40-41 : A Wife For Isaac
One day Abraham said to the eldest servant of his house, who managed all that he had:
"Give me your hand, I pray you.
I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth,
that you will not choose a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites,
among whom I dwell.
But you will go to my country and there among my own people you will choose a wife for
my son Isaac."
"What if the woman that is chosen will not be willing to follow me to this land?" said the servant. "Must I take your son back again to the land from which you came?"
Abraham said to him: "Beware, above all, that you do not take my son there again.
The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father's house
and from the land of my people, made a covenant with me, and said to me:
'To your children will I give this land.' "
He shall send his angel before you, and you shall choose there a wife for my son.
If the woman does not willingly follow you, then you shall be freed from your oath.
Only do not take my son to that land."
So the servant gave his hand to Abraham, his master, and swore to do as he had been told.
ABRAHAM'S SERVANT DEPARTS
Then the servant took ten of his master's camels,
for all the goods of his master were in his care, and he departed.
He went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor.
There he made his camels kneel down outside the city beside a well of water,
at the time of the evening when the women went out to draw water.
Then he prayed: "O Lord, God of my master Abraham.
I beg of you, send me good fortune today, and show kindness to master Abraham.
Behold, I stand here by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming to
draw water.
Let it come to pass that the girl to whom I shall say 'Let down your pitcher so that I may drink.'
and who will say to me: 'Drink ! And I will give your camels a drink also,'
let this girl be the wife you have chosen for your servant Isaac.
By this I shall know that you have shown kindness to my master."
Before he had finished speaking a young girl appeared.
She was Rebekah, whose father was the son of Nahor. Abraham's brother.
She carried her pitcher upon her shoulder.
The girl was very fair to look upon, young and unmarried.
She went down to the well, filled her pitcher and came up.
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