章节研读
创世记 24 ——为以撒寻找妻子
亚伯拉罕派遣他的老仆人前往美索不达米亚的亲族那里，为以撒物色妻子；仆人在井边祷告求指引，利百加出现并被带回，以撒在母亲去世后从她那里得到了安慰。
经文
- 1.亚伯拉罕年老，日子满足，在一切事上耶和华都赐福给他。And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and Jehovah had blessed Abraham in all things.
- 2.亚伯拉罕对管理他全业最老的仆人说，请把手放在我大腿底下。And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
- 3.我要你指着耶和华——天上的神、地上的神起誓，你不可为我儿子娶这迦南地的女子为妻，就是我所住之地的迦南人中间的女子；and I will make thee swear by Jehovah, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that thou wilt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
- 4.你却要往我本地本族去，为我的儿子以撒娶一个妻子。but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.
- 5.仆人对他说：倘若女子不肯跟我到这地方来，我必须将你的儿子带回你原出之地吗？And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
- 6.亚伯拉罕对他说：“你要谨慎，切不可带我儿子回到那里去。”And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
- 7.耶和华天上的神，曾将我领离开父家，离开我出生之地，对我说话，又向我起誓说：我要将这地赐给你的后裔。他必差遣他的使者在你面前，你就可以从那里为我儿子娶一个妻子。Jehovah, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my nativity, and who spake unto me, and who sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife for my son from thence.
- 8.女子若不肯跟你来，我使你起的誓就与你无干了，只是不可领我的儿子回那里去。And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath; only thou shalt not bring my son thither again.
- 9.仆人就把手放在他主人亚伯拉罕的大腿底下，为这事向他起誓。And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning this matter.
- 10.那仆人从他主人骆驼中取了十匹骆驼，并带着他主人各样的好东西，起身往美索不达米亚去，到了拿鹤的城。And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed, having all goodly things of his master's in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
- 11.他就让骆驼跪在城外的水井旁，正是傍晚时分，正是妇女出来打水的时候。And he made the camels to kneel down without the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.
- 12.他说，耶和华，我主人亚伯拉罕的神啊，求你赐我今日顺利，向我主人亚伯拉罕施慈爱。And he said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I pray thee, good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.
- 13.看哪，我站在水井旁边，城中男子的女儿们正出来打水。Behold, I am standing by the fountain of water; and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water:
- 14.愿我向那女子说：“请你把瓶里的水给我喝”；她若说：“请你喝，我也要给你的骆驼喝”；愿那女子就作你所预定给你仆人以撒的妻。这样，我便知道你施恩给我主人了。and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master.
- 15.话还没有说完，不料，利百加肩头扛着水瓶出来。利百加是彼土利所生的，彼土利是亚伯拉罕的兄弟拿鹤的妻子密迦的儿子。And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
- 16.那女子容貌极其俊美，还是个处女，未曾有人亲近她。她下到井边，打满了瓶，又上来。And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the fountain, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
- 17.仆人跑上前去迎着她，说，求你将瓶里的水给我一点喝。And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher.
- 18.她就說：「請喝，我主啊！」便急忙把那瓶拿下來，又用手托著，給他喝。And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
- 19.她给他喝完了，就说，我也要为你的骆驼打水，直到它们喝够了为止。And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
- 20.她就急忙把瓶里的水倒在槽里，又跑到井旁打水，给所有骆驼打水喝。And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.
- 21.那人定睛看她，一言不发，要晓得耶和华赐他此行亨通与否。And the man looked stedfastly on her, holding his peace, to know whether Jehovah had made his journey prosperous or not.
- 22.骆驼喝完了，那人就拿一个金环，重半舍客勒，套在女子鼻子上，又给她两只金镯子，重十舍客勒。And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold,
- 23.就说：你是谁的女儿？请告诉我，你父亲家里有地方给我们住宿吗？and said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee. Is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?
- 24.她对他说：我是彼土利的女儿，密迦给拿鹤所生的。And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bare unto Nahor.
- 25.她又对他说："我们足有草料和饲料，也有住宿的地方。"She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
- 26.那人低头向耶和华下拜。And the man bowed his head, and worshipped Jehovah.
- 27.他说：“耶和华，我主人亚伯拉罕的神是应当称颂的，因他不断地以慈爱和诚实待我主人；至于我，耶和华在路上引领我，到了我主人弟兄的家。”And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken his lovingkindness and his truth toward my master: as for me, Jehovah hath led me in the way to the house of my master's brethren.
- 28.那女子就跑去，将这些话告诉她母家的人。And the damsel ran, and told her mother's house according to these words.
- 29.利百加有一个哥哥，名叫拉班。拉班就跑到那人那里，来到井旁。And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the fountain.
- 30.他看见妹妹手上的环子和镯子，又听见妹妹利百加的话，说"那人对我这样说"，就来到那人那里。看哪，那人正站在井边的骆驼旁边。And it came to pass, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he was standing by the camels at the fountain.
- 31.他说，请进来，蒙耶和华赐福的人，为什么站在外头呢？我已经收拾好了房屋，也为骆驼预备了地方。And he said, Come in, thou blessed of Jehovah; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
- 32.那人进了屋子，就卸下骆驼的辔头，拿草料和饲料给骆驼吃，又拿水给那人和跟随他的人洗脚。And the man came into the house, and he ungirded the camels; and he gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men that were with him.
- 33.有人把食物摆在他面前，要给他吃，他却说："我不吃，等我把我的事情说完了再吃。"那人说："请说吧。"And there was set food before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
- 34.他说，我是我主人亚伯拉罕的仆人。And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
- 35.耶和华大大赐福给我主人，使他昌大，又赐给他羊群牛群、金银、仆婢、骆驼和驴。And Jehovah hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and men-servants and maid-servants, and camels and asses.
- 36.我的主母撒拉年老时，给我主生了一个儿子。我主将一切所有的都赐给他了。And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.
- 37.我的主人叫我起誓说：“你不可为我儿子娶这迦南地的女子为妻，我就是住在这地的。”And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
- 38.却要往我本族那里、我的父家去、给我的儿子娶一个妻子。but thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son.
- 39.我对主人说，恐怕那女子不肯跟我来。And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
- 40.他对我说：“我所事奉的耶和华必差遣他的使者与你同去，必使你的道路亨通，你必从我的亲族和我父家为我儿子娶一个妻子。”And he said unto me, Jehovah, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:
- 41.你到了我本族那里，我使你起的誓就与你无干。他们若不把女子交给你，我使你起的誓也与你无干。then shalt thou be clear from my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give her not to thee, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
- 42.我今日来到泉源，就说，我主人亚伯拉罕的神耶和华啊，求你赐福与我，使我今日所行的事道路通达And I came this day unto the fountain, and said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:
- 43.看哪，我正站在水泉旁；对那出来打水的女子，我必说，求你给我一点你瓶里的水喝。behold, I am standing by the fountain of water; and let it come to pass, that the maiden that cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say, Give me, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher to drink;
- 44.她就对我说：你尽管喝，我也给你的骆驼打水。愿耶和华为我主人儿子所拣选的女子就是她。and she shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom Jehovah hath appointed for my master's son.
- 45.我心里话还没说完，看哪，利百加肩顶着水罐出来了，她下到井旁打水。我对她说：求你给我水喝。And before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the fountain, and drew: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
- 46.她就急忙从肩头上拿下瓶来，说，请喝，我也给你的骆驼喝。我便喝了，她又给我的骆驼喝了。And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
- 47.我问她说：你是谁的女儿？她说：我是密迦给拿鹤之子彼土利所生的女儿。于是我把环子戴在她鼻子上，把镯子戴在她手上。And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the ring upon her nose, and the bracelets upon her hands.
- 48.我就低头敬拜耶和华，颂赞我主人亚伯拉罕的神，因他引领我走了正路，使我为主人的儿子娶了主人兄弟的女儿。And I bowed my head, and worshipped Jehovah, and blessed Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter for his son.
- 49.如今你们若以慈爱诚实待我的主人，就告诉我；若不然，也告诉我，使我可以转向左边或右边。And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.
- 50.拉班和彼土利回答说：这事乃出于耶和华，我们不能向你好歹说什么。Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from Jehovah: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
- 51.看哪，利百加就在你面前，你可以带她走，使她作你主人儿子的妻，正如耶和华所说的。Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as Jehovah hath spoken.
- 52.亚伯拉罕的仆人听见他们这话，就向耶和华俯伏在地。And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth unto Jehovah.
- 53.仆人拿出金银首饰和衣裳，送给利百加，又将宝物送给她哥哥和她母亲。And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
- 54.他们就吃喝,他和与他一同的人便住了一夜。次日清早起来,他说:“请打发我回到我主人那里去。”And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.
- 55.她的哥哥和她母亲说，让这女子同我们住几天，至少十天，然后她就可以去了。And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
- 56.他說：耶和華既使我一路亨通，你們不要留住我，請打發我走，好讓我回到我主人那裡去。And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing Jehovah hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
- 57.他们说，我们把女子叫来，当面问她。And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
- 58.他们叫了利百加来，对她说：你愿意和这人同去吗？她说：我去。And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
- 59.他们就把妹妹利百加和她的奶妈，以及亚伯拉罕的仆人和跟随他的人，都送走了。And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
- 60.他们就给利百加祝福说：我们的妹子，愿你作千万人的母，愿你的后裔得着仇敌的城门。And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them.
- 61.利百加和他的使女们起来，骑上骆驼，跟随那人去。那仆人带着利百加，就走了。And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
- 62.以撒从庇耳拉海莱的路上而来，因为他住在南地。And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the land of the South.
- 63.以撒出来，在田间默想，举目远望，见有骆驼走来。And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming.
- 64.利百加举目看见以撒，就从骆驼上下来And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel.
- 65.她对仆人说，那田间走来迎接我们的是谁？仆人说，是我主人。她便拿帕子蒙上自己的脸。And she said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant said, It is my master: and she took her veil, and covered herself.
- 66.仆人就将所办的一切事都告诉以撒。And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
- 67.以撒便领利百加进了他母亲撒拉的帐棚，娶了她为妻，并且爱她。以撒自从他母亲不在了，这才得了安慰。And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
这段经文的意思
本章呈现了神圣的引导如何在寻常的盟约事务中运作：誓言被起誓（第 2–9 节），旅程被踏出，祷告被献上（第 12 节），所求的兆头在祷告尚未结束时就已应验（第 15 节）。本段经文的 神学核心在于 hesed 与 ’emet——慈爱与信实——仆人称赞说『我主人亚伯拉罕的神耶和华，不曾撤去祂的慈爱和祂的信实待我主人』（第 27 节）。
婚姻在此被视为植根于家庭与信仰的盟约之事，而非出于个人偏好。亚伯拉罕禁止娶迦南女子为妻（第 3 节），并吩咐仆人回到自己的本族那里去（第 4 节）；以撒将利百加接入他母亲撒拉的帐棚，她便归以撒为妻（第 67 节）。利百加的同意被明确征询（『你愿意和这人同去么？……我去，』第 58 节），她的自由应允成为这桩婚事得以成立的一部分。
各条叙事线索在结尾交汇：仆人的差事大功告成，利百加被祝福为『千千万万人的母亲』（第 60 节），以撒『在他母亲去世后得了安慰』（第 67 节）。三大命运——亚伯拉罕的后裔、所应许的子孙，以及承受应许之地的应许——借由一次旅程、一口井、一桩婚姻得以延续。
背景
本章以惯用语『亚伯拉罕年老，年迈衰迈』开篇，标志着族长故事的转折。内部的起誓仪式（把手放在大腿下，第 2、9 节）与娶妻的吩咐同属一个场景；随后仆人携骆驼与礼物（第 10、22 节）启程，踏上远途差事。
中段叙事从城外的水井（第 11 节）推进，至仆人向彼土利的家人重述所托之事（第 34–49 节）。利百加的家人将这一结果归因于耶和华（『这事乃出于耶和华，』第 50 节），离别的祝福在启程时宣告（第 60 节），全章以以撒与利百加在田间私下相会收束（第 63–67 节）。
原文关键词
- H1288 动词 בָּרַךְ（bārak），在第 1 节译为『赐福』，含有屈膝或求恩之意；在创世记 24 章中，它既用于耶和华赐福亚伯拉罕（第 1 节），也用于亚伯拉罕『将所有所有的』交给他的继承人（第 36 节），以及家人祝福利百加为『千千万万人的母亲』（第 60 节）。
- H2204 形容词 זָקֵן（zāqēn，『年老』）出现于第 1 节，框定了亚伯拉罕的晚年，并引出本段的差遣场景。第 2 节中的相关形式 זְקַן（zəqan，『年长的』）描述仆人为『他家中年迈的管家』，显示出叙事对亚伯拉罕家中等级权威的关注。
- H7650 动词 שָׁבַע（『起誓』）见于第 3、9 节的起誓格式，并在第 37 节的复述中再次出现。凭『天地的主耶和华』起誓的格式（第 3 节）使为以撒寻找妻子之事被置于盟约之神之下，而非仅仅停留在家族协商的层面。
相关经文
- Genesis 22:17 神对亚伯拉罕的应许——『论福，我必赐大福给你；论子孙，我必使你的子孙如同天上的星……并且你的子孙必占有他们仇敌的城门』——构成了创世记 24:60 的 神学背景，彼处利百加被祝福其子孙必『占有那恨他们之人的城门』。以撒的诞生，正是那众多后裔得以而来的通道。
- Genesis 13:2 亚伯兰在牛群、银子和金子上的富有，铺垫了 24:35 中『耶和华大大地赐福给我主人』的画面，以及 24:22、53 中赠予利百加家人的丰厚首饰衣物。
- Genesis 24:27 本章之内，第 27 节是仆人的第一段祝祷：『耶和华是当受称颂的……祂的慈爱和信实没有离开我主人。』第 48 节的复述（『称颂耶和华……祂使我走对了路』）将整段旅程框定为一次盟约信实之举。
常见问题
亚伯拉罕为何禁止以撒娶迦南女子？
据本章记载，亚伯拉罕的誓言（第 3、37–38 节）吩咐仆人不可『在我所寄居之地迦南人的女子中』为以撒娶妻，而要回到亚伯拉罕的本乡本族去。本章未作进一步解释，而是将这一禁令作为族长为婚事所定的条件予以陈述。
利百加如何被确认为蒙选的新娘？
仆人定下一个兆头：那位被求水喝时，又主动提出为他的骆驼打水的女子（第 14 节）。利百加在仆人尚未说完话之前就成就了这一兆头（第 15、18–20 节）。随后仆人询问她的家世（第 23 节），得知她与亚伯拉罕的亲族关系（第 24 节），便敬拜耶和华，将这一结果归认为耶和华的引领（第 26–27、48 节）。
利百加是否同意这桩婚事？
是的。家人在商议是否延迟起程（第 55 节）之后，召来利百加问道：『你愿意和这人同去么？』她回答说：『我去』（第 58 节）。本章将她本人明确表达的同意记录为这桩婚事成立的一部分，随后她便与仆人以及她的乳母一同起程（第 59–61 节）。