Isaki Na Rebeka
124:1 Mwa 17:17; Yos 23:1; Mwa 12:2; Gal 3:9Wakati huu Abrahamu alikuwa mzee mwenye miaka mingi, naye Bwana alikuwa amembariki katika kila njia. 224:2 Mwa 15:3; 39:4-6; 47:29Akamwambia mtumishi wake mkuu wa vitu vyote katika nyumba yake, yule aliyekuwa msimamizi wa vitu vyote alivyokuwa navyo, “Weka mkono wako chini ya paja langu, 324:3 Mwa 10:15-19; 47:31; 50:25; 14:19; Hes 20:14; 2Kor 6:14-17Ninataka uape kwa Bwana, Mungu wa mbingu na Mungu wa nchi, kwamba hutamtwalia mwanangu mke kutoka binti za Wakanaani, ambao ninaishi miongoni mwao, 424:4 Mwa 12:1; 21:21; Amu 14:3bali utakwenda katika nchi yangu na jamaa zangu umpatie Isaki mwanangu mke.”
524:5 Ebr 11:15Yule mtumishi akamuuliza, “Je, kama huyo mwanamke atakataa kuja nami katika nchi hii? Je, nimpeleke mwanao katika hiyo nchi uliyotoka?”
6Abrahamu akasema, “Hakikisha kwamba hutamrudisha mwanangu huko. 724:7 Mwa 12:1, 7; 16:7; Rum 4:15; Gal 3:16Bwana, Mungu wa mbingu, aliyenitoa nyumbani kwa baba yangu na nchi yangu niliyozaliwa na aliyesema nami na akaniahidi kwa kiapo, akisema, ‘Nitawapa watoto wako nchi hii,’ atatuma malaika wake akutangulie ili umpatie mwanangu mke kutoka huko. 824:8 Yos 2:12-20; 9:20Kama huyo mwanamke asipokubali kufuatana nawe, basi utafunguliwa kutoka kiapo nilichokuapisha. Ila usimrudishe mwanangu huko.” 924:9 Mwa 32:4; 33:8Basi yule mtumishi akaweka mkono wake chini ya paja la bwana wake Abrahamu akamwapia kuhusu shauri hili.
1024:10 1Fal 10:2; 1Nya 12:40; Isa 30:6; Mwa 11:29; 43:11; 45:25; Hes 23:7; Kum 23:4; Amu 3:8Ndipo huyo mtumishi akachukua ngamia kumi miongoni mwa ngamia za bwana wake, akaondoka, akiwa amechukua aina zote za vitu vizuri kutoka kwa bwana wake. Akaelekea Aramu-Naharaimu24:10 Yaani Mesopotamia ya Kaskazini-Magharibi. na kushika njia kwenda mji wa Nahori. 1124:11 Kut 2:15-16; 1Sam 9:11; Yn 4:7; Mwa 29:2, 9-10Akawapigisha ngamia magoti karibu na kisima cha maji nje ya mji, ilikuwa inaelekea jioni, wakati ambapo wanawake wanakuja kuteka maji.
1224:12 Mwa 19:19; 26:24; 27:20; 28:13; 31:42, 53; 32:9; 43:23; 46:3; Kut 3:6; 1Fal 18:36; Za 75:9; 94:7; Neh 1:11; Yos 2:12; Ay 10:12Kisha akaomba, “Ee Bwana, Mungu wa bwana wangu Abrahamu, nipatie ushindi leo, uonyeshe huruma kwa bwana wangu Abrahamu. 13Tazama, nimesimama karibu na kisima hiki cha maji, nao binti za watu wa mji huu wanakuja kuteka maji. 1424:14 Amu 6:17, 37; 1Sam 14:10; 1Fal 13:3; Za 86:17; Isa 38:7; Yer 44:29Basi na iwe hivi, nitakapomwambia binti mmojawapo, ‘Tafadhali tua mtungi wako nipate kunywa maji,’ naye akisema, ‘Kunywa, nitawanywesha na ngamia wako pia.’ Basi na awe ndiye uliyemchagua kwa ajili ya mtumishi wako Isaki. Kwa hili nitajua umemhurumia bwana wangu.”
1524:15 Mwa 22:22-23; 11:29Ikawa kabla hajamaliza kuomba, Rebeka akatokea akiwa na mtungi begani mwake. Alikuwa binti wa Bethueli. Bethueli alikuwa mwana wa Milka aliyekuwa mke wa Nahori ndugu wa Abrahamu. 1624:16 Mwa 12:11; Kum 22:15-21Huyu msichana alikuwa mzuri sana wa sura, bikira, ambaye hakuna mtu aliyekuwa amekutana naye kimwili. Aliteremka kisimani, akajaza mtungi wake akapanda juu.
1724:17 1Fal 17:10; Yn 4:7Ndipo yule mtumishi akaharakisha kukutana naye akamwambia, “Tafadhali nipe maji kidogo katika mtungi wako.”
18Yule msichana akasema, “Kunywa, bwana wangu.” Akashusha kwa haraka mtungi mkononi mwake na akampa, akanywa.
19Baada ya kumpa yule mtumishi yale maji, akamwambia, “Nitateka maji kwa ajili ya ngamia zako pia mpaka wote watosheke.” 20Akafanya haraka kumimina maji kwenye birika ya kunyweshea wanyama, akakimbia kisimani kuteka maji mengine na akateka ya kuwatosha ngamia wake wote. 21Pasipo kusema neno, yule mtumishi akamtazama kwa makini aone kama Bwana ameifanikisha safari yake, au la.
2224:22 Mwa 41:42; Isa 3:21; Eze 16:11-12Ikawa ngamia walipokwisha kunywa wote, yule mtumishi akampa huyo msichana pete ya puani ya dhahabu yenye uzito wa beka moja24:22 Beka moja ya dhahabu ni sawa na gramu 5.5. na bangili mbili za dhahabu zenye uzito wa shekeli kumi.24:22 Shekeli 10 za dhahabu ni sawa na gramu 110. 2324:23 Amu 19:15; 20:4Kisha akamuuliza, “Wewe ni binti wa nani? Tafadhali uniambie, je, kuna nafasi katika nyumba ya baba yako tutakapoweza kulala?”
2424:24 Mwa 11:29Yule msichana akamjibu, “Mimi ni binti wa Bethueli, mwana wa Milka aliyemzalia Nahori.” 2524:25 Amu 19:19Akaendelea kusema, “Kwetu kuna majani mengi na malisho, tena kuna nafasi kwa ajili yenu kulala.”
2624:26 Kut 4:31; 12:27; 1Nya 29:20; 2Nya 20:18Yule mtumishi akasujudu na kumwabudu Bwana, 2724:27 Mwa 14:20; 32:10; 47:29; Kut 18:20; Rut 4:14; 1Sam 25:32; 2Sam 18:28; 1Fal 8:56; Za 28:6; 41:13; 68:19; 98:3; 106:48; Yos 2:14; Lk 1:68akisema, “Atukuzwe Bwana, Mungu wa bwana wangu Abrahamu, ambaye hakuondoa wema na uaminifu wake kwa bwana wangu. Mimi nami, Bwana ameniongoza safarini akanifikisha nyumbani kwa jamaa za bwana wangu.”
2824:28 Mwa 29:12Yule msichana akakimbia akawaeleza watu wa nyumbani mwa mama yake kuhusu mambo haya. 2924:29 Mwa 25:20; 27:43; 28:2-5; 29:5, 12-13Rebeka alikuwa na kaka aliyeitwa Labani, huyo akaharakisha kukutana na yule mtumishi kule kisimani. 3024:30 Eze 23:42Mara alipoiona ile pete puani, na bangili mikononi mwa dada yake na kusikia yale maneno Rebeka aliyoambiwa na huyo mtumishi, alimwendea huyo mtumishi, akamkuta amesimama karibu na ngamia wake pale karibu na kisima. 3124:31 Mwa 26:29; Rut 3:10; Za 115:15Akamwambia, “Karibu nyumbani wewe uliyebarikiwa na Bwana, kwa nini unasimama huko nje? Mimi nimekuandalia nyumba na mahali kwa ajili ya ngamia.”
3224:32 Mwa 18:4; Amu 19:21Hivyo yule mtumishi akaenda nyumbani, mizigo ikaondolewa juu ya ngamia. Majani na malisho yakaletwa kwa ajili ya ngamia na maji kwa ajili yake na watu wake ili kunawa miguu. 33Ndipo chakula kikaandaliwa kwa ajili yake, lakini akasema, “Sitakula mpaka niwe nimewaambia yale niliyo nayo ya kusema.”
Labani akasema, “Basi tuambie.”
3424:34 Mwa 15:3Hivyo akasema, “Mimi ni mtumishi wa Abrahamu. 3524:35 Mwa 12:2, 16; 23:6Bwana amembariki sana bwana wangu, amekuwa tajiri. Amempa kondoo na ngʼombe, fedha na dhahabu, watumishi wa kiume na wa kike, ngamia na punda. 3624:36 Mwa 17:17; 25:5; 26:14Sara mkewe bwana wangu amemzalia mwana katika uzee wake, naye amempa kila kitu alichokuwa nacho. 3724:37 Mwa 50:5Naye bwana wangu ameniapisha na akasema, ‘Kamwe usimtwalie mwanangu mke katika binti za Wakanaani, ambao ninaishi katika nchi yao, 3824:38 Mwa 21:21ila uende mpaka kwa jamaa ya baba yangu na ukoo wangu mwenyewe, ukamtwalie mwanangu mke huko.’
39“Kisha nikamuuliza bwana wangu, ‘Je, kama huyo mwanamke hatakubali kurudi nami?’
4024:40 Mwa 5:22; 12:1; 16:7“Akanijibu, ‘Bwana ambaye nimetembea mbele zake, atatuma malaika wake pamoja nawe, na kuifanikisha safari yako, ili uweze kupata mke kwa ajili ya mwanangu katika ukoo wangu na kutoka jamaa ya baba yangu. 41Kisha, utakapokwenda kwenye ukoo wangu, utakuwa umefunguliwa kutoka kiapo changu hata kama wakikataa kukupa huyo binti, utakuwa umefunguliwa kutoka kiapo changu.’
42“Nilipokuja kisimani leo nilisema, ‘Ee Bwana, Mungu wa bwana wangu Abrahamu, ikikupendeza, naomba uifanikishe safari niliyoijia. 4324:43 Mit 30:19; Isa 7:14Tazama, ninasimama kando ya kisima hiki, kama mwanamwali akija kuteka maji nami nikimwambia, tafadhali niruhusu ninywe maji kidogo kutoka kwenye mtungi wako, 44naye kama akiniambia, “Kunywa, nami nitateka maji kwa ajili ya ngamia wako pia,” basi huyo awe ndiye mke ambaye Bwana amemchagulia mwana wa bwana wangu.’
4524:45 1Sam 1:13; Yn 4:7“Kabla sijamaliza kuomba moyoni mwangu, Rebeka akatokea, amebeba mtungi begani mwake. Akashuka kisimani akateka maji, nami nikamwambia, ‘Tafadhali nipe maji ninywe.’
46“Akafanya haraka kushusha mtungi wake begani na kusema, ‘Kunywa na nitawanywesha ngamia wako pia,’ basi nikanywa, akawanywesha na ngamia pia.
4724:47 Mwa 22:22; Isa 3:19; Eze 16:11-12“Nikamuuliza, ‘Wewe ni binti wa nani?’
“Akasema, ‘Mimi ni binti wa Bethueli, mwana wa Nahori, Milka aliyemzalia.’
“Ndipo nilipotia pete puani mwake na bangili mikononi mwake, 48nikasujudu na nikamwabudu Bwana. Nikamtukuza Bwana, Mungu wa bwana wangu Abrahamu, aliyeniongoza katika njia sahihi ili nimtwalie mwana na bwana wangu mke katika jamaa zake. 49Ikiwa mtaonyesha wema na uaminifu kwa bwana wangu, mniambie, la sivyo, mniambie, ili niweze kujua njia ya kugeukia.”
5024:50 Za 118:23; Mwa 22:22; 31:24-29; 48:16Labani na Bethueli wakajibu, “Jambo hili limetoka kwa Bwana, hatuwezi kukuambia jambo lolote baya au jema. 51Rebeka yuko hapa, mchukue na uende, awe mke wa mwana wa bwana wako, sawasawa na Bwana alivyoongoza.”
52Ikawa huyo mtumishi wa Abrahamu aliposikia waliyosema, alisujudu mpaka nchi mbele za Bwana. 5324:53 Mwa 45:22; Kut 3:22; 12:35; 2Fal 5:5Ndipo huyo mtumishi akatoa vitu vilivyotengenezwa kwa dhahabu na kwa fedha pamoja na mavazi, akampa Rebeka, pia akawapa zawadi za thamani kubwa nduguye na mamaye. 5424:54 Mwa 30:25Kisha yeye na wale watu waliokuwa pamoja naye wakala, wakanywa na kulala palepale.
Walipoamka asubuhi, yule mtumishi, akasema, “Nipeni ruhusa nirudi kwa bwana wangu.”
5524:55 Amu 19:3-4Lakini ndugu yake Rebeka pamoja na mama yake wakajibu, “Acha binti akae kwetu siku kumi au zaidi, ndipo mwondoke.”
56Lakini yule mtumishi akawaambia, “Msinicheleweshe, kwa kuwa Bwana amefanikisha safari yangu, nipeni ruhusa nirudi kwa bwana wangu.”
57Ndipo wakasema, “Acha tumwite huyo binti tumuulize, tusikie atakavyosema.” 5824:58 Rum 1:16Kwa hiyo wakamwita Rebeka na kumuuliza, “Je, utakwenda na mtu huyu?”
Akasema, “Nitakwenda.”
5924:59 Mwa 35:8Hivyo wakamwaga ndugu yao Rebeka aondoke, pamoja na mjakazi wake, mtumishi wa Abrahamu na watu wake. 6024:60 Mwa 17:16; 22:17; 27:4; 31:55; 48:9, 15, 20; Yos 22:6; Mit 27:11Wakambariki Rebeka, wakamwambia,
“Ndugu yetu, uwe wewe kumi elfu,
mara elfu nyingi,
nao wazao wako wamiliki
malango ya adui zao.”
6124:61 Mwa 16:1; 30:3; 46:25Rebeka na vijakazi wake wakajiandaa, wakapanda ngamia zao wakafuatana na yule mtu. Hivyo yule mtumishi akamchukua Rebeka akaondoka.
6224:62 Mwa 16:14; 12:9Basi Isaki alikuwa ametoka Beer-Lahai-Roi, kwa kuwa alikuwa anaishi nchi ya Negebu. 6324:63 Za 77:12; 119:15, 27; 143:5; 145:5; Mwa 18:2Isaki akatoka kwenda shambani kutafakari wakati wa jioni, alipoinua macho yake, akaona ngamia wanakuja. 6424:64 Mwa 31:17, 34; 1Sam 30:17Rebeka pia akainua macho akamwona Isaki. Akashuka kutoka kwenye ngamia wake 6524:65 Mwa 38:14; Wim 4:1-3; 6:7; Isa 47:2na akamuuliza yule mtumishi, “Ni nani mtu yule aliye kule shambani anayekuja kutulaki?”
Yule mtumishi akajibu, “Huyu ndiye bwana wangu.” Hivyo Rebeka akachukua shela yake akajifunika.
66Kisha yule mtumishi akamweleza Isaki mambo yote aliyoyatenda. 6724:67 Mwa 31:33; 18:9; 25:20; 49:31; 29:18-20; 23:1-2; 34:3; Amu 16:4Ndipo Isaki akamwingiza Rebeka katika hema la Sara mama yake, Isaki akamchukua Rebeka, hivyo akawa mke wake. Isaki akampenda, akafarijika baada ya kifo cha mama yake.
Abraham’s Servant Finds a Wife for Isaac
1By that time Abraham was very old. The Lord had blessed Abraham in every way. 2The best servant in his house was in charge of everything Abraham had. Abraham said to him, “Put your hand under my thigh. 3The Lord is the God of heaven and the God of earth. I want you to make a promise to me in his name. I’m living among the people of Canaan. But I want you to promise me that you won’t get a wife for my son from their daughters. 4Instead, promise me that you will go to my country and to my own relatives. Get a wife for my son Isaac from there.”
5The servant asked Abraham, “What if the woman doesn’t want to come back with me to this land? Then should I take your son back to the country you came from?”
6“Make sure you don’t take my son back there,” Abraham said. 7“The Lord, the God of heaven, took me away from my father’s family. He brought me out of my own land. He made me a promise. He said, ‘I will give this land to your family after you.’ The Lord will send his angel ahead of you. So you will be able to get a wife for my son from there. 8The woman may not want to come back with you. If she doesn’t, you will be free from your promise. But don’t take my son back there.” 9So the servant put his hand under Abraham’s thigh. He promised to do what his master wanted.
10The servant chose ten of his master’s camels and left. He loaded the camels with all kinds of good things from his master. He started out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. 11He stopped near the well outside the town. There he made the camels get down on their knees. It was almost evening, the time when women go out to get water.
12Then he prayed, “Lord, you are the God of my master Abraham. Make me successful today. Be kind to my master Abraham. 13I’m standing beside this spring. The daughters of the people who live in the town are coming out here to get water. 14I will speak to a young woman. I’ll say to her, ‘Please lower your jar so I can have a drink.’ Suppose she says, ‘Have a drink of water, and I’ll get some for your camels too.’ Then let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. That’s how I’ll know you have been kind to my master.”
15Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out. She was carrying a jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Milkah’s son Bethuel. Milkah was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16The young woman was very beautiful. No man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring. She filled her jar and came up again.
17The servant hurried to meet her. He said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”
18“Have a drink, sir,” she said. She quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll get water for your camels too. I’ll keep doing it until they have had enough to drink.” 20So she quickly emptied her jar into the stone tub. Then she ran back to the well to get more water. She got enough for all his camels. 21The man didn’t say a word. He watched her closely. He wanted to learn whether the Lord had given him success on the journey he had made.
22The camels finished drinking. Then the man took out a gold nose ring. It weighed about a fifth of an ounce. He also took out two gold bracelets. They weighed about four ounces. 23Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? And please tell me something else. Is there room in your father’s house for us? Can we spend the night there?”
24She answered, “I’m the daughter of Bethuel. He’s the son Milkah had by Nahor.” 25She continued, “We have plenty of straw and feed for your camels. We also have room for you to spend the night.”
26Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord. 27He said, “I praise the Lord, the God of my master Abraham. The Lord hasn’t stopped being kind and faithful to my master. The Lord has led me on this journey. He has brought me to the house of my master’s relatives.”
28The young woman ran home. She told her mother’s family what had happened. 29Rebekah had a brother named Laban. He hurried out to the spring to meet the man. 30Laban had seen the nose ring. He had seen the bracelets on his sister’s arms. And he had heard Rebekah tell what the man had said to her. So Laban went out to the man. He found him standing by the camels near the spring. 31“The Lord has given you his blessing,” he said. “So come with me. Why are you standing out here? I’ve prepared my house for you. I also have a place for the camels.”
32So the man went to the house. The camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought for the camels. And water was brought for him and his men to wash their feet. 33Then food was placed in front of him. But he said, “I won’t eat until I’ve told you what I have to say.”
“Then tell us,” Laban said.
34So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35The Lord has blessed my master greatly, and he has become rich. The Lord has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold. He has also given him male and female servants, camels and donkeys. 36My master’s wife Sarah had a son by him when she was old. He has given that son everything he owns. 37My master made me promise him. He said, ‘I’m living in the land of the people of Canaan. But promise me that you won’t get a wife for my son from their daughters. 38Instead, go to my father’s family and to my own relatives. Get a wife for my son there.’
39“Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman won’t come back with me?’
40“He replied, ‘I have walked faithfully with the Lord. He will send his angel with you. He will give you success on your journey. So you will be able to get a wife for my son. She will be from my own relatives and from my father’s family. 41When you go to my relatives, suppose they refuse to give her to you. Then you will be free from the promise you made to me.’
42“Today I came to the spring. I said, ‘Lord, you are the God of my master Abraham. Please make me successful on this journey I’ve made. 43I’m standing beside this spring. A young woman will come out to get water. I’ll say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar.” 44Suppose she says, “Have a drink of water, and I’ll get some for your camels too.” Then let her be the one the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’
45“Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out. She was carrying a jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and got water. I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’
46“She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder. She said, ‘Have a drink, and I’ll get water for your camels too.’ So I drank. She also got water for the camels.
47“I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’
“She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel. He’s the son Milkah had by Nahor.’
“Then I put the ring in her nose. I put the bracelets on her arms. 48And I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham. He had led me on the right road. He had led me to get for my master’s son the granddaughter of my master’s brother. 49Now will you be kind and faithful to my master? If you will, tell me. And if you won’t, tell me. Then I’ll know which way to turn.”
50Laban and Bethuel answered, “The Lord has done all of this. We can’t say anything to you one way or the other. 51Here is Rebekah. Take her and go. Let her become the wife of your master’s son, just as the Lord has said.”
52Abraham’s servant heard what they said. So he bowed down to the Lord with his face to the ground. 53He brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing. He gave all of them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and her mother. 54Then Abraham’s servant and the men who were with him ate and drank. They spent the night there.
When they got up the next morning, Abraham’s servant said, “Send me back to my master.”
55But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the young woman stay with us ten days or so. Then you can go.”
56But he said to them, “Don’t make me wait. The Lord has given me success on my journey. Send me on my way so I can go to my master.”
57Then they said, “Let’s get Rebekah and ask her about it.” 58So they sent for her and asked, “Will you go with this man?”
“Yes, I’ll go,” she said.
59So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way with Abraham’s servant and his men. They also sent Rebekah’s servant with her. 60And they gave Rebekah their blessing. They said to her,
“Dear sister, may your family grow
by thousands and thousands.
May they take over
the cities of their enemies.”
61Then Rebekah and her female servants got ready. They got on their camels to go back with the man. So Abraham’s servant took Rebekah and left.
62By that time Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi. He was living in the Negev Desert. 63One evening he went out to the field. He wanted to spend some time thinking. When he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel. 65She asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”
“He’s my master,” the servant answered. So she covered her face with her veil.
66Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done. 67Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent that had belonged to his mother Sarah. And he married Rebekah. She became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother died.
