וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בָּר֤וּךְ יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹֽא־עָזַ֥ב חַסְדּ֛וֹ וַאֲמִתּ֖וֹ מֵעִ֣ם אֲדֹנִ֑י אָנֹכִ֗י בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ נָחַ֣נִי יְהוָ֔ה בֵּ֖ית אֲחֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי׃

He said: Blessed is the Lord, God of my master Abraham, who did not withhold His kindness and His truth from my master. I have been guided by the Lord on the proper and correct way, and He ensured that I traveled to the very house of my master’s brethren.

וַתָּ֙רָץ֙ הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ וַתַּגֵּ֖ד לְבֵ֣ית אִמָּ֑הּ כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

The girl ran and told her mother’s household akin to these matters.

וּלְרִבְקָ֥ה אָ֖ח וּשְׁמ֣וֹ לָבָ֑ן וַיָּ֨רָץ לָבָ֧ן אֶל־הָאִ֛ישׁ הַח֖וּצָה אֶל־הָעָֽיִן׃

Rebecca had a brother and his name was Laban. It can be inferred from the continuation of the story that Laban was the firstborn, as well as the dominant figure in the family. And Laban ran out to the man, to the spring. After Rebecca ran to her home, her brother ran from the house to discover more about the mysterious man who had arrived from afar, given gifts to his sister, questioned her, and requested to lodge in their house.

וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כִּרְאֹ֣ת אֶת־הַנֶּ֗זֶם וְֽאֶת־הַצְּמִדִים֮ עַל־יְדֵ֣י אֲחֹתוֹ֒ וּכְשָׁמְע֗וֹ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֞י רִבְקָ֤ה אֲחֹתוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּֽה־דִבֶּ֥ר אֵלַ֖י הָאִ֑ישׁ וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־הָאִ֔ישׁ וְהִנֵּ֛ה עֹמֵ֥ד עַל־הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים עַל־הָעָֽיִן׃

Perhaps in his role as the older brother Laban wanted to ensure that everything would transpire in an appropriate and ethical manner, and it was for this reason that he ran to greet the servant. However, it is also possible that his motivations were less pure. It was when he saw the nose ring and the bracelets upon his sister’s hands, an indication of wealth, and when he heard the words of Rebecca his sister, saying: So spoke the man to me, that he asked me certain questions, prayed, and engaged in other activities, but he did not relate any information about himself, that he, Laban, came to the man and behold, he was standing beside the camels at the spring.

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר בּ֖וֹא בְּר֣וּךְ יְהוָ֑ה לָ֤מָּה תַעֲמֹד֙ בַּח֔וּץ וְאָנֹכִי֙ פִּנִּ֣יתִי הַבַּ֔יִת וּמָק֖וֹם לַגְּמַלִּֽים׃

He, Laban, said: Come, blessed of the Lord; why do you stand outside when I have cleared the house so that there will be room for you and your entourage to stay? Abraham’s servant was accompanied by other subordinates, as is evident from the next verse. Laban continues: And in addition, there is even a place for the ten camels, who take up a large area.

וַיָּבֹ֤א הָאִישׁ֙ הַבַּ֔יְתָה וַיְפַתַּ֖ח הַגְּמַלִּ֑ים וַיִּתֵּ֨ן תֶּ֤בֶן וּמִסְפּוֹא֙ לַגְּמַלִּ֔ים וּמַ֙יִם֙ לִרְחֹ֣ץ רַגְלָ֔יו וְרַגְלֵ֥י הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ׃

The man came to the house and he, Laban, unloaded the camels; he gave straw and feed for the camels, and, as was customary in honor of a guest after a long journey, Laban gave him water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

ויישם [וַיּוּשַׂ֤ם] לְפָנָיו֙ לֶאֱכֹ֔ל וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֹכַ֔ל עַ֥ד אִם־דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי דְּבָרָ֑י וַיֹּ֖אמֶר דַּבֵּֽר׃

Following the greeting he received, Abraham’s servant entered the house. Food was placed before him to eat, and he said: I will not eat until I have spoken my words. If the servant were to eat and lodge in the house, he would already feel a certain debt of gratitude to his hosts. Therefore, he insists on first explaining the purpose of his visit and his intentions, and only then will he eat. He, Laban, said: Speak.

וַיֹּאמַ֑ר עֶ֥בֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם אָנֹֽכִי׃

He said: I am Abraham’s servant, and I am responsible for all matters in my master’s household.

וַיהוָ֞ה בֵּרַ֧ךְ אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֛י מְאֹ֖ד וַיִּגְדָּ֑ל וַיִּתֶּן־ל֞וֹ צֹ֤אן וּבָקָר֙ וְכֶ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב וַעֲבָדִם֙ וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת וּגְמַלִּ֖ים וַחֲמֹרִֽים׃

The Lord has greatly blessed my master; and he became much more wealthy than when he lived in Haran with your family. He, God, gave him flocks and cattle, and silver and gold, and slaves and maidservants, and camels and donkeys. In addition, Abraham and Sarah were childless when they left Haran and already advanced in age, but since then,

וַתֵּ֡לֶד שָׂרָה֩ אֵ֨שֶׁת אֲדֹנִ֥י בֵן֙ לַֽאדֹנִ֔י אַחֲרֵ֖י זִקְנָתָ֑הּ וַיִּתֶּן־לּ֖וֹ אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לֽוֹ׃

Sarah, my master’s wife, whom you know well, as she too is from your family, bore a son to my master after her old age. And as my master is Abraham’s foremost son, he gave to him everything that he has.

וַיַּשְׁבִּעֵ֥נִי אֲדֹנִ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹא־תִקַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִבְּנוֹת֙ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּאַרְצֽוֹ׃

The previous comments invite an obvious question: If Abraham is such an illustrious and wealthy individual, and all of his wealth will be inherited by this one son, why has he sent his servant so far away to find a wife for that son? The servant therefore explains: My master administered an oath to me, saying: You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live.

אִם־לֹ֧א אֶל־בֵּית־אָבִ֛י תֵּלֵ֖ךְ וְאֶל־מִשְׁפַּחְתִּ֑י וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ אִשָּׁ֖ה לִבְנִֽי׃

Rather, you shall go to my father’s house and to my family, and take a wife for my son from there. Since my master desires to remain within the framework of his family, he insisted that I should not find a wife for his son from any other nation, but only from his family.

וָאֹמַ֖ר אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֑י אֻלַ֛י לֹא־תֵלֵ֥ךְ הָאִשָּׁ֖ה אַחֲרָֽי׃

I said to my master: Perhaps the woman will not follow me. The mention of this exchange is significant for the continuation of the story.

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑י יְהוָ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לְפָנָ֗יו יִשְׁלַ֨ח מַלְאָכ֤וֹ אִתָּךְ֙ וְהִצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכֶּ֔ךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ֤ אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתִּ֖י וּמִבֵּ֥ית אָבִֽי׃

He said to me: The Lord, before whom I walked, whom I served, will send His angel with you and will make your path successful; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family, and from my father’s house.

אָ֤ז תִּנָּקֶה֙ מֵאָ֣לָתִ֔י כִּ֥י תָב֖וֹא אֶל־מִשְׁפַּחְתִּ֑י וְאִם־לֹ֤א יִתְּנוּ֙ לָ֔ךְ וְהָיִ֥יתָ נָקִ֖י מֵאָלָתִֽי׃

If you take such a wife, then you shall be absolved of my oath, when you come to my family and request from them a wife for my son; and if they do not give her to you, you shall likewise be absolved of my oath.

וָאָבֹ֥א הַיּ֖וֹם אֶל־הָעָ֑יִן וָאֹמַ֗ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אִם־יֶשְׁךָ־נָּא֙ מַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכִּ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י הֹלֵ֥ךְ עָלֶֽיהָ׃

I came this day to the spring, and I said: Lord, God of my master Abraham, if You would please make the path upon which I am going successful.

הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י נִצָּ֖ב עַל־עֵ֣ין הַמָּ֑יִם וְהָיָ֤ה הָֽעַלְמָה֙ הַיֹּצֵ֣את לִשְׁאֹ֔ב וְאָמַרְתִּ֣י אֵלֶ֔יהָ הַשְׁקִֽינִי־נָ֥א מְעַט־מַ֖יִם מִכַּדֵּֽךְ׃

Behold, I am standing beside the spring of water; and there will be the young woman who comes out to draw, that I say to her: Please give me a little water to drink from your jug;

וְאָמְרָ֤ה אֵלַי֙ גַּם־אַתָּ֣ה שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַ֥ם לִגְמַלֶּ֖יךָ אֶשְׁאָ֑ב הִ֣וא הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־הֹכִ֥יחַ יְהוָ֖ה לְבֶן־אֲדֹנִֽי׃

and she will say to me: You too drink, and I will draw for your camels as well; she is the woman whom the Lord has confirmed for my master’s son.

אֲנִי֩ טֶ֨רֶם אֲכַלֶּ֜ה לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־לִבִּ֗י וְהִנֵּ֨ה רִבְקָ֤ה יֹצֵאת֙ וְכַדָּ֣הּ עַל־שִׁכְמָ֔הּ וַתֵּ֥רֶד הָעַ֖יְנָה וַתִּשְׁאָ֑ב וָאֹמַ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יהָ הַשְׁקִ֥ינִי נָֽא׃

Before I concluded to speak to my heart, behold, Rebecca came out with her jug on her shoulder; and she descended to the spring, and drew. I said to her: Please give me drink.

וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר וַתּ֤וֹרֶד כַּדָּהּ֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ אַשְׁקֶ֑ה וָאֵ֕שְׁתְּ וְגַ֥ם הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים הִשְׁקָֽתָה׃

She hurried and lowered her pitcher from her shoulder, and said: Drink, and I will give to your camels to drink as well. I drank and she gave to the camels to drink as well.

וָאֶשְׁאַ֣ל אֹתָ֗הּ וָאֹמַר֮ בַּת־מִ֣י אַתְּ֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר בַּת־בְּתוּאֵל֙ בֶּן־נָח֔וֹר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽלְדָה־לּ֖וֹ מִלְכָּ֑ה וָאָשִׂ֤ם הַנֶּ֙זֶם֙ עַל־אַפָּ֔הּ וְהַצְּמִידִ֖ים עַל־יָדֶֽיהָ׃

I then asked her and said: Whose daughter are you? She said: Daughter of Betuel, son of Nahor, whom Milka bore to him. I subsequently placed the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her arms.

וָאֶקֹּ֥ד וָֽאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה לַיהוָ֑ה וָאֲבָרֵ֗ךְ אֶת־יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִנְחַ֙נִי֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֱמֶ֔ת לָקַ֛חַת אֶת־בַּת־אֲחִ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י לִבְנֽוֹ׃

I bowed and prostrated myself to the Lord, and blessed the Lord, God of my master Abraham, who guided me in the true path to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son. This concludes the servant’s narration of the events that led him to his hosts.

וְ֠עַתָּה אִם־יֶשְׁכֶ֨ם עֹשִׂ֜ים חֶ֧סֶד וֶֽאֱמֶ֛ת אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֖י הַגִּ֣ידוּ לִ֑י וְאִם־לֹ֕א הַגִּ֣ידוּ לִ֔י וְאֶפְנֶ֥ה עַל־יָמִ֖ין א֥וֹ עַל־שְׂמֹֽאל׃

And now he submits his request: If you will do kindness and truth with my master and agree to give the girl in marriage to the son of my master, tell me. And if you do not desire this match, likewise tell me; and I will turn to the right or to the left. I shall search elsewhere for a wife for the son of my master, as I can ask other family members as well.

וַיַּ֨עַן לָבָ֤ן וּבְתוּאֵל֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵיְהוָ֖ה יָצָ֣א הַדָּבָ֑ר לֹ֥א נוּכַ֛ל דַּבֵּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ רַ֥ע אוֹ־טֽוֹב׃

Laban and Betuel answered and said: The matter comes from the Lord, and evidently it is destined in Heaven for Rebecca to marry Isaac; we can speak to you neither bad nor good. The mention of Laban’s name before his father’s is indicative of his central role; perhaps Betuel was weak or ill at the time.

הִנֵּֽה־רִבְקָ֥ה לְפָנֶ֖יךָ קַ֣ח וָלֵ֑ךְ וּתְהִ֤י אִשָּׁה֙ לְבֶן־אֲדֹנֶ֔יךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃

Behold, Rebecca is before you, take her, and go, and she shall be a wife for your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.

וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמַ֛ע עֶ֥בֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶת־דִּבְרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ אַ֖רְצָה לַֽיהוָֽה׃

It was when Abraham’s servant heard their statement of consent, he prostrated himself to the earth to the Lord, again expressing his thanks for the success of his mission.