Study Desk

The Lord , the God of heaven, brought me from my homeland to this place. That place was the home of my father and the home of my family, but he promised that this new land would belong to my family. May he send his angel before you so that you can choose a wife for my son.

So the servant put his hand under his master's leg and made the promise.

The servant said, " Lord , you are the God of my master Abraham. Please show your kindness to my master by helping me find a wife for his son Isaac.

The servant quietly watched her. He wanted to be sure that the Lord had given him an answer and had made his trip successful.

He said, "Praise be to the Lord , the God of my master Abraham. The Lord has been kind and loyal to him by leading me to his own people."

She had a brother named Laban. She told him what the man had said to her. Laban was listening to her. And when he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms, he ran out to the well. There the man was, standing by the camels at the well.

So Abraham's servant went into the house. Laban unloaded his camels and gave them straw and feed. Then he gave Abraham's servant water so that he and the men with him could wash their feet.

But my master said to me, ‘I serve the Lord , and he will send his angel with you and help you. You will find a wife for my son among my people there.

Then he and his men had something to eat and drink, and they spent the night there. Early the next morning they got up and the servant said, "Now we must go back to my master."

So they allowed Rebekah to go with Abraham's servant and his men. Her nurse also went with them.

Then Rebekah and her nurse got on the camels and followed the servant and his men. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

Then Isaac brought the girl into his mother's tent. Rebekah became his wife that day. Isaac loved her very much. So he was comforted after his mother's death.

Abraham married again. His new wife was named Keturah.

Before Abraham died, he gave some gifts to his sons who were from his slave women. He sent them to the East, away from Isaac. Then Abraham gave everything he owned to Isaac.

Then he grew weak and died. He had lived a long and satisfying life. He died and went to be with his people.

His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah. This cave is in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar. It was east of Mamre.

This is the same cave that Abraham bought from the Hittites. He was buried there with his wife Sarah.

These were the names of Ishmael's sons. Each son had his own camp that became a small town. The twelve sons were leaders over their own people.

Ishmael lived to be 137 years old. Then he died and went to be with his people.

His descendants settled throughout the desert area from Havilah to Shur. This area begins near Egypt and goes toward Assyria. Ishmael's people were often at war with the other descendants of Abraham.