Genesis 24:29-60

29 Now Rebecca had a brother named Laban, and he ran outside to go to the well where Abraham's servant was.

30 Laban had seen the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms and had heard her say what the man had told her. He went to Abraham's servant, who was standing by his camels at the well,

31 and said, "Come home with me. You are a man whom the Lord has blessed. Why are you standing out here? I have a room ready for you in my house, and there is a place for your camels."

32 So the man went into the house, and Laban unloaded the camels and gave them straw and fodder. Then he brought water for Abraham's servant and his men to wash their feet.

33 When food was brought, the man said, "I will not eat until I have said what I have to say." Laban said, "Go on and speak."

34 "I am the servant of Abraham," he began.

35 "The Lord has greatly blessed my master and made him a rich man. He has given him flocks of sheep and goats, cattle, silver, gold, male and female slaves, camels, and donkeys.

36 Sarah, my master's wife, bore him a son when she was old, and my master has given everything he owns to him.

37 My master made me promise with a vow to obey his command. He said, "Do not choose a wife for my son from the young women in the land of Canaan.

38 Instead, go to my father's people, to my relatives, and choose a wife for him.'

39 And I asked my master, "What if she will not come with me?'

40 He answered, "The Lord, whom I have always obeyed, will send his angel with you and give you success. You will get for my son a wife from my own people, from my father's family.

41 There is only one way for you to be free from your vow: if you go to my relatives and they refuse you, then you will be free.'

42 "When I came to the well today, I prayed, "Lord, God of my master Abraham, please give me success in what I am doing.

43 Here I am at the well. When a young woman comes out to get water, I will ask her to give me a drink of water from her jar.

44 If she agrees and also offers to bring water for my camels, may she be the one that you have chosen as the wife for my master's son.'

45 Before I had finished my silent prayer, Rebecca came with a water jar on her shoulder and went down to the well to get water. I said to her, "Please give me a drink.'

46 She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, "Drink, and I will also water your camels.' So I drank, and she watered the camels.

47 I asked her, "Who is your father?' And she answered, "My father is Bethuel son of Nahor and Milcah.' Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms.

48 I knelt down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me straight to my master's relative, where I found his daughter for my master's son.

49 Now, if you intend to fulfill your responsibility toward my master and treat him fairly, please tell me; if not, say so, and I will decide what to do."

50 Laban and Bethuel answered, "Since this matter comes from the Lord, it is not for us to make a decision.

51 Here is Rebecca; take her and go. Let her become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord himself has said."

52 When the servant of Abraham heard this, he bowed down and worshiped the Lord.

53 Then he brought out clothing and silver and gold jewelry, and gave them to Rebecca. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and to her mother.

54 Then Abraham's servant and the men with him ate and drank, and spent the night there. When they got up in the morning, he said, "Let me go back to my master."

55 But Rebecca's brother and her mother said, "Let her stay with us a week or ten days, and then she may go."

56 But he said, "Don't make us stay. The Lord has made my journey a success; let me go back to my master."

57 They answered, "Let's call her and find out what she has to say."

58 So they called Rebecca and asked, "Do you want to go with this man?" "Yes," she answered.

59 So they let Rebecca and her old family servant go with Abraham's servant and his men.

60 And they gave Rebecca their blessing in these words: "May you, sister, become the mother of millions! May your descendants conquer the cities of their enemies!"

Genesis 24:29-60 Meaning and Commentary

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, Ge 24:1-4; which his servant agreed to, after having the nature of his charge, and of the oath, explained to him, Ge 24:5-9; 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, Ge 24:10-22; 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, Ge 24:23-27; 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, Ge 24:28-33; 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, Ge 24:34-48; and then treats with the relations of the damsel about her marriage to his master's son, to which they agreed, Ge 24:49-51; 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, Ge 24:52-54; 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, Ge 24:55-58; upon which they dismissed her with their blessing, Ge 24:59,60; who being met by Isaac in the way, was received and introduced into his mother's tent, and married by him, Ge 24:61-67.