________________
19
Genesis 24:19
har's son, 'to give me his own cave in Mach- SThe servant said to him, “What if the pelah at the edge of his field. Let him give it woman doesn't agree to come back with me to me for the full price, to be witnessed by to this land? Shouldn't I take your son back you, as my own burial property."
to the land you left?” Now Ephron was a native Hittite. So Abraham said to him, “Be sure you don't Ephron the Hittite responded to Abraham take my son back there. The LORD, God of publicly in order that the Hittites and ev- heaven—who took me from my father's eryone at his city's gate could hear: 11"No, household and from my family's land, who Sir. Listen, I will give you the field, and I spoke with me and who gave me his word, will give you the cave in it. In front of my saying, 'I will give this land to your descenpeople's witnesses, I will give it to you. Bury dants'—he will send his messenger in front your dead!"
of you, and you will find a wife for my son 12 Abraham bowed before the local citi- there. If the woman won't agree to come zens and spoke to Ephron publicly in the back with you, you will be free from this obpresence of the local citizens: "If only you ligation to me. Only don't take my son back would accept my offer. I will give you the there.” 'So the servant put his hand under price of the field. Take it from me so that I his master Abraham's thigh and gave him can bury my dead there."
his word about this mission. 14 Ephron responded to Abraham, 15“Sir, The servant took ten of his master's what is four hundred shekels of silver be- camels and all of his master's best provitween me and you for the land so that you sions, set out, and traveled to Nahor's city can bury your dead?” 16 Abraham accepted in Aram-naharaim. "He had the camels Ephron's offer and weighed out for Ephron kneel down outside the city at the well in the silver he requested publicly before the the evening, when women come out to draw Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver at water. He said, “LORD, God of my master the current rate of exchange.
Abraham, make something good happen 17So the field of Ephron in Machpelah for me today and be loyal to my master near Mamre—the field and the cave in it, Abraham. 13 I will stand here by the spring and all the trees within the field's bound- while the daughters of the men of the city aries—was officially transferred 18 to Abra- come out to draw water. 14When I say to a ham as his property in the presence of the young woman, 'Hand me your water jar so I Hittites and of everyone at his city's gate. can drink, and she says to me, 'Drink, and 19 After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah I will give your camels water too,' may she in the cave in the field of Machpelah near be the one you've selected for your servant Mamre, that is, Hebron, in the land of Ca- Isaac. In this way I will know that you've naan. 20 The field and the cave in it were been loyal to my master.” 15 Even before he officially transferred from the Hittites to finished speaking, Rebekah-daughter of Abraham as his burial property.
Bethuel the son of Milcah wife of Nahor,
Abraham's brother—was coming out with Isaac marries Rebekah
a water jar on her shoulder. 16 The young As the days went by and Abraham be- woman was very beautiful, old enough to
came older, the LORD blessed Abra- be married, and hadn't known a man intiham in every way. ?Abraham said to the mately. She went down to the spring, filled oldest servant of his household, who was in her water jar, and came back up. charge of everything he owned, “Put your 7 The servant ran to meet her and said, hand under my thigh. "By the LORD, God of "Give me a little sip of water from your jar.” heaven and earth, give me your word that She said, “Drink, sir.” Then she quickly you won't choose a wife for my son from lowered the water jar with her hands and the Canaanite women among whom I live. gave him some water to drink. When she "Go to my land and my family and find a finished giving him a drink, she said, “I'll wife for my son Isaac there."
draw some water for your camels too, till