Genesis 24:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.”

NIV: After she had given him a drink, she said, 'I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.'

NASB: Now when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, 'I will also draw water for your camels until they have finished drinking.'

CSB: When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I'll also draw water for your camels until they have had enough to drink."

NLT: When she had given him a drink, she said, 'I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.'

KJV: And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

NKJV: And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.”

This is the moment Abraham's servant has been waiting for. Though, to be honest, he hasn't been waiting long. He had asked God that the girl destined to marry his master's son, Isaac, would respond to his request for water by offering to water his ten camels, as well (Genesis 24:12–14). Before he has even finished this prayer, an attractive young woman appeared at the well: Rebekah. So, the servant decides to begin immediately and ask the woman for water. She quickly complies, while Abraham's servant waits to see if she offers to water the camels.

Now Rebekah does exactly that! Without being asked, she offers to draw water for his camels until they have finished drinking. With one water jar and ten thirsty camels, that is no small task. It could take a while. By God's grace, the servant has found God's bride for his master's son almost immediately after arriving at his destination.

Rebekah doesn't know that, yet, of course. And the mission is not yet complete. The servant still has work to do, convincing Rebekah and her family to accept a marriage proposal and a long journey.

Genesis 24:10–27 follows Abraham's servant from Canaan to Mesopotamia on his mission to find a wife for Isaac from among Abraham's people. Arriving at the town of Nahor, the servant prays that God will reveal the right woman by allowing her to be the one to offer to water his ten camels without being asked. A young woman named Rebekah immediate does exactly that. When the servant learns this young woman is also the granddaughter of Abraham's brother Nahor, he quickly worships God for bringing him to the right woman in so little time.

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.