Study Desk

Instead, go to my father's people, to my relatives, and choose a wife for him.'

He answered, ‘The Lord , whom I have always obeyed, will send his angel with you and give you success. You will get for my son a wife from my own people, from my father's family.

There is only one way for you to be free from your vow: if you go to my relatives and they refuse you, then you will be free.'

If she agrees and also offers to bring water for my camels, may she be the one that you have chosen as the wife for my master's son.'

I knelt down and worshiped the Lord . I praised the Lord , the God of my master Abraham, who had led me straight to my master's relative, where I found his daughter for my master's son.

Laban and Bethuel answered, "Since this matter comes from the Lord , it is not for us to make a decision.

Then Isaac brought Rebecca into the tent that his mother Sarah had lived in, and she became his wife. Isaac loved Rebecca, and so he was comforted for the loss of his mother.

Because Rebecca had no children, Isaac prayed to the Lord for her. The Lord answered his prayer, and Rebecca became pregnant.

She was going to have twins, and before they were born, they struggled against each other in her womb. She said, "Why should something like this happen to me?" So she went to ask the Lord for an answer.

The time came for her to give birth, and she had twin sons.

When Isaac had been there for some time, King Abimelech looked down from his window and saw Isaac and Rebecca making love.

Abimelech sent for Isaac and said, "So she is your wife! Why did you say she was your sister?" He answered, "I thought I would be killed if I said she was my wife."

"What have you done to us?" Abimelech said. "One of my men might easily have slept with your wife, and you would have been responsible for our guilt."

So Isaac left and set up his camp in Gerar Valley, where he stayed for some time.

Isaac prepared a feast for them, and they ate and drank.

They made life miserable for Isaac and Rebecca.

Isaac was now old and had become blind. He sent for his older son Esau and said to him, "Son!" "Yes," he answered.

Take your bow and arrows, go out into the country, and kill an animal for me.

‘Bring me an animal and cook it for me. After I have eaten it, I will give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.'

His mother answered, "Let any curse against you fall on me, my son; just do as I say, and go and get the goats for me."