Genesis 24:30 - Printer Friendly

ESV: As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister 's arms, and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, "Thus the man spoke to me," he went to the man. And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

NIV: As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring.

NASB: When he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, 'This is what the man said to me,' he went to the man; and behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

CSB: As soon as he had seen the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he had heard his sister Rebekah’s words—"The man said this to me!"—he went to the man. He was standing there by the camels at the spring.

NLT: He had seen the nose-ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man had said. So he rushed out to the spring, where the man was still standing beside his camels.

KJV: And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

NKJV: So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus the man spoke to me,” that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well.

Rebekah has come home to tell her family about some exciting news. A traveler gave her expensive gifts after she unknowingly served as the answer to his prayer (Genesis 24:12–23). His quest is to find a wife for Isaac, the son of his master, Abraham (Genesis 24:3–4). This news results in Rebekah's brother, Laban, coming to the well to meet the man in question.

Although Laban will eagerly offer hospitality to Abraham's servant, much as Rebekah has done, this verse gives us reasons to be wary of Laban's motives. Is he simply wanting to welcome in the messenger of a distant relative, or is he most excited by the wealth suggested by the expensive gifts given to Rebekah and her story about the ten camels? To this point, the only information Laban apparently knows is that a rich and generous man wants to stay at his home overnight. There has been no mention made, yet, that the man is seeking a bride for Isaac, back in the land of Canaan.

In any case, Laban quickly finds Abraham's servant waiting by the spring.

Genesis 24:28–59 describes how Abraham's servant, confident he has found God's intended woman for Abraham's son, approaches Rebekah's family to ask for her hand in marriage to Isaac. After being welcomed into their household, the servant tells, in great detail, the story of how God has lead him to Rebekah and their home. Rebekah's father and brother quickly agree that they must allow this marriage to happen. After a bit of negotiation the next morning about when Rebekah will travel to Canaan, Rebekah agrees to leave that very day.

Abraham asks his most trusted servant to travel to his former homeland to find a wife for his son Isaac. Swearing to do so, the servant arrives at the city of Nahor and asks the Lord to show him which young women is appointed for Isaac. Finding Rebekah, the very granddaughter of Abraham's brother Nahor, the servant reveals the reason for his journey to her family. Her father Bethuel and brother Laban agree to allow Rebekah to travel to Canaan and marry Isaac, which she does.

Genesis 24 takes place a few years after Sarah has died. Abraham becomes urgent to find Isaac a wife, not among the women of Canaan, but from his own people back in Mesopotamia. His trusted servant, sent to accomplish this mission with the help of the Lord, eventually returns with Rebekah, the granddaughter of Abraham's own brother. Isaac is married to her at the age of 40. Abraham's death is recorded in the following chapter.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.