Genesis 24-25 - Prayer Tents

Genesis 24

A Wife for Isaac

24Abraham was now a very old man, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.H85H2204H935H3117H3068H1288H852One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, "Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh.H85H559H2205H5650H1004H4910H7760H3027H34093Swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women.H7650H3068H430H8064H430H776H3947H802H1121H1323H3669H7130H34274Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac."H3212H776H4138H3947H802H1121H33275The servant asked, "But what if I can't find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?"H5650H559H802H14H3212H310H776H7725H1121H7725H776H33186"No!" Abraham responded. "Be careful never to take my son there.H85H559H8104H7725H6435H1121H77257For the LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants

. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son.H3068H430H8064H3947H1H1004H776H4138H1696H7650H559H2233H5414H776H7971H4397H6440H3947H802H11218If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there."H802H14H3212H310H5352H7621H7725H1121H77259So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham's instructions.H5650H7760H3027H3409H85H113H7650H5921H2088H169710Then he loaded ten of Abraham's camels with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master, and he traveled to distant Aram-naharaim. There he went to the town where Abraham's brother Nahor had settled.H5650H3947H6235H1581H1581H113H3212H2898H113H3027H6965H3212H763H5892H515211He made the camels kneel beside a well just outside the town. It was evening, and the women were coming out to draw water.H1288H1581H1288H2351H5892H413H875H4325H6256H6153H6256H3318H757912"O LORD, God of my master, Abraham," he prayed. "Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.H559H3068H430H113H85H6440H7136H3117H6213H2617H5973H113H8513See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water.H5324H5869H4325H1323H582H5892H3318H7579H432514This is my request. I will ask one of them, 'Please give me a drink from your jug.' If she says, 'Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!'—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac's wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master."H5291H559H5186H3537H8354H559H8354H8248H1581H8248H3198H5650H3327H3045H6213H2617H11315Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham's brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah.H3615H1696H7259H3318H834H3205H1328H1121H4435H802H5152H85H251H3537H792616Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again.H5291H3966H2896H4758H1330H376H3045H3381H5869H4390H3537H592717Running over to her, the servant said, "Please give me a little drink of water from your jug."H5650H7323H7125H559H1572H4592H4325H353718"Yes, my lord," she answered, "have a drink." And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink.H559H8354H113H4116H3381H3537H3027H824819When she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink."H3615H8248H559H7579H1581H3615H835420So she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels.H4116H6168H3537H8268H7323H875H7579H7579H158121The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the LORD had given him success in his mission.H376H7583H2790H3045H3068H6743H1870H6743H51822Then at last, when the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring for her nose and two large gold bracelets

for her wrists.H1581H3615H8354H376H3947H2091H5141H1235H4948H8147H6781H3027H6235H4948H209123"Whose daughter are you?" he asked. "And please tell me, would your father have any room to put us up for the night?"H559H4310H1323H859H5046H3426H4725H1H1004H388524"I am the daughter of Bethuel," she replied. "My grandparents are Nahor and Milcah.H559H1323H1328H1121H4435H3205H515225Yes, we have plenty of straw and feed for the camels, and we have room for guests."H559H1571H8401H4554H7227H1571H4725H388526The man bowed low and worshiped the LORD.H376H6915H7812H306827"Praise the LORD, the God of my master, Abraham," he said. "The LORD has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master's relatives."H559H1288H3068H430H113H85H5800H5973H113H2617H571H1870H3068H5148H1004H113H25128The young woman ran home to tell her family everything that had happened.H5291H7323H5046H517H1004H169729Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, who ran out to meet the man at the spring.H7259H251H8034H3837H3837H7323H2351H376H586930He 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.H7200H5141H6781H269H3027H8085H1697H7259H269H559H3541H1696H376H935H376H5975H5921H1581H586931Laban said to him, "Come and stay with us, you who are blessed by the LORD! Why are you standing here outside the town when I have a room all ready for you and a place prepared for the camels?"H559H935H1288H3068H5975H2351H6437H1004H4725H158132So the man went home with Laban, and Laban unloaded the camels, gave him straw for their bedding, fed them, and provided water for the man and the camel drivers to wash their feet.H376H935H1004H6605H1581H5414H8401H4554H1581H4325H7364H7272H582H727233Then food was served. But Abraham's servant said, "I don't want to eat until I have told you why I have come." "All right," Laban said, "tell us."H7760H3455H6440H398H559H398H1696H1697H559H169634"I am Abraham's servant," he explained.H559H85H565035"And the LORD has greatly blessed my master; he has become a wealthy man. The LORD has given him flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, a fortune in silver and gold, and many male and female servants and camels and donkeys.H3068H1288H113H3966H1431H5414H6629H1241H3701H2091H5650H8198H1581H254336"When Sarah, my master's wife, was very old, she gave birth to my master's son, and my master has given him everything he owns.H8283H113H802H3205H1121H113H310H2209H541437And my master made me take an oath. He said, 'Do not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women.H113H7650H559H3947H802H1121H1323H3669H776H342738Go instead to my father's house, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son.'H518H3212H1H1004H4940H3947H802H112139"But I said to my master, 'What if I can't find a young woman who is willing to go back with me?'H559H113H802H3212H31040He responded, 'The LORD, in whose presence I have lived, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful. Yes, you must find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father's family.H559H3068H6440H1980H7971H4397H6743H1870H3947H802H1121H4940H1H100441Then you will have fulfilled your obligation. But if you go to my relatives and they refuse to let her go with you, you will be free from my oath.'H5352H423H935H4940H5414H5355H42342"So today when I came to the spring, I prayed this prayer: 'O LORD, God of my master, Abraham, please give me success on this mission.H935H3117H5869H559H3068H430H113H85H3426H6743H1870H198043See, I am standing here beside this spring. This is my request. When a young woman comes to draw water, I will say to her, "Please give me a little drink of water from your jug."H5324H5869H4325H5959H3318H7579H559H8248H4592H4325H3537H824844If she says, "Yes, have a drink, and I will draw water for your camels, too," let her be the one you have selected to be the wife of my master's son.'H559H8354H7579H1581H802H3068H3198H113H112145"Before I had finished praying in my heart, I saw Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'H3615H1696H3820H7259H3318H3537H7926H3381H5869H7579H559H824846She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, 'Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!' So I drank, and then she watered the camels.H4116H3381H3537H559H8354H8248H1581H8248H8354H8248H1581H824847"Then I asked, 'Whose daughter are you?' She replied, 'I am the daughter of Bethuel, and my grandparents are Nahor and Milcah.' So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists.H7592H559H1323H559H1323H1328H5152H1121H4435H3205H7760H5141H639H6781H302748"Then I bowed low and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master, Abraham, because he had led me straight to my master's niece to be his son's wife.H6915H7812H3068H1288H3068H430H113H85H5148H571H1870H3947H113H251H1323H112149So tell me—will you or won't you show unfailing love and faithfulness to my master? Please tell me yes or no, and then I'll know what to do next."H3426H6213H2617H571H113H5046H5046H6437H3225H176H804050Then Laban and Bethuel replied, "The LORD has obviously brought you here, so there is nothing we can say.H3837H1328H6030H559H1697H3318H3068H3201H1696H7451H176H289651Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has directed."H7259H6440H3947H3212H113H1121H802H3068H169652When Abraham's servant heard their answer, he bowed down to the ground and worshiped the LORD.H85H5650H8085H1697H7812H3068H77653Then he brought out silver and gold jewelry and clothing and presented them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive presents to her brother and mother.H5650H3318H3627H3701H3627H2091H899H5414H7259H5414H251H517H403054Then they ate their meal, and the servant and the men with him stayed there overnight. But early the next morning, Abraham's servant said, "Send me back to my master."H398H8354H582H3885H6965H1242H559H7971H11355"But we want Rebekah to stay with us at least ten days," her brother and mother said. "Then she can go."H251H517H559H5291H3427H3117H176H6218H310H321256But he said, "Don't delay me. The LORD has made my mission successful; now send me back so I can return to my master."H559H309H3068H6743H1870H7971H3212H11357"Well," they said, "we'll call Rebekah and ask her what she thinks."H559H7121H5291H7592H631058So they called Rebekah. "Are you willing to go with this man?" they asked her. And she replied, "Yes, I will go."H7121H7259H559H3212H376H559H321259So they said good-bye to Rebekah and sent her away with Abraham's servant and his men. The woman who had been Rebekah's childhood nurse went along with her.H7971H7259H269H3243H85H5650H58260They gave her this blessing as she parted: "Our sister, may you become the mother of many millions! May your descendants be strong and conquer the cities of their enemies."H1288H7259H559H859H269H1961H505H7233H2233H3423H8179H813061Then Rebekah and her servant girls mounted the camels and followed the man. So Abraham's servant took Rebekah and went on his way.H7259H6965H5291H7392H1581H3212H310H376H5650H3947H7259H321262Meanwhile, Isaac, whose home was in the Negev, had returned from Beer-lahai-roi.H3327H935H935H883H3427H5045H77663One evening as he was walking and meditating in the fields, he looked up and saw the camels coming.H3327H3318H7742H7704H6437H6153H5375H5869H7200H1581H93564When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she quickly dismounted from her camel.H7259H5375H5869H7200H3327H5307H5921H158165"Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?" she asked the servant. And he replied, "It is my master." So Rebekah covered her face with her veil.H559H5650H4310H376H1976H1980H7704H7125H5650H559H113H3947H6809H368066Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done.H5650H5608H3327H1697H621367And Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah's tent, and she became his wife. He loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.H3327H935H517H8283H168H3947H7259H802H157H3327H5162H310H517

Genesis 25

The Death of Abraham

25Abraham married another wife, whose name was Keturah.H3254H85H3947H802H8034H69892She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.H3205H2175H3370H4091H4080H3435H77443Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. Dedan's descendants were the Asshurites, Letushites, and Leummites.H3370H3205H7614H1719H1121H1719H805H3912H38174Midian's sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These were all descendants of Abraham through Keturah.H1121H4080H5891H6081H2585H28H420H1121H69895Abraham gave everything he owned to his son Isaac.H85H5414H33276But before he died, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them off to a land in the east, away from Isaac.H1121H6370H85H85H5414H4979H7971H3327H1121H2416H6924H6924H7767Abraham lived for 175 years,H3117H8141H85H2416H2425H3967H8141H7657H8141H2568H81418and he died at a ripe old age, having lived a long and satisfying life. He breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death.H85H1478H4191H2896H7872H2205H7649H622H59719His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite.H1121H3327H3458H6912H4631H4375H7704H6085H1121H6714H2850H6440H447110This was the field Abraham had purchased from the Hittites and where he had buried his wife Sarah.H7704H85H7069H1121H2845H85H6912H8283H80211After Abraham's death, God blessed his son Isaac, who settled near Beer-lahai-roi in the Negev.H310H4194H85H430H1288H1121H3327H3327H3427H5973H883

Ishmael’s Descendants

12This is the account of the family of Ishmael, the son of Abraham through Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian servant.H8435H3458H85H1121H1904H4713H8283H8198H3205H8513Here is a list, by their names and clans, of Ishmael's descendants: The oldest was Nebaioth, followed by Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,H8034H1121H3458H8034H8435H1060H3458H5032H6938H110H401714Mishma, Dumah, Massa,H4927H1746H485415Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.H2316H8485H3195H5305H692916These twelve sons of Ishmael became the founders of twelve tribes named after them, listed according to the places they settled and camped.H1121H3458H8034H2691H2918H8147H6240H5387H52317Ishmael lived for 137 years. Then he breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death.H8141H2416H3458H3967H8141H7970H8141H7651H8141H1478H4191H622H597118Ishmael's descendants occupied the region from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt in the direction of Asshur. There they lived in open hostility toward all their relatives

.H7931H2341H7793H6440H4714H935H804H5307H6440H251

The Births of Esau and Jacob

19This is the account of the family of Isaac, the son of Abraham.H8435H3327H85H1121H85H3205H332720When Isaac was forty years old, he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.H3327H705H8141H1121H3947H7259H802H1323H1328H761H6307H269H3837H76121Isaac pleaded with the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The LORD answered Isaac's prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins.H3327H6279H3068H5227H802H6135H3068H6279H7259H802H202922But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the LORD about it. "Why is this happening to me?" she asked.H1121H7533H7130H559H2088H3212H1875H306823And the LORD told her, "The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son."H3068H559H8147H1471H990H8147H3816H6504H4578H3816H553H3816H7227H5647H681024And when the time came to give birth, Rebekah discovered that she did indeed have twins!H3117H3205H4390H8380H99025The first one was very red at birth and covered with thick hair like a fur coat. So they named him Esau

.H7223H3318H132H8181H155H7121H8034H621526Then the other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau's heel. So they named him Jacob

. Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.H310H3318H251H3318H3027H270H6215H6119H8034H7121H3290H3327H8346H8141H1121H3205

Esau Sells His Birthright

27As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home.H5288H1431H6215H3045H6718H376H7704H3290H8535H376H3427H16828Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob.H3327H157H6215H6310H6718H7259H157H329029One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry.H3290H2102H5138H6215H935H7704H588930Esau said to Jacob, "I'm starved! Give me some of that red stew!" (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means "red.")H6215H559H3290H3938H4480H122H122H5889H8034H7121H12331"All right," Jacob replied, "but trade me your rights as the firstborn son."H3290H559H4376H3117H106232"Look, I'm dying of starvation!" said Esau. "What good is my birthright to me now?"H6215H559H1980H4191H106233But Jacob said, "First you must swear that your birthright is mine." So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.H3290H559H7650H3117H7650H4376H1062H329034Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.H3290H5414H6215H3899H5138H5742H398H8354H6965H3212H6215H959H1062