A Wife for Isaac
1 Abraham was now a very old man. The Lord had made him rich, and he was successful in everything he did. 2 One day, Abraham called in his most trusted servant and said to him, “Solemnly promise me 3 in the name of the Lord, who rules heaven and earth, that you won't choose a wife for my son Isaac from the people here in the land of Canaan. 4 Instead, go back to the land where I was born and find a wife for him from among my relatives.”
5 But the servant asked, “What if the young woman I choose refuses to leave home and come here with me? Should I send Isaac there to look for a wife?”
6 “No!” Abraham answered. “Don't ever do that, no matter what. 7 The Lord who rules heaven brought me here from the land where I was born and promised that he would give this land to my descendants forever. When you go back there, the Lord will send his angel ahead of you to help you find a wife for my son. 8 If the woman refuses to come along, you don't have to keep this promise. But don't ever take my son back there.” 9 So the servant gave Abraham his word that he would do everything he had been told to do.
10 Soon after that, the servant loaded ten of Abraham's camels with valuable gifts. Then he set out for the city in northern Syria, where Abraham's brother Nahor lived.
11 When he got there, he let the camels rest near the well outside the city. It was late afternoon, the time when the women came out for water. 12 The servant prayed:
You, Lord, are the God my master Abraham worships. Please keep your promise to him and let me find a wife for Isaac today. 13 The young women of the city will soon come to this well for water, 14 and I'll ask one of them for a drink. If she gives me a drink and then offers to get some water for my camels, I'll know she is the one you have chosen and that you have kept your promise to my master.
15-16 While he was still praying, a beautiful unmarried young woman came by with a water jar on her shoulder. She was Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Abraham's brother Nahor and his wife Milcah. Rebekah walked past Abraham's servant, then went over to the well, and filled her water jar. When she started back, 17 Abraham's servant ran to her and said, “Please let me have a drink of water.”
18 “I'll be glad to,” she answered. Then she quickly took the jar from her shoulder and held it while he drank. 19-20 After he had finished, she said, “Now I'll give your camels all the water they want.” She quickly poured out water for them, and she kept going back for more, until his camels had drunk all they wanted. 21 Abraham's servant did not say a word, but he watched everything Rebekah did, because he wanted to know for certain if this was the woman the Lord had chosen.
22 The servant had brought along an expensive gold ring and two large gold bracelets. When Rebekah had finished bringing the water, he gave her the ring for her nose and the bracelets for her arms. 23 Then he said, “Please tell me who your father is. Does he have room in his house for me and my men to spend the night?”
24 She answered, “My father is Bethuel, the son of Nahor and Milcah. 25 We have a place where you and your men can stay, and we also have enough straw and feed for your camels.”
26 Then the servant bowed his head and prayed, 27 “I thank you, Lord God of my master Abraham! You have led me to his relatives and kept your promise to him.”
28 Rebekah ran straight home and told her family everything. 29-30 Her brother Laban heard her tell what the servant had said, and he saw the ring and the bracelets she was wearing. So Laban ran out to Abraham's servant, who was standing by his camels at the well. 31 Then Laban said, “The Lord has brought you safely here. Come home with me. There's no need for you to keep on standing outside. I have a room ready for you in our house, and there's also a place for your camels.”
32 Abraham's servant went home with Laban, where Laban's servants unloaded his camels and gave them straw and feed. Then they brought water into the house, so Abraham's servant and his men could wash their feet. 33 After that, they brought in food. But the servant said, “Before I eat, I must tell you why I have come.”
“Go ahead and tell us,” Laban answered.
34 The servant explained:
I am Abraham's servant. 35 The Lord has been good to my master and has made him very rich. He has given him many sheep, goats, cattle, camels, and donkeys, as well as a lot of silver and gold, and many slaves. 36 Sarah, my master's wife, didn't have any children until she was very old. Then she had a son, and my master has given him everything. 37 I solemnly promised my master that I would do what he said. And he told me, “Don't choose a wife for my son from the women in this land of Canaan. 38 Instead, go back to the land where I was born and find a wife for my son from among my relatives.”
39 I asked my master, “What if the young woman refuses to come with me?”
40 My master answered, “I have always obeyed the Lord, and he will send his angel to help you find my son a wife from among my own relatives. 41 But if they refuse to let her come back with you, then you are freed from your promise.”
42 When I came to the well today, I silently prayed, “You, Lord, are the God my master Abraham worships, so please lead me to a wife for his son 43 while I am here at the well. When a young woman comes out to get water, I'll ask her to give me a drink. 44 If she gives me a drink and offers to get some water for my camels, I'll know she is the one you have chosen.”
45 Even before I had finished praying, Rebekah came by with a water jar on her shoulder. When she had filled the jar, I asked her for a drink. 46 She quickly lowered the jar from her shoulder and said, “Have a drink. Then I'll get water for your camels.” So I drank, and after that she got some water for my camels. 47 I asked her who her father was, and she answered, “My father is Bethuel the son of Nahor and Milcah.” At once I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms. 48 Then I bowed my head and gave thanks to the God my master Abraham worships. The Lord had led me straight to my master's relatives, and I had found a wife for his son.
49 Now please tell me if you are willing to do the right thing for my master. Will you treat him fairly, or do I have to look for another young woman?
50 Laban and Bethuel answered, “The Lord has done this. We have no choice in the matter. 51 Take Rebekah with you; she can marry your master's son, just as the Lord has said.” 52 Abraham's servant bowed down and thanked the Lord. 53 Then he gave clothing, as well as silver and gold jewelry, to Rebekah. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and her mother.
54 Abraham's servant and the men with him ate and drank, then spent the night there. The next morning they got up, and the servant told Rebekah's mother and brother, “I would like to go back to my master now.”
55 “Let Rebekah stay with us for a week or ten days,” they answered. “Then she may go.”
56 But he said, “Don't make me stay any longer. The Lord has already helped me find a wife for my master's son. Now let us return.”
57 They answered, “Let's ask Rebekah what she wants to do.” 58 They called her and asked, “Are you willing to leave with this man at once?”
“Yes,” she answered.
59 So they agreed to let Rebekah and an old family servant woman leave immediately with Abraham's servant and his men. 60 They gave Rebekah their blessing and said, “We pray that God will give you many children and grandchildren and that he will help them defeat their enemies.” 61 Afterwards, Rebekah and the young women who were to travel with her prepared to leave. Then they got on camels and left with Abraham's servant and his men.
62 At that time Isaac was living in the southern part of Canaan near a place called “The Well of the Living One Who Sees Me.” 63-65 One evening he was walking out in the fields, when suddenly he saw a group of people approaching on camels. So he started toward them. Rebekah saw him coming; she got down from her camel, and asked, “Who is that man?”
“He is my master Isaac,” the servant answered. Then Rebekah covered her face with her veil.
66 The servant told Isaac everything that had happened.
67 Isaac took Rebekah into the tent where his mother had lived before she died, and Rebekah became his wife. He loved her and was comforted over the loss of his mother.
زواج إسحق
1 وشاخَ إبراهيمُ وتقدَّمَ في السِّنِّ. وباركَ الرّبُّ إبراهيمَ في كُلِّ شيءٍ. 2 وقالَ إبراهيمُ لكبـيرِ خَدَمِ بَيتهِ ووكيلِ جميعِ أملاكهِ: «ضَعْ يَدكَ تَحتَ فَخذي 3 فأستَحلِفَك بالرّبِّ إلهِ السَّماءِ وإلهِ الأرضِ أنْ لا تأخُذَ زوجةً لابني مِنْ بَناتِ الكنعانيّينَ الّذينَ أنا مُقيمٌ بَينَهم، 4 بل إلى أرضي وإلى عَشيرتي تذهبُ وتأخُذُ زوجةً لابني إسحَقَ. 5 فقالَ لَه الخادمُ: رُبَّما أبَتِ المرأةُ أنْ تـتبعَني إلى هذِهِ الأرضِ، فهل أرجِـعُ بابنِكَ إلى الأرضِ الّتي جِئْتَ منها؟» 6 فقالَ لَه إبراهيمُ: «إيّاكَ أنْ ترجِـعَ بابني إلى هُناكَ. 7 فالرّبُّ إلهُ السَّماءِ الّذي أخذَني مِنْ بَيتِ أبـي ومِنْ مَسقَطِ رأسي، والّذي كلَّمني وأقسمَ لي قالَ: «لِنسلِكَ أُعطي هذِهِ الأرضَ، هوَ يُرسلُ ملاكَهُ أمامَكَ فتأخُذُ زوجةً لابني مِنْ هُناكَ. 8 وإنْ أبَتِ المرأةُ أنْ تَتْبعَك فأنتَ بريءٌ مِنْ يميني هذِهِ أمَّا ابني فلا ترجِـعْ بهِ إلى هُناكَ». 9 فوضَعَ الخادمُ يدَهُ تَحتَ فخذِ إبراهيمَ سيّدِهِ وحلَفَ لَه على ذلِكَ.
10 وأخَذَ الخادمُ عشَرةَ جِمالٍ مِنْ جِمالِ سيّدهِ وشيئا مِنْ خَيرِ ما عندَهُ وسارَ متوجِّها إلى أرامِ النَّهرينِ، إلى مدينةِ ناحورَ. 11 فأناخَ الجِمالَ في خارجِ المدينةِ على بئرِ الماءِ عِندَ الغُروبِ، وقتَ خروجِ النِّساءِ ليستقينَ ماءً. 12 وقالَ: «يا ربُّ، يا إلهَ سيّدي إبراهيمَ، وَفقْنِـي اليومَ وأحسِنْ إلى سيدي إبراهيمَ. 13 ها أنا واقِفٌ على عينِ الماءِ، وبناتُ أهلِ المدينةِ خارجاتٌ ليستقينَ ماءً، 14 فليكُنْ أنَّ الفتاةَ الّتي أقولُ لها: أميلي جرَّتَكِ لأشرَبَ، فتقولَ: اشربْ وأنا أسقي جِمالَكَ أيضا، تكونُ هيَ الّتي عيَّنتَها لعَبدِكَ إسحَقَ. وهكذا أعرفُ أنَّكَ أحسنْتَ إلى سيّدي».
15 وما كادَ يَتِمُّ كلامُهُ حتى خرجَت رِفقةُ وجرّتُها على كَتِفِها، وهي ابنةُ بتوئيلَ ابنِ مِلْكَةَ امرأةِ ناحورَ أخي إبراهيمَ. 16 وكانتِ الفتاةُ بِكْرا، جميلةَ المنظَرِ جدًّا، فنزلت إلى العَينِ وملأت جرَّتَها وصَعِدت. 17 فأسرَعَ الخادمُ إلى لِقائِها وقالَ: «أسقني شُربةَ ماءٍ مِنْ جرّتِكِ». 18 فقالت: «إشربْ يا سيّدي». وأسرعت فأنزلت جرّتَها على يدِها وسقتْهُ. 19 ولمَّا فرغت مِنْ سَقْيهِ قالت: «أستقي لجمالِكَ أيضا حتّى تشربَ كفايتَها». 20 فأسرعت وأفرغت جرّتَها في الحَوضِ وعادت مُسرِعةً إلى البئرِ لتستقيَ، فاستقت لجميعِ جِمالِهِ، 21 بَينما هوَ يتأمَّلُها صامتا ليعرفَ هل سَهَّلَ الرّبُّ طريقَهُ أم لا.
22 ولمَّا فرغتِ الجِمالُ مِنَ الشُّربِ أخذَ الرَّجلُ خُزامةً مِنْ ذهَبٍ وَزنُها نِصفُ مِثقالٍ وسوارَينِ ليدَيها وَزنُهُما عشَرَةُ مثاقيلَ ذهَبٍ، 23 وقالَ: «بنتُ مَنْ أنتِ؟ أخبريني، هل في بَيتِ أبـيكِ موضِعٌ نَبـيتُ فيهِ؟» 24 فقالت لَه: «أنا بنتُ بتوئيلَ ابنِ مِلْكةَ امرأةِ ناحورَ». 25 وقالت لَه: «عِندَنا كثيرٌ مِنَ التِّبنِ والعَلَفِ وموضِـعٌ للمَبـيتِ أيضا». 26 فركعَ الرَّجلُ ساجدا للرّبِّ 27 وقالَ: «تبارَكَ الرّبُّ إلهُ سيّدي إبراهيمَ فهوَ لم يمنعْ رأفتَهُ وإحسانَهُ عَنْ سيّدي، فهداني في طريقي إلى بَيتِ أخيهِ».
28 فأسرعتِ الفتاةُ إلى بَيتِ أُمِّها وأخبرتْ بما جرى. 29 وكانَ لرفقةَ أخٌ اسمُهُ لابانُ، فخرَجَ لابانُ مُسرِعا إلى الرَّجلِ، إلى العَينِ، 30 حالما رأى الخُزامةَ في أنفِ أُختهِ والسوارَينِ في يَديَها وسَمِعَها تقولُ: «هذا ما قالهُ الرَّجلُ لي»، فوجدَ الرَّجلَ واقفا معَ الجِمالِ عِندَ العَينِ. 31 فقالَ لَه: «أُدخُلْ يا مَنْ باركَهُ الرّبُّ، لماذا تقِفُ هُنا في الخارجِ وأنا هَيَّأتُ البَيتَ وموضِعا لجِمالِكَ؟» 32 وأدخَلَ الرَّجلَ إلى البَيتِ وحَلَّ عَنْ جِمالِه، وجاءَ بالتِّبنِ والعَلَفِ، وأعطى الرَّجلَ ماءً لِغَسلِ رجليهِ وأرجُلِ الّذينَ معهُ.
33 ولمّا جيءَ بالطَّعامِ قالَ الرَّجلُ: «لا آكُلُ حتى أقولَ ما عِندي». فقالَ لَه لابانُ: «تكلَّمْ». 34 قالَ: «أنا خادمُ إبراهيمَ، 35 والرّبُّ بارَكَ سيّدي كثيرا فاغتنى. أعطاهُ غنَما وبقَرا وفضَّةً وذهَبا وعبـيدا وإماءً وجِمالا وحميرا. 36 وولَدت لَه سارةُ امرأتُهُ ابنا بعدما شاخت، فأعطاهُ سيّدي جميعَ ما يملِكُ. 37 واستحْلَفني سيّدي قالَ: لا تأخُذْ لابني زوجةً مِنْ بَناتِ الكنعانيّينَ الّذينَ أنا مُقيمٌ بأرضِهِم، 38 بل إلى بَيتِ أبـي وإلى عَشيرتي تذهبُ وتأخُذُ زوجةً لابني. 39 فقلتُ لسيّدي؛ رُبَّما أبَتِ المرأةُ أنْ تـتبعَني. 40 فقالَ لي: الرّبُّ الّذي سلكْتُ أمامَه يُرسلُ ملاكَهُ مَعكَ ويُسهِّلُ طريقَكَ، فتأخُذُ زوجةً لابني مِنْ عَشيرتي ومِنْ بَيتِ أبـي. 41 وبذلِكَ تبرأُ مِنْ يمينِكَ التي حَلَفْتَها لي، وإذا جِئتَ إلى عَشيرتي ولم يُعطوكَ كُنتَ بريئا أيضا مِنْ يمينِكَ. 42 فجِئتُ اليومَ إلى العينِ وقلتُ: يا ربُّ، يا إلهَ سيّدي إبراهيمَ، أرني إنْ كُنتَ تُسهِّلُ طريقي هذِهِ. 43 ها أنا واقفٌ على عَينِ الماءِ، فالصَّبـيَّةُ الّتي تَخرجُ لِتَستقيَ وأقولُ لها: اسقيني شُربةَ ماءٍ مِنْ جرّتِكِ، 44 فتقولُ لي: إشربْ وأنا أستقي لِجمالِكَ أيضا تكونُ هيَ المرأةُ التي عيَّنَها الرّبُّ لابنِ سيّدي.
45 وما كُدْتُ أنتهي مِنَ الكلامِ في قلبـي حتّى خرَجت رِفقةُ وجرّتُها على كَتِفِها، فنزلت إلى العَينِ واستقت. فقلتُ لها: إسقيني. 46 فأسرعت وأنزلت جرّتَها وقالت: إشربْ وأنا أسقي جِمالَكَ، فشربْتُ، وسقَتِ الجِمالَ أيضا. 47 فسألْتُها: بنتُ مَنْ أنتِ؟ فقالت: بنتُ بتوئيلَ بنِ ناحورَ ومِلْكَةَ. فوضعْتُ الخُزامَةَ في أنفِها والسِّوارَينِ في يَدَيها، 48 وركعْتُ وسجدْتُ للرّبِّ إلهِ سيّدي إبراهيمَ وباركْتُه لأنَّه هداني سَواءَ السبـيلِ لآخذَ ابنةَ أخيهِ لابنِه. 49 والآنَ إنْ كُنتُم تـترأفونَ بسيّدي وتُحسِنونَ إليهِ فأخبروني، وإ لا فأنصرف عَنكُم يَمينا أو شِمالا».
50 فأجابَ لابانُ وبتوئيلُ: «مِنْ عِندِ الرّبِّ صدرَ الأمرُ، فلا نقدِرُ أنْ نقولَ فيهِ شَرًّا أو خَيرا. 51 هذِهِ رفقةُ أمامَكَ. خُذْها واذهبْ فتكونَ زوجةً لابنِ سيّدِكَ كما قالَ الرّبُّ». 52 فلمَّا سمِعَ خادمُ إبراهيمَ كلامَهُم سجَدَ للرّبِّ إلى الأرضِ 53 وأخرَجَ حُلى مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وذهَبٍ وثيابا فأهداها إلى رفقةَ، وأهدى تُحَفا ثمينةً إلى أخيها وأُمِّها.
54 وبَعدَما أكلَ الرَّجلُ والّذينَ معهُ وشربوا، باتوا ليلَتَهم وقاموا صباحا فقالَ الرَّجلُ: «دَعوني أرجِـعُ إلى سيّدي». 55 فقالَ أخو رفقةَ وأمُّها: «تبقى الفتاةُ عِندَنا أيّاما ولو عشَرَةً، وبَعدَ ذلِكَ تمضي». 56 فقالَ لهُم: «لا تؤخِّروني والرّبُّ سهَّلَ طريقي. دعوني أرجعُ إلى سيّدي». 57 فقالوا: «ندعو الفتاةَ ونسألُها ماذا تقولُ». 58 فدعَوا رفقةَ وقالوا لها: «هَل تذهبـينَ معَ هذا الرَّجلِ؟» قالت: «أذهبُ». 59 فصرفوا رفقةَ أختَهُم ومُرضِعتَها وخادمَ إبراهيمَ ورجالَه. 60 وباركوا رفقةَ وقالوا لها: «أنتِ أختُنا. كوني أُمًّا لألوفٍ مؤلَّفةٍ، وليَرِثْ نسلُكِ مُدُنَ أعدائِهِ».
61 قامت رفقةُ وجواريها، فركِبْنَ الجِمالَ وتبِــعْنَ الرَّجلَ وأخذَ الرَّجلُ رفقةَ ومضَى.
62 وكانَ إسحَقُ مُقيما بأرضِ النَّقبِ جنوبا. وبـينما هوَ راجعٌ مِنْ طريقِ بئرِ الحيّ الرَّائي، 63 حيثُ خرَجَ يتمشَّى في البرِّيَّةِ عِندَ المساءِ، رفَعَ عينيهِ ونظَرَ فرأى جِمالا مُقبلةً نحوَهُ. 64 ورفعت رفقَةُ عَينَيها، فلمَّا رأت إسحَقَ نزلت عنِ الجمَلِ. 65 وسألتِ الخادمَ: «مَنْ هذا الرَّجلُ الماشي في البرِّيَّةِ للقائِنا؟» فأجابَها: «هوَ سيّدي». فأخذت رفقةُ البُرقُعَ وسَتَرَت وجهَها. 66 وبَعدَما روى الخادمُ لإسحَقَ كُلَّ ما جرى لَه، 67 أدخلَ إسحَقُ رفقةَ إلى خِباءِ سارةَ أمِّهِ وأخذَها زوجةً لَه. وأحبَّها إسحَقُ وتعزَّى بها عن فُقدانِ أُمِّه.
