CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Genesis 24
Chapter 24 of 50
Chapter Overview
What happens in Genesis 24
Abraham is now old and sends his most trusted servant on a mission to find a wife for Isaac from among Abraham's relatives. The servant travels to Mesopotamia, prays for a sign, and meets Rebekah at a well. Her family agrees to the marriage, and she returns to Canaan to marry Isaac. This is the longest chapter in Genesis.
Scripture
Genesis 24
Abraham Sends His Servant
Study note
Abraham makes his oldest and most trusted servant swear a solemn oath. The servant must find a wife for Isaac from Abraham's relatives in Mesopotamia, not from the Canaanites. Abraham is determined that Isaac not marry a Canaanite woman, but he is equally determined that Isaac not leave the Promised Land. Abraham assures his servant that God will send his angel ahead to prepare the way.
1 Abraham was getting very old by now, and the Lord had blessed every part of his life. And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
2 One day he called his most trusted servant. This man managed all he owned. Abraham said, "Put your hand under my thigh. Make a solemn promise." And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
3 "Promise by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth. Do not choose a wife for my son from the Canaanite women here." And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
4 "Instead, travel back to my homeland and find a wife for Isaac from among my own relatives." But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
5 The servant asked, "But what if the woman doesn't want to move all the way here? Should I take Isaac back to the country you came from?" And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
6 Abraham said firmly, "Whatever you do, never take my son back there." And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
7 "The Lord, the God of heaven, brought me away from my father's house and my home country. He spoke to me and made me a solemn promise. He said, 'I will give this land to your descendants.' He will send his angel ahead of you to help you find a wife for my son there." The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
8 "If the woman refuses to come back with you, then you are free from this promise. But under no circumstances are you to take my son back there." And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
9 So the servant placed his hand under Abraham's thigh and made the solemn promise. And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
The Servant Meets Rebekah
Study note
The servant travels to the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia with ten camels loaded with gifts. He stops at a well outside the city in the evening when women come to draw water. He prays a specific prayer: the woman who offers to water his camels after he asks for a drink will be the one God has chosen. Before he even finishes praying, Rebekah arrives. She is beautiful, unmarried, and from Abraham's family. She offers him water and volunteers to water all his camels — an enormous task showing her generosity and hard work. The servant worships God for answering his prayer so clearly.
10 The servant took ten of Abraham's camels. He loaded them with costly gifts. Then he headed for Nahor's town in Aram Naharaim. And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
11 He stopped outside the town and had the camels kneel down beside the well. It was late afternoon — the time when women usually came out to get water. And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
12 He prayed, "Lord, God of my master Abraham, please help me succeed today. Show your kindness to my master Abraham." And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
13 "Here I am, standing right next to this well. The young women from this town are about to come out to fill their water jars." Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
14 "Here is the sign I am asking for: I will ask one of the young women, 'Please tip your jar so I can have a drink.' If she says, 'Go ahead and drink, and let me water your camels too,' let her be the one you picked for Isaac. That is how I will know you are being kind to my master." And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
15 He hadn't even finished praying when Rebekah arrived with a water jar balanced on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, whose mother was Milcah — the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
16 She was a gorgeous young woman who had never been with a man. She walked down to the well, filled up her jar, and came back up. And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
17 The servant hurried over to her and asked, "May I please have a little sip of water from your jar?" And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
18 "Of course! Drink up, sir," she said. She quickly lowered the jar into her hands and gave him a drink. And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
19 When he was done drinking, she said, "Let me get water for your camels too, until they've had all they want." And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
20 She quickly poured her jar into the watering trough, then ran back to the well to draw more. She kept going until all the camels had plenty. And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
21 The servant stood there watching her quietly, trying to figure out whether the Lord had answered his prayer or not. And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 After the camels finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring that weighed about a fifth of an ounce. He also gave her two gold bracelets that weighed about four ounces each. And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
23 He asked, "Whose daughter are you? And would there be room at your father's house for us to spend the night?" And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?
24 She told him, "I'm Bethuel's daughter. My grandmother is Milcah, and my grandfather is Nahor." And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
25 She added, "We've got plenty of straw and feed for the camels, and lots of room for you to stay over." She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
26 The servant immediately bowed his head and thanked the Lord. And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
27 He said, "Thank you, Lord, God of my master Abraham! You have been so faithful and loving to my master. You guided me straight to the home of my master's relatives." And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.
The Servant Speaks with Rebekah's Family
Study note
Rebekah runs home and tells her family what happened. Her brother Laban welcomes the servant and brings him in. The servant insists on explaining his mission before eating. He tells the whole story — Abraham's wealth, the oath, the prayer at the well, and how Rebekah perfectly fulfilled the sign. He asks them to show kindness to Abraham by allowing the marriage. Laban and Bethuel agree, saying this is clearly from the Lord.
28 The girl took off running to tell everyone in her mother's house what had just happened. And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.
29 Rebekah had a brother named Laban. When he heard her story, he rushed out to find the man at the well. And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
30 He had seen the nose ring and bracelets on his sister and heard her describe everything the man had said. He found the man still standing with the camels near the well. And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.
31 Laban said, "Come on in! The Lord has obviously blessed you. Why are you still standing out here? I've already set up a room and made a spot for the camels." And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
32 So the man came inside. The camels were unloaded, and straw and feed were put out for them. Water was brought so the man and his companions could wash their feet. And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.
33 Food was set out for them to eat, but the servant said, "I can't eat yet — not until I've explained why I'm here." Laban said, "Go ahead, we're listening." And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
34 The servant began, "I work for Abraham." And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
35 "The Lord has made my master exceedingly wealthy. He has flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, camels and donkeys." And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
36 "My master's wife Sarah had a son when she was very old. Abraham has given that son everything he owns." And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.
37 "My master made me take a solemn oath: 'Don't find a wife for my son from the Canaanite women in this land where I live.'" And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
38 "'Instead, go back to my father's family and find a wife for my son there.'" But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
39 "I asked my master, 'What if the woman won't agree to come?'" And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
40 "He told me, 'The Lord, whom I have faithfully followed, will send his angel with you to make your trip a success. You will find a wife for my son from my own family.'" And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:
41 "'If you go to my relatives and they refuse, then you'll be free from your oath.'" Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
42 "When I got to the well today, I prayed: 'Lord, God of my master Abraham, if this is your plan, please let my trip be a success.'" And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:
43 "'Here I am at the well. When a young woman comes out to draw water, I will ask her for a drink.'" Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;
44 "'If she says, "Drink, and I'll water your camels too," let her be the one the Lord has picked for my master's son.'" And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son.
45 "I was still praying silently in my heart when Rebekah appeared with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the well and drew water. I asked her for a drink." And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
46 "She quickly lowered her jar and said, 'Drink, and I'll give your camels water too.' So I drank, and she tended the camels." And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
47 "I asked whose daughter she was. She told me, 'I'm the daughter of Bethuel — Nahor and Milcah's son.' Then I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists." And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
48 "I bowed down and praised the Lord. He is the God of my master Abraham. He led me on the right path. I found this girl from my master's own family for his son." And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.
49 "So tell me now — are you willing to show love and loyalty to my master? If not, say so, and I'll figure out what to do next." And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.
50 Laban and Bethuel both said, "This is clearly from the Lord. We have no reason to argue with it." Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
51 "Here is Rebekah. Take her back with you and let her marry your master's son, just as the Lord has planned." Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.
Rebekah Goes to Isaac
Study note
The servant presents expensive gifts to Rebekah, her brother, and her mother. The next morning he wants to leave immediately, but her family asks for a ten-day delay. The servant insists on going, so they ask Rebekah herself. She says she will go. Her family blesses her with a prayer that she become the mother of millions. Rebekah and her attendants travel back to Canaan. Isaac is out in a field meditating one evening when he sees the camels approaching. Rebekah veils herself when she sees Isaac. Isaac takes Rebekah into his mother Sarah's tent, she becomes his wife, he loves her, and he is comforted after his mother's death.
52 When Abraham's servant heard their answer, he bowed all the way to the ground and thanked the Lord. And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
53 Then he unpacked beautiful jewelry made of gold and silver, along with fancy clothes, and presented them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and mother. And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
54 After that, the servant and his companions sat down to eat and drink, and they stayed the night. When they got up the next morning, the servant said, "Send me back to my master." And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.
55 But Rebekah's brother and mother said, "Let her stay with us at least another ten days. After that she can go." And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
56 The servant replied, "Please don't delay me. The Lord has made my mission a success — let me head back to my master." And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
57 They said, "Well, let's ask Rebekah what she wants to do." And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
58 They called Rebekah over and asked, "Are you willing to go with this man?" She answered simply, "Yes, I'll go." And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
59 So they sent Rebekah off with her personal nurse, along with Abraham's servant and his men. And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
60 Before she left, they blessed her and said, "Dear sister, may you become the mother of millions! May your descendants take over the cities of their enemies." And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
61 Rebekah and her servant girls climbed onto the camels and followed the man. And the servant headed back home with Rebekah. And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
62 Meanwhile, Isaac had traveled from Beer Lahai Roi, since he was living in the southern region called the Negev. And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the south country.
63 One evening he had gone out for a walk in the fields to think and pray. When he looked up, he saw camels coming toward him. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
64 Rebekah looked up too and spotted Isaac. She quickly got down from her camel. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
65 She asked the servant, "Who is that man walking through the field toward us?" The servant answered, "That's my master." So Rebekah covered her face with a veil. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a veil, and covered herself.
66 The servant told Isaac the whole story of everything that had happened. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
67 Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent that had been his mother Sarah's. He married her, and she became his wife. He fell in love with her, and she helped heal the sadness he'd carried since his mother's death. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
Key Themes
Themes in Genesis 24
God's guidance and providencePrayer and trustFaithfulness in serving othersGod's plan unfolding through detailsRebekah's willing faith
Apply This Today
Living Genesis 24
Abraham's servant prayed for specific guidance and God answered in remarkable detail. God cares about the practical details of your life. Bring your specific needs to him and watch for the ways he responds.
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