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.
1 Un Ābrahāms bija vecs, padzīvojis vīrs, un tas Kungs Ābrahāmu bija svētījis pie visa.
2 Un Ābrahāms teica savam kalpam, sava nama vecākajam, kas pārvaldīja it visu, kas tam piederēja: „Liec savu roku zem manas ciskas
3 Un zvēri man pie Dieva Kunga, debesu Dieva un zemes Dieva, ka tu manam dēlam neņemsi sievu no kānaāniešu meitām, kūru vidū es dzīvoju,
4 Bet ka tu iesi uz manu zemi un pie maniem cilts piederīgiem un tur ņemsi sievu manam dēlam īzākam.“
5 Tad kalps sacīja: „Varbūt sieva nevēlēsies nākt man iīdzi uz šo zemi, vai man tad tavu dēlu aizvest atpakaļ uz zemi, no kuras tu esi iznācis?“
6 Un Ābrahāms sacīja viņam: „Sargies, ka tu neaizved manu dēlu turp.
7 Dievs, Debesu Kungs, kas mani izvedis no mana tēva nama un no manas cilts novadiem, un kas sacījis man, un zvērējis man, sacīdams: Taviem pēcnācējiem Es došu šo zemi, Tas sūtīs savu eņģeli tev pa priekšu, kad tu ņemsi manam dēlam sievu no turienes.
8 Bet ja sieva negribēs tev sekot, tad tu no šī mana zvēresta būsi brīvs, tikai manu dēlu neved turp atpakaļ.“
9 Un kalps lika savu roku zem sava kunga Ābrahāma ciskas un apstiprināta ar zvērestu visus šos solījumus.
10 Un kalps paņēma desmit kamieļus no sava kunga kamieļu pulka un devās ceļā, līdzi paņēmis visādas sava kunga mantas, un viņš cēlās un nonāca Mezopotamijā Nahora pilsētā.
11 Un viņš lika kamieļiem apmesties pilsētas ārpusē, pie akas, pret vakaru, laikā, kad ūdens smēlējas mēdza nākt,
12 Un sacīja: „Dievs Kungs, mana kunga Ābrahāma Dievs, liec, lai man šodien veicas, un parādi žēlastību manam kungam Ābrahāmam.
13 Lūk, te es stāvu pie ūdens avota, un pilsētas iedzīvotāju meitas nāks smelt ūdeni.
14 Tad lai notiek, ka tā meita, kurai es teikšu: Padod savu trauku, es gribu dzert, un tā sācis: Dzer, un es padzirdīšu arī tavus kamieļus, būtu tā, kuru Tu esi novēlējis savam kalpam īzākam, un pēc tā es zinātu, ka Tu esi žēlastību parādījis manam kungam.“
15 Un notika, ickāms viņš bija beidzis runāt, ka nāca Rebeka; viņa bija Betuēla meita, kas bija Milkas un Ābrahāma brāļa Nahora dēls, un tai uz pleca bija ūdens trauks.
16 Un meita bija ļoti skaista izskata jaunava, kuru neviens nebija aizticis, un tā nokāpa akā, piepildīja savu ūdens trauku ar ūdeni un kāpa ārā.
17 Un kalps skrēja tai pretim un sacīja: „Lauj man drusku nodzerties no tava trauka.“
18 Tad viņa atbildēja: „Dzer, mans kungs!“ Veikli viņa nolaida trauku savā rokā un padzirdīja viņu.
19 Un kad viņa bija beigusi dot viņam dzert, tā teica: „Es pasmelšu arī taviem kamieļiem, līdz tie būs padzēruši.“
20 Un tā steidzās un izlēja savu trauku dzirdāmā silē un tecēja vēl reiz uz avotu, lai smeltu no jauna, un tā smēla visiem viņa kamieļiem.
21 Bet vīrs noraudzījās viņā klusēdams, lai dabūtu zināt, vai Dievs licis izdoties viņa ceļam, vai ne.
22 Un lūk, kad kamieļi bija beiguši dzert, vīrs paņēma zelta pieres sprādzi pus seķeļa svarā un divas zelta rokas sprādzes viņas rokām desmit seķeļu svarā
23 Un sacīja: „Kā meita tu esi? Un saki man, vai tava tēva namā ir vieta, kur mēs varētu pārnakšņot?“
24 Un tā atbildēja: „Es esmu Betuēla meita, kas ir Milkas dēls, kuru tā dzemdēja Nahoram.“
25 Un viņa sacīja tam: „Arī salmu un siena ir pie mums pietiekamā daudzumā, kā arī vietas gana pārnakšņošanai.“
26 Tad tas vīrs noliecās un nometās ceļos tā Kunga priekšā
27 Un sacīja: „Slavēts lai Kungs Dievs, mana kunga Ābrahāma Dievs, kas savu žēlastības solījumu nav aizmirsis un nav atrāvis savu uzticību manam kungam; taisnā ceļā tas Kungs mani ir novedis mana kunga brāļa namā!“
28 Bet jaunava skrēja un paziņoja mātei mājās, kas bija noticis.
29 Un Rebekai bija brālis, vārdā Lābans, un Lābans steidzās pie vīra ārā pie avota.
30 Bet kad tas ieraudzīja pieres sprādzi un rokas sprādzes uz savas māsas rokām un dzirdēja savas māsas Rebekas stāstu: „Tā un tā tas vīrs uz mani runājis,“ —tad tas izgāja pie tā vīra. Bet tas stāvēja pie kamieļiem pie akas, un Lābans teica:
31 „Nāc iekšā, tu, tā Kunga svētītais! Kādēļ tu gribi ārā stāvēt? Jo es esmu uzposis namu un vietu kamieļiem.“
32 Un vīrs devās uz māju, viņi nosegloja kamielus un deva salmus un sienu kamieļiem, ari ūdeni, lai tas nomazgātu savas kājas, tāpat arī vīriem, kas bija ar viņu, kāju mazgāšanai.
33 Bet kad viņam lika priekšā ēdienu, viņš sacīja: „Es neēdīšu, pirms nebūšu pateicis, kādā lietā es esmu še.“ Tie sacīja: „Runā!“
34 Viņš sacīja: „Es esmu Ābrahāma kalps.
35 Un tas Kungs manu kungu ir ļoti bagāti svētījis, tas ir audzis augumā, jo Viņš tam ir devis sīklopus un liellopus, sudrabu un zeltu, kalpus un kalpones, kamieļus un ēzeļus.
36 Un mana kunga sieva Sāra dzemdējusi manam kungam dēlu, kad tas jau bija sirmgalvis. Tam viņš novēlējis visu, kas tam ir.
37 Un mans kungs lika man zvērēt piekodinot: Tev nebūs manam dēlam sievu ņemt no Kānaāna meitām, kaut ari es dzīvoju viņu zemē.
38 Bet tev būs noiet uz mana tēva namu un manu cilti, lai manam dēlam gūtu sievu.
39 Es iebildu savam kungam: Varbūt šī sieva nesekos man?
40 Tad viņš sacīja man: Tas Kungs, kura priekšā esmu staigājis, Viņš sūtīs savu eņģeli tev līdz un liks tavam ceļam labi izdoties, ka tu varēsi manam dēlam gūt sievu no manas cilts un no mana tēva nama.
41 Tikai tad tu būsi atbrīvots no sava zvēresta, ja tu gan nonāksi pie manas cilts, bet tie tev to nedotu; tad tu būsi no zvēresta solījuma brīvs.
42 Un es šodien nonācu pie akas un sacīju: Kungs, mana kunga Ābrahāma Dievs, ja Tu gribi būt tas, kas manam ceļam ļaus sekmēties, kuru esmu uzņēmies,
43 Redzi, es stāvu te pie ūdens avota; lai tad notiktu, ka tā jaunava, kura iznāks smelt ūdeni un kurai es teikšu: Dodi, lūdzama, man nodzerties no tava trauka,
44 Lai viņa man atbildētu: Dzer, un arī tavus kamieļus es gribu dzirdīt, un ir tā sieva, kuru tas Kungs ir izraudzījis mana kunga dēlam.
45 Un iekāms es biju pabeidzis savā sirdī tā spriest, lūk, nāca Rebeka, un trauks tai bija uz viņas pleca, un viņa nokāpa akā un smēla ūdeni, bet es viņai sacīju: Dodi, lūdzu, ari man dzert.
46 Tad tā steidzās un nolaida trauku un sacīja: Dzer, un ari taviem kamieļiem es došu dzert. Un es padzēros un arī manus kamieļus tā padzirdīja.
47 Tad es jautāju viņai un sacīju: Kā meita tu esi? Un tā atbildēja: Milkas, un es liku viņai pieres sprādzi pie vaiga un rokas sprādzes ap viņas rokām.
48 Un es noliecos un nometos ceļos tā Kunga, mana pavēlnieka Ābrahāma Kunga priekšā, un slavēju to Kungu, kas mani bija vadījis pa taisnu ceļu, lai ņemtu brāļa meitu mana kunga dēlam par sievu.
49 Bet tagad, ja jūs patiesi gribat mīlestību un uzticību parādīt manam kungam, pasakiet to man; un arī ja ne, paziņojiet, lai es varētu doties pa labi vai pa kfeisi.“
50 Un Lābans un Betuēls atbildēja un sacīja: „No tā Kunga tas ir nācis, —mēs nevaram tev teikt ne labu, ne ļaunu.
51 Lūk, Rebeka stāv tavā priekšā; ņem to un ej. Un viņa lai ir tava kunga dēla sieva, kā tas Kungs to ir gribējis.“
52 Un notika, kad Ābrahāma kalps dzirdēja viņu vārdus, ka tas nometās zemē tā Kunga priekšā.
53 Pēc tam tas izņēma visas sudraba un visas zelta dārglietas un drēbes un deva tās Rebekai un deva dārgas dāvanas ari viņas brālim un viņas mātei.
54 Un viņi ēda un dzēra—viņš un arī tie vīri, kas bija ar viņu, un tie palika pa nakti, un no rīta tie piecēlās un sacīja: „Atlaidiet mūs uz mūsu mājām.“
55 Bet viņas brālis un viņas māte sacīja: „Ļauj, lai meitene paliek kādas pāris desmit dienas vēl pie mums, pēc tu varēsi ict.“
56 Bet viņš sacīja tiem: „Neaizturiet mani! Tas Kungs manam ceļam ir licis labi izdoties, atlaidiet mani, ka es noeimu pie sava kunga.“
57 Tad tie sacīja: „Ataicināsim meiteni un jautāsim viņai.“
58 Un viņi pasauca Rebeku un jautāja viņai: „Vai tu gribi sekot šim vīram?“ Un viņa atbildēja: „Es iešu.“
59 Un tie atlaida Rebeku un tās aukli un Ābrahāma kalpu un tos vīrus, kas tam bija.
60 Un viņi svētīja Rebeku un sacīja viņai: „Tu, mūsu māsa, topi par tūkstošiem un simtstūkstošiem, un lai tavi pēcnācēji ieņem savu naidnieku vārtus.“
61 Un Rebeka cēlās ar savām kalponēm un sēdās uz kamieļiem un jāja aiz kalpa. Tā tas kalps, paņēmis Rebeku, devās ceļā.
62 Bet īzāks nāca no Lechaj-roi avota, jo viņš bija Negeba iemītnieks.
63 Īzāks ap vakara laiku bija izgājis laukā Dievu pielūgt. Tas pacēla savas acis un ieraudzīja tanī brīdī kamieļus nākam.
64 Un Rebeka pacēla savas acis un, ieraudzījusi īzāku, nolaidās no kamieļa.
65 Un viņa sacīja kalpam: „Kas ir šis virs, kas tur staigā pa lauku, kas nāk mums pretim?“ Un kalps atbildēja: „Tas ir mans kungs.“
66 Tad viņa paņēma savu plīvuru un apsedzās.
67 Un kalps izstāstīja īzākam visu, ko bija darījis.
68 Un īzāks veda Rebeku uz savas mātes telti, un viņš to ņēma, un tā kļuva viņa sieva, un vinš to mīlēja. Tā īzāks atguva mieru pēc savas mātes nāves.
