24:1Avraham
was old, and well stricken in age. Yahweh had blessed Avraham in all things. 24:2Avraham said to his servant, the elder of
his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my
thigh. 24:3I will make you swear by
Yahweh, the Mighty One of heaven and the Mighty One of the eretz, that you
shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Kana`anim, among whom
I live. 24:4But you shall go to my
country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Yitzchak."
24:5The
servant said to him, "What if the woman isn't willing to follow me to this
land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?"
24:6Avraham
said to him, "Beware that you don't bring my son there again. 24:7Yahweh, the Mighty One of heaven, who took
me from my father's house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and
who swore to me, saying, 'To your descendants I will give this land,' he will
send his angel before you. And you shall take a wife for my son from there. 24:8If the woman isn't willing to follow you,
then you shall be clear from this my oath. Only you shall not bring my son
there again."
24:9The
servant put his hand under the thigh of Avraham his master, and swore to him
concerning this matter. 24:10The
servant took ten camels, of his master's camels, and departed, having all
goodly things of his master in his hand. He arose, and went to Aram-Naharayim,
to the city of
24:15It
happened, before he had done speaking, that behold, Rivka came out, who was
born to Betu'el the son of Milkah, the wife of Nachor, Avraham's brother, with
her pitcher on her shoulder. 24:16The
young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin, neither had any man known
her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up. 24:17The servant ran to meet her, and said,
"Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher."
24:18She
said, "Drink, my master." She hurried, and let down her pitcher on
her hand, and gave him drink. 24:19When
she had done giving him drink, she said, "I will also draw for your
camels, until they have done drinking." 24:20She
hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to
draw, and drew for all his camels.
24:21The
man looked steadfastly at her, holding his shalom, to know whether Yahweh had
made his journey prosperous or not. 24:22It
happened, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of
half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of
gold, 24:23and said, "Whose
daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father's house for us to
lodge in?"
24:24She
said to him, "I am the daughter of Betu'el the son of Milkah, whom she
bore to Nachor." 24:25She said
moreover to him, "We have both straw and provender enough, and room to
lodge in."
24:26The
man bowed his head, and worshiped Yahweh. 24:27He
said, "Blessed be Yahweh, the Mighty One of my master Avraham, who has not
forsaken his lovingkindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Yahweh
has led me in the way to the house of my master's relatives."
24:28The
young lady ran, and told her mother's house about these words. 24:29Rivka had a brother, and his name was
Lavan. Lavan ran out to the man, to the spring. 24:30It
happened, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister's hands, and
when he heard the words of Rivka his sister, saying, "This is what the man
said to me," that he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the
camels at the spring. 24:31He said,
"Come in, you blessed of Yahweh. Why do you stand outside? For I have
prepared the house, and room for the camels."
24:32The
man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and
provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men
who were with him. 24:33Food was set
before him to eat. But he said, "I will not eat until I have told my
message."
He said, "Speak on."
24:34He
said, "I am Avraham's servant. 24:35Yahweh
has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. He has given him flocks and
herds, silver and gold, men-servants and maid-servants, and camels and donkeys.
24:36Sarah, my master's wife, bore a
son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him. 24:37My master made me swear, saying, 'You
shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Kana`anim, in whose
land I live, 24:38but you shall go
to my father's house, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.' 24:39I said to my master, 'What if the woman
will not follow me?' 24:40He said to
me, 'Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your
way. You shall take a wife for my son of my relatives, and of my father's
house. 24:41Then will you be clear
from my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don't give her to you, you
shall be clear from my oath.' 24:42I
came this day to the spring, and said, 'Yahweh, the Mighty One of my master
Avraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go. 24:43Behold,
I am standing by the spring of water. Let it happen, that the almah who comes
forth to draw, to whom I will say, "Give me, I pray you, a little water
from your pitcher to drink," 24:44she
will tell me, "Drink, and I will also draw for your camels." Let the
same be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master's son.' 24:45Before I had done speaking in my heart,
behold, Rivka came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the
spring, and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.' 24:46She hurried and let down her pitcher from
her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.' So I
drank, and she made the camels drink also. 24:47I
asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of
Betu'el, Nachor's son, whom Milkah bore to him.' I put the ring on her nose,
and the bracelets on her hands. 24:48I
bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the Mighty One of my
master Avraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's
daughter for his son. 24:49Now
if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. If not, tell me.
That I may turn to the right hand, or to the left."
24:50Then
Lavan and Betu'el answered, "The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can't
speak to you bad or good. 24:51Behold,
Rivka is before you, take her, and go, and let her be your master's son's wife,
as Yahweh has spoken."
24:52It
happened that when Avraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself
down to the eretz to Yahweh. 24:53The
servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and
gave them to Rivka. He gave also to her brother and to her mother precious
things. 24:54They ate and drank, he
and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the
morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master."
24:55Her
brother and her mother said, "Let the young lady stay with us a few days,
at least ten. After that she will go."
24:56He
said to them, "Don't hinder me, seeing Yahweh has prospered my way. Send
me away that I may go to my master."
24:57They
said, "We will call the young lady, and ask her." 24:58They called Rivka, and said to her, 'Will
you go with this man?'"
She said, "I will go."
24:59They
sent away Rivka, their sister, with her nurse, Avraham's servant, and his men. 24:60They blessed Rivka, and said to her,
"Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let
your seed possess the gate of those who hate them."
24:61Rivka
arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The
servant took Rivka, and went his way. 24:62Yitzchak
came from the way of Be'er-Lachai-Ro'i. For he lived in the land of the South. 24:63Yitzchak went out to meditate in the field
at the evening. He lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels
coming. 24:64Rivka lifted up her
eyes, and when she saw Yitzchak, she dismounted from the camel. 24:65She said to the servant, "Who is the
man who is walking in the field to meet us?"
The servant said, "It is my master."
She took her veil, and covered herself. 24:66The servant told Yitzchak all the things
that he had done. 24:67Yitzchak
brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rivka, and she became his
wife. He loved her. Yitzchak was comforted after his mother's death.
There is plenty to learn about prayer from Avraham's servant.
Avraham Was Confident That Yahweh Would Prosper His
Servant's Way
24:6-8 shows that Avraham was confident that Yahweh would send his angel before Avraham's servant to bring to fruition the task that Avraham had set before his servant. That Avraham was so confident indicates that this instruction he was giving to his servant was in harmony with Yahweh's will. It can therefore be taken that it was indeed Yahweh's will that Yitzchak marry one of his relatives, and guided Avraham appropriately to send his servant to procure for Yitzchak such a qualifying wife.
A Woman Should Not Be Forced To Marry A Particular
Man, Even One Yahweh Has Appointed Her For
24:8 also shows that even though Yahweh prepares for marriage a particular woman for a particular man, he does not force that woman or her family to agree to her marriage of that man that he has prepared her for. For Avraham understood that if the appointed woman was unwilling to accompany Avraham's servant in order to marry Yitzchak, she was not to be forced into the marriage. Thereby showing that a woman should not be forced into marrying a particular man, even if that man is the one that Yahweh has set for her to marry. A woman should be allowed freedom to determine whether or not she will abide by Yahweh's will for her life.
Avraham Had Faith That Yahweh Would Bring Success
To His Servant's Mission
24:8 also shows that Avraham was indeed confident that his servant would succeed in meeting the woman appointed by Yahweh to be Yitzchak's wife. For he gave his servant instructions concerning what to do if the appointed woman refused to accompany him on his return journey. It is therefore evident that Avraham had faith in Yahweh in Yahweh succeeding in bringing Avraham's servant to the woman he had appointed to be Yitzchak's wife.
Success Lies In Yahweh's Hands
24:12-14 outlines Avraham's servant's prayer to Yahweh. Avraham's servant knew that success, whether in this mission or in other matters, lay in Yahweh's hands. It was therefore to Yahweh that he prayed, and not to some other deity.
Avraham Taught His Household To Worship Yahweh
It should also be noted that Avraham did not confine his worship of Yahweh to just himself, keeping it a private matter between only himself and Yahweh. For those in Avraham's household, including this servant of his, indeed understood Yahweh's ways, and prayed and worshipped Yahweh. It therefore appears that not only did Avraham's household understand Yahweh's ways, it also took action to abide by his ways.
Avraham's Servant Was Also A Servant Of Yahweh
Avraham's servant, understanding that success lay in Yahweh's hands, asked Yahweh to give him success in a manner that he clearly understood. It is therefore evident that Avraham's servant had faith in Yahweh responding to his prayers, indicating that he was indeed a worshipper of Yahweh.
Appropriate Respect Should Be Accorded To Yahweh In
Praying To Him
24:26-27 shows that in praising Yahweh in prayer, appropriate respect needs to be accorded to Yahweh. This can be shown, as seen from Avraham's servant's example, by bowing one's head and worshipping Yahweh. And not only can this be done in private, but also in the presence of another human being.
Consent For The Marriage Of A Woman Should Be
Obtained From Both Her And Her Family
24:41 shows that the authority of a woman marrying a particular man does not rest solely with the woman, but also with the woman's family. For in 24:8 it was seen that the woman had authority to decline to accompany Avraham's servant on his return journey, accompanying him in order to become Yitzchak's wife. Here in 24:41 it is seen that the woman's family likewise had authority to decline the marriage proposal. It therefore appears that in the case of a woman becoming married to a particular man, consent should be obtained from both the woman and her family.
Yahweh Hears Both Audible And Silent Prayers
24:45 shows that when Avraham's servant had prayed to Yahweh that Yahweh give him success in his mission, he had so prayed in his heart. Indicating that this prayer was not audible to the people accompanying him. Yet Yahweh heard his prayer and answered it. It is therefore evident that Yahweh hears both audible and silent prayers, prayers prayed in the heart.
Authority For Giving A Woman Away In Marriage Rests
With The Male Head Of Household
24:50-51 shows that it is the men in the household who had authority in determining whether or not the appointed woman would be given away in marriage to Yitzchak. In this case the men who so gave authority were the woman's father and her brother. The woman's father being head of the household, and the woman's brother being next in line in authority in the household with respect to this matter.
It Is Appropriate For One To Publicly Thank And
Praise Yahweh
24:52 shows Avraham's servant, after receiving confirmation from Rivka's father and brother that they had indeed accepted the marriage proposal, bowing to the earth to Yahweh in worship. In other words, he acknowledged his appreciation to Yahweh, for prospering his mission, by bowing himself to the earth. And this he did in public, in the presence of Rivka's family. It therefore appears that it is quite appropriate to show forth thanksgiving and praise to Yahweh by bowing oneself to the earth to Yahweh, even in the presence of other people.
Rivka's Family Understood That Rivka Had Authority
To Accept Or Decline The Marriage Proposal
24:58 shows that Rivka's family, after having accepted the marriage proposal, giving Rivka the opportunity to so accept or decline the marriage proposal. Rivka's family understanding of the marriage process was therefore in harmony with Avraham's understanding of it. That both the woman's family and the woman must be given due opportunity to accept a marriage proposal, seeing that both have authority in this matter.
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