekah. When our relations are entering into a new condition, we ought by prayer to commend them to the blessing and grace of God. Isaac was well employed when he met Rebekah. He went out to take the advantage of a silent evening, and a solitary place, for meditation and prayer; those divine exercises by which we converse with God and our own hearts. Holy souls love retirement; it will do us good to be often alone, if rightly employed; and we are never less alone than when alone. Observe what an affectionate son Isaac was: it was about three years since his mother died, and yet he was not, till now, comforted. See also what an affectionate husband he was to his wife. Dutiful sons promise fair to be affectionate husbands; he that fills up his first station in life with honour, is likely to do the same in those that follow.