1. Now when Abraham, the father of Isaac, had resolved to take Rebeka,
who was grand-daughter to his brother Nahor, for a wife to his son
Isaac, who was then about forty years old, he sent the ancientest of his
servants to betroth her, after he had obliged him to give him the
strongest assurances of his fidelity; which assurances were given after
the manner following:—They put each other's hands under each other's
thighs; then they called upon God as the witness of what was to be done.
He also sent such presents to those that were there as were in esteem,
on account that that they either rarely or never were seen in that
country, The servant got thither not under a considerable time; for it
requires much time to pass through Meopotamia, in which it is tedious
traveling, both in the winter for the depth of the clay, and in summer
for want of water; and, besides this, for the robberies there committed,
which are not to be avoided by travelers but by caution beforehand.
However, the servant came to Haran; and when he was in the suburbs, he
met a considerable number of maidens going to the water; he therefore
prayed to God that Rebeka might be found among them, or her whom Abraham
sent him as his servant to espouse to his son, in case his will were
that this marriage should be consummated, and that she might be made
known to him by the sign, That while others denied him water to drink,
she might give it him.
2. With this intention he went to the well, and desired the maidens to
give him some water to drink: but while the others refused, on pretense
that they wanted it all at home, and could spare none for him, one only
of the company rebuked them for their peevish behavior towards the
stranger; and said, What is there that you will ever communicate to
anybody, who have not so much as given the man some water? She then
offered him water in an obliging manner. And now he began to hope that
his grand affair would succeed; but desiring still to know the truth, he
commended her for her generosity and good nature, that she did not
scruple to afford a sufficiency of water to those that wanted it, though
it cost her some pains to draw it; and asked who were her parents, and
wished them joy of such a daughter. "And mayst thou be espoused," said
he, "to their satisfaction, into the family of an agreeable husband, and
bring him legitimate children." Nor did she disdain to satisfy his
inquiries, but told him her family. "They," says she, "call me Rebeka;
my father was Bethuel, but he is dead; and Laban is my brother; and,
together with my mother, takes care of all our family affairs, and is
the guardian of my virginity." When the servant heard this, he was very
glad at what had happened, and at what was told him, as perceiving that
God had thus plainly directed his journey; and producing his bracelets,
and some other ornaments which it was esteemed decent for virgins to
wear, he gave them to the damsel, by way of acknowledgment, and as a
reward for her kindness in giving him water to drink; saying, it was but
just that she should have them, because she was so much more obliging
than any of the rest. She desired also that he would come and lodge with
them, since the approach of the night gave him not time to proceed
farther. And producing his precious ornaments for women, he said he
desired to trust them to none more safely than to such as she had shown
herself to be; and that he believed he might guess at the humanity of
her mother and brother, that they would not be displeased, from the
virtue he found in her; for he would not be burdensome, but would pay
the hire for his entertainment, and spend his own money. To which she
replied, that he guessed right as to the humanity of her parents; but
complained that he should think them so parsimonious as to take money,
for that he should have all on free cost. But she said she would first
inform her brother Laban, and, if he gave her leave, she would conduct
him in.
3. As soon then as this was over, she introduced the stranger; and for
the camels, the servants of Laban brought them in, and took care of
them; and he was himself brought in to supper by Laban. And, after
supper, he says to him, and to the mother of the damsel, addressing
himself to her, "Abraham is the son of Terah, and a kinsman of yours;
for Nahor, the grandfather of these children, was the brother of
Abraham, by both father and mother; upon which account he hath sent me
to you, being desirous to take this damsel for his son to wife. He is
his legitimate son, and is brought up as his only heir. He could indeed
have had the most happy of all the women in that country for him, but he
would not have his son marry any of them; but, out of regard to his own
relations, he desired him to match here, whose affection and inclination
I would not have you despise; for it was by the good pleasure of God
that other accidents fell out in my journey, and that thereby I lighted
upon your daughter and your house; for when I was near to the city, I
saw a great many maidens coming to a well, and I prayed that I might
meet with this damsel, which has come to pass accordingly. Do you
therefore confirm that marriage, whose espousals have been already made
by a Divine appearance; and show the respect you have for Abraham, who
hath sent me with so much solicitude, in giving your consent to the
marriage of this damsel." Upon this they understood it to be the will of
God, and greatly approved of the offer, and sent their daughter, as was
desired. Accordingly Isaac married her, the inheritance being now come
to him; for the children by Keturah were gone to their own remote
habitations.