Then the girl quickly ran to inform her mother and family about all that had happened. Now Rebekah had an older brother named Laban, and when he heard everything the man had told his sister and saw her gold nose ring and the costly bracelets dangling on her wrists, Laban ran out to meet the man waiting at the well—and there he was standing beside his camels.
Then Laban said to the man, “Friend, YAHWEH has wonderfully blessed you; please, come to my home. Why are you standing out here when I have prepared the house for you and a place for your camels?” So the man came into the house, and his camels were unloaded and given straw and feed. The servants brought water to wash the man’s feet and the feet of the men with him.
But when they set food before him, he said, “I won’t eat until I tell you why I’m here.”
“Please, tell us,” Laban said.
“I am Abraham’s servant,” he began. “YAHWEH has wonderfully blessed my master, and he has become extremely wealthy. YAHWEH has given him flocks and herds, camels and donkeys, a fortune in silver and gold, and many male and female servants. And my master’s wife, Sarah, has miraculously borne him a son in her old age, and my master’s son is the sole heir of his fortune. My master has put me under an oath saying, ‘Do not get a wife for my son from among the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am living. Instead, go to my relatives in my native land and find a wife among them for my son.’ In reply I said to my master, ‘Suppose the woman refuses to return with me.’ He answered me, ‘YAHWEH, in whose presence I have walked all these years, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful. You will find a wife for my son from among my relatives, my father’s family. If you go to my relatives, and they will not give her to you, then and only then will you be released from this oath.’ So, when I arrived at the well today, I prayed, ‘O YAHWEH, God of my master Abraham, make my mission a success. I’m here standing at this well. May the right girl for my master’s son come out to draw water. And when she does, I will say to her “Please give me a little drink from your jar.” And if she replies, saying, “Drink, and I will also draw water for your camels,” then I might know that she is the young woman YAHWEH has chosen for my master’s son.’
“Before I had even finished my heartfelt prayer, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder! After she went down to the well and filled her jar, I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ She quickly lowered her jar and said, ‘Drink, and I will also draw water for your camels.’ So, I drank, and she also watered the camels. Then I asked her, ‘Tell me, who is your father?’ She said, ‘I’m the daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ When I learned she was of my master’s family, I put a gold ring in her nose and gold bracelets on her wrists, and I bowed before YAHWEH and worshiped him. I praised YAHWEH, the God of my master Abraham, who led me perfectly on the right path to find the very daughter of my master’s brother to marry his son. Now, if you will show faithful love to my master and do what is right, then give me permission to take Rebekah back to his land. If not, tell me, and I will go on my way.”
Bible App
Bible App for Kids
