Contents ▼▲
Front Matter The Garden of Eden The First Great Crime The Flood The Tower of Babel Abraham Moves into Canaan Sodom and Gomorrah The Trial of Abraham's Faith Searching for a Wife for Isaac Isaac and Rebekah Esau Sells his Birthright Jacob Serves for Rachel Jacob Returns to Canaan Joseph is Sold into Egypt Pharaoh's Dream Joseph's Brethren Buy Corn Jacob Moves into Egypt The Early Life of Moses Egyptians Smitten with Plagues Egyptians Drowned in Red Sea The Lord Provides for Israel Plan to Build the Tabernacle The Golden Calf Wanderings of the Israelites Spying Out the Land of Canaan Punishing the Israelites Balaam is Made to Prophesy Border of the Promised Land Last Days of Moses Rahab Saves the Spies The Destruction of Jericho The Capture of Ai Joshua Conquers Canaan Gideon is Given a Sign Gideon Overcomes Midianites The Punishment of Abimelech Jephthah's Daughter The Young Samson Samson and the Philistines The Death of Samson Naomi and Ruth Ruth and Boaz The Young Samuel Philistines Capture the Ark Philistines Return the Ark Saul in Anointed King Jonathan and the Philistines The Disobedience of Saul Samuel Anoints David David and Goliath Saul is Jealous of David David and Jonathan The Madness of Saul David Spares the Life of Saul The Last Days of King Saul David Becomes King The Rebellion of Absalom The Death of Absalom Solomon Becomes King The Wisdom of Solomon Solomon Builds the Temple Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon Revolt of the Ten Tribes The Wickedness of Jeroboam Elijah Begins His Ministry Elijah Destroys the Prophets Elisha is Made a Prophet Death of Ahab Sickness of Ahaziah Last Days of Elijah Miracles of Elisha Naaman is Cured of Leprosy Flight of the Syrians Jehu is Appointed King The Story of Joash Last days of Elisha Destruction of Sennacherib Judah Led into Captivity Destruction of Jerusalem Daniel Interprets the Dream The Fiery Furnace Madness of Nebuchadnezzer Handwriting on the Wall Daniel in the Lion's Den Jonah Swallowed by a Fish Jonah Warns Nineveh Esther Becomes Queen The Vengeance of Haman Esther Saves Her People The Return from Captivity Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem

Heroes of Israel - Lawton Evans




Isaac and Rebekah

Rebekah ran to her home and told her mother about the old servant and all the things she had done for him. Rebekah had a brother named Laban, who, when he saw the earring and the bracelets which the man had given his sister, and heard her tell her mother about giving water to him and his camels, ran out to the well to see the man.

When he saw the old servant and the camels he said: "Come into the house with me, for I have prepared the house and room for the camels." And the servant and his men rose up and led the camels, and they came to the house of Bethuel, where Rebekah and Laban lived. There they found straw and provender for the camels, and servants to wash the old man's feet for they were dusty with long travel.

The servants of Bethuel quickly set meat before the old servant and his men and bade them eat, but he said: "I will not eat until I have told my errand." And Laban said to him: "Speak on."

The old servant stood up before Rebekah and all her family and told his story. He said: "I am Abraham's servant. The Lord has blessed my master and he has become great. He is rich in flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and servants and in camels. My master has a son named Isaac, dearly beloved, who is the comfort of his father's age and the hope of his race. If Isaac die without children, the family of Abraham is no more. My master has sworn that Isaac shall not take a wife from among the people of Canaan for they worship idols, but he has sworn that he shall have a wife from among his own kind and kindred. Therefore, am I come to seek a wife for Isaac."

The servant told Bethuel what happened at the well, and how Rebekah had given him and his camels water to drink, and how he was led by an angel to believe that she was the one intended to be the wife of his master's son. When he had finished speaking he bowed himself to the ground and waited for them to answer.

"The thing comes from the Lord, behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go and let her be your master's son's wife, as the Lord intended," said Bethuel and Laban to the old servant.

When the old servant heard this he brought out the jewels, and silver and gold, and the beautiful raiment which he had brought, and gave them as a present from Isaac to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her mother, and her brother, showing that his master was rich and was a great prince in the land where he lived.

Then there was a feast and all the men ate and drank and lay down to sleep well satisfied with the result of their mission, for they had found a beautiful relative of Isaac to be his wife, and were glad to have her go back with them.

The next morning the old servant arose and said to Bethuel: "Send me away to my master, and let the damsel go with us for we would bring her quickly to Isaac." Rebekah's mother and her brother begged for her to stay a few days, at the least ten days, before she left them to go into a strange land.

But the old servant insisted that he must go, and said: "Hinder me not, for I must return unto my master." Then they called Rebekah and asked her if she was ready to go and become the wife of Isaac or would she abide for ten days in the house of her father.

"Will you go with this man?" Bethuel said to Rebekah. And Rebekah, anxious to see the man whom she was to marry, and with all the eagerness of a maiden, said: "I will go." Then the old servant departed and with him went Rebekah and her handmaid. The women rode upon the camels, and the men followed them, and after a while they came unto the land of Canaan.

Isaac had gone into the fields to be alone and think about the wife he was to have and all the great things the Lord had promised to his father Abraham. It was the evening and the sun was going down. Isaac looked across the fields and saw the camels coming. Then he knew the old servant was returning home and he went to meet the camels and see the one who was to be his wife. Rebekah saw him coming and said to the old servant: "What man is this that walks in the fields to meet us?"

"It is my master Isaac, he whom you will wed," the old servant replied. Rebekah lighted from the camel, she was riding and put a veil over her face so that Isaac might not see her. But Isaac came on and met the camel and the old servant told him all the things which had happened.

Isaac took Rebekah by the hand and lifted her veil, and saw that she was beautiful and fair to look upon. Then he led her to the tent which had been his mother's, and she became his wife. And from that time Isaac loved Rebekah and was comforted for his mother's death.