Abraham, now really old, calls his senior servant to him (the NASB identifies this person as Eliezer of Damascus) and orders him to find a wife for his son Isaac and makes him swear that it shall not be anyone from Canaan but that he will go back to Abraham’s birthplace to seek her. He makes his servant seal this oath by placing his “hand under my thigh.” The NASB indicates this is to be taken literally; the JSB specifies that this is actually a euphemism for grasping Abraham’s penis to complete the vow.
Abraham further specifies that the woman found must return to Abraham’s land and that only if the woman found does not agree to return with him should he be released from his vow. The servant thus sets off to Nahor. Once there, he sets down to water the camels and kneels to say a prayer. He asks the Lord to guide him in his quest. The servant says that he will ask a woman coming to the well for a drink and asks that God’s chosen should not only offer him a drink but also offer to water the camels. The words are barely from the servant’s mouth when Rebekah, the daughter of Abraham’s nephew Bethuel, should appear. The servant asks her the proposed question and she gives the appropriate answer, marking her in the servant’s mind as the chosen wife.
The servant offers her a gold nose-ring [JSB] or a gold ring [NASB] and two gold arm-bands [JSB] or two gold bracelets [NASB] and asks who her parents are and if there is room for his retinue to encamp with her household for the night. She replies with her parentage and indicates there is room for him. Rebekah runs inside to tell the family of the stranger and the sight of the gold jewelry immediately activates the hospitality of all. Before eating, the servant relates his story and asks if Rebekah will leave with him. The family consents and in return all are showered with rich gifts of gold and silver. She then receives the blessings of her family and departs. The party returns uneventfully to their home where Isaac takes Rebekah as his wife.
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