The Beginning:
Abraham, now old, seeks a wife for Isaac so the covenant family line will continue in the land God promised. He makes his chief servant swear not to take a wife from the Canaanites, but to go to Abraham’s relatives in his ancestral region. Abraham expresses confidence that God will guide the mission.
The Middle:
The servant travels to the city of Nahor and prays for a clear sign: that the chosen woman will offer water to him and also to his camels. Rebekah appears, draws water, and willingly provides for him and the animals, matching the request. The servant learns she is from Abraham’s extended family and gives her gifts, then explains his mission to her household. After hearing the account and recognizing God’s guidance, the family consents; Rebekah herself agrees to go.
The End:
Rebekah departs with the servant for Canaan, accompanied by attendants. Isaac meets them in the field, and Rebekah becomes his wife. Isaac loves her, and the marriage brings comfort after the death of his mother, Sarah.
This narrative highlights God’s faithful guidance in preserving the covenant line through which blessing is promised to Abraham’s descendants. God’s providence is shown through ordinary actions—travel, hospitality, family consent—directed toward a covenant purpose. The story also underscores the importance of covenant identity: Isaac’s marriage is portrayed not merely as a personal choice, but as part of God’s ongoing promise to form a people through whom divine blessing will extend.
Marriage negotiations in the ancient Near East commonly involved family participation, oaths, and bridal gifts (often called “bride-price” or betrothal gifts), reflecting the serious, kinship-based nature of marriage as a household alliance. The emphasis on hospitality at a well fits known social customs: wells were key public gathering points where travelers depended on local generosity and where introductions could occur.
“The LORD… will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.” — Genesis 24:7
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. What sign did Abraham’s servant pray for to identify the chosen woman?
2. How is Isaac’s response to marrying Rebekah described?