Hidden Treasures

Eliezer took ten camels and loaded them up with all the goods and he muzzled them so they would not eat in foreign fields. Also, the book in which Abraham had written he took with him and he was off on the road to Ḥaran. At the same time, Abraham sent for his son Isaac to return home to his house.

Two angels were sent from heaven: One to accompany Eliezer and to guard him on his way; and the second, to bring Rivkah to Eliezer at the moment he arrived at the well. And along the way, Gd sent him flashes and light to illuminate the road. Eliezer marveled at these wonders, and being so amazed, there suddenly appeared to him the well in Ḥaran. Eliezer saw that overnight he had traveled 14 days’ journey on the road, and he knew that all of this was from Gd. He lifted his eyes toward heaven and prayed to Gd: “I beg you, Gd, send me an upright maiden today, one who does goodness and kindness, that she might be a wife for Isaac.” At that very moment, the angel took Rivkah out of her house and led her to the well.

As Rivkah approached the well, Eliezer saw that the water came up to her. He decided to take a good look at her actions, to know why Gd had brought the water up to her, and he was immediately convinced by her acts: first he saw how she went right up to a crying child and asked why he was crying. The child told her that he had hit his foot on a stone and it was bleeding. Rivkah quickly washed his foot and took the tikhl (kerchief) from her head and wrapped up the wound. She quieted him and reassured him that he would heal soon and she suggested he go back to his mother. The child listened to her and went home.

In a couple minutes a blind woman came up. Rivkah said to her: “How is it that you have left your house alone?” She replied: “If I keep wandering about aimlessly, I will spend the night on the street, as I did last night.” Rivkah asked: “Tell me where your house is.” When she told Rivkah, Rivkah took her by the hand and led her home.

After that, Rivkah returned to the well very tired. She sat down on a stone and wanted to rest up. Suddenly she saw an old man approaching her. She stood up quickly and invited him to sit down and rest. The old man thanked her.

Eliezer had asked all the maidens to give him water, but none of them would, saying: “We need the water.” Until Rivkah came and lectured them. Eliezer saw her good acts and thought: “Such a maiden would be a fitting wife for Isaac.” And as he saw that she was going down to the well and drawing a jug of water, he went to her and desired (requested) of her: “Let me drink a little from your jug.” She replied: “Drink, my lord.” As he finished drinking, she ran and watered his camels, and when all the camels finished drinking, Eliezer gave her a nose ring with a precious stone and two bracelets. And he asked her: “Whose daughter are you? Is there room in your father’s house to spend the night tonight?” She said to him: “I am a daughter of Betuel son of Milkah, whom she bore to Nachor. We have straw and fodder at home and room to spend the night.” Hearing Rivkah’s words, Eliezer was gladdened, for he understood that Gd had prospered his way and led him on the right path to the house of Abraham’s brother.