pitcher, and was coming back. The servant ran to meet her, and said: "Give me a little water to drink out of thy pitcher." And she answered: "Drink, my lord." And quickly she let down the pitcher upon her arm, and gave him to drink. And when he had drunk, she said: "I will draw water for thy camels also till they all drink." And pouring out the pitcher into the trough, she ran back to the well to draw water; and having drawn, she gave to all the camels. But he, musing, beheld her with silence, desirous to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not. And after that the camels had drunk, the man took out two golden ear-rings and two bracelets and said to her: Whose daughter art thou? tell me. Is there any place in thy father's house to lodge?" And she answered: "I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Nachor; and we have good store both of straw and hay and a large place to lodge in." The man bowed himself down and adored the Lord, saying: "Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not taken away His mercy and truth from my master, and hath brought me the straight way to the house of my master's brother." Then the maid ran and told in her mother's house all that she had heard. And Rebecca had a brother named Laban. And when Rebecca's brother had seen the ear-rings and bracelets in his sister's hands, and had heard all that she related, saying, "Thus and thus the man spoke to me," he made haste and went out to the man who stood by the camels, and came MARRIAGE OF ISAAC AND REBECCA. 59 near to the spring of water, and said to him: "Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; why standest thou without? I have prepared thee a house, and a place for the camels." And he brought him into his lodging, unharnessed his camels, gave them hay and straw, and water to wash his feet, and the feet of the men that were come with him, and bread was set before them. But he said, "I will not eat till I tell my message." He answered him: "Speak." And he said: "I am the servant of Abraham; and the Lord hath blessed my master wonderfully, and he is become great; and He hath given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, menservants and women-servants, camels and asses. And Sara, my master's wife, hath borne my master a son in her old age, and he hath given him all that he hath. And my master made me swear, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell; but thou shalt go to my father's house, and shalt take a wife of my own kindred for my son. But I answered my master, What if the maiden will not come with me? The Lord, said he, in whose sight I walk, will send His angel with thee, and will direct thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my own kindred and of my father's house. But thou shalt be clear from my curse, when thou shalt come to my kindred, if they will not give thee one. And I came to day to the well of water, and said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, if Thou hast prospered my way wherein I now walk, behold I stand by the well of water; and the maiden that shall come to draw out water, who shall hear me say, 'Give me a little water to drink out of thy pitcher,' and shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels,' let the same be the woman whom the Lord hath prepared for my master's son. And whilst I pondered on these things secretly with myself, Rebecca appeared, coming with a pitcher which she carried on her shoulders; and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, Give me a little to drink. And she speedily let down the pitcher from her shoulder, and said to me, Both_drink_thou, and I will draw water for thy camels. I drank, and she watered the camels. And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? And she answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel the son of Nachor. So I put ear-rings on her to adorn her face, and I put bracelets on her hands; and falling down, I adored the Lord, blessing the Lord of my master Abraham, who hath brought me the straight way to take the daughter of my master's brother for his son. Wherefore if you will do according to mercy and truth with my master, tell me; but if it please you otherwise, tell me that also, that I may go to the right hand or to the left." And Laban and Bathuel answered: "The word hath proceeded from the Lord; we cannot speak unto thee any other thing but His pleasure. Behold, Rebecca is before thee, take her, and go thy way; and let her be the wife of thy master's son, as the Lord has spoken." Which when Abraham's servant heard, falling down to the ground, he adored the Lord. And MARRIAGE OF ISAAC AND REBECCA. 61 bringing forth vessels of silver and gold, and garments, he gave them to Rebecca for a present; he offered gifts also to her brothers and to her mother. And a banquet was made, and they ate and drank together, and he lodged there. And in the morning the servant arose and said: "Let me depart, that I may go to my master." And her brother and mother answered: "Let the maid stay at least ten days with us, and afterwards she shall depart." "Stay me not," said he, "for the Lord hath prospered my way: send me away, that I may go to my master." And they said: "Let us call the maid, and ask her will." And they called her; and when she was come, they asked: "Wilt thou go with this man?" She said: "I will go." So they sent her away, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his company, wishing prosperity to their sister, and saying: "Thou art our sister; mayest thou increase to thousands and thousands, and may thy seed possess the gates of their enemies." So Rebecca and her maids set out upon the camels and followed Abraham's servant, who with all speed returned to his master. At the same time, Isaac was walking along the way of the well called of the "Living and Seeing," for he dwelt in the south country; and he was gone forth to meditate in the fields, the day being far spent; and when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw the camels coming afar off. Rebecca, also, when she saw Isaac, lighted off the camel, and said to the servant: "Who is that man who cometh towards us along the field?" And he said to her: "That man is my master." She quickly took her |