REBEKAH

Rebekah was God's choice.

 

    Abraham's future daughter-in-law manifested hospitality and industry like Abraham's.  Ten thirsty camels could drink 250 gallons of water, so a woman who would work that hard for a stranger was certainly not lazy, but generous and hospitable.  The servant received a precise, immediate answer to his prayer for guidance.”  —NLT Study Bible

     “When she had finished, the man took an expensive gold ring and put it in her nose and put two large gold bracelets on her arms. 23 He said, "Please tell me who your father is. Is there room in his house for my men and me to spend the night?" 24 "My father is Bethuel son of Nahor and Milcah," she answered. 25 "There is plenty of straw and fodder at our house, and there is a place for you to stay." 26 Then the man knelt down and worshiped the Lord. 27 He said, "Praise the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has faithfully kept his promise to my master. The Lord has led me straight to my master's relatives."  Gen 24:22-27 (TEV)

     "I am the servant of Abraham," he began. 35 "The Lord has greatly blessed my master and made him a rich man. He has given him flocks of sheep and goats, cattle, silver, gold, male and female slaves, camels, and donkeys. 36 Sarah, my master's wife, bore him a son when she was old, and my master has given everything he owns to him. 37 My master made me promise with a vow to obey his command. He said, 'Do not choose a wife for my son from the young women in the land of Canaan. 38 Instead, go to my father's people, to my relatives, and choose a wife for him.' 39 And I asked my master, 'What if she will not come with me?' 40 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. 41 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.'”

Gen 24:34-41 (TEV)

     “The way that God directed this event from behind the scenes is different than in most of Genesis, but it is true to how the life of faith normally works. Faith, expressed in personal prayer and obedience, looks for evidence of God's working. Believers usually have to make wise choices and remain faithful to the covenant, trusting that God will guide them through the circumstances of life to accomplish his will.”—NLT Study Bible

     “It was hard for Rebekah's family to let her go so suddenly, and Laban may have hoped to gain more wealth. However, the servant had sworn an oath and would not rest until it was completed. There was no reason for him to stay.  Rebekah's decision to leave immediately to be with her new husband settled the impasse. Rebekah submitted to the Lord's obvious leading. Young women were normally eager to marry (not to marry was a catastrophe), and later accounts of Laban suggest why Rebekah preferred to leave (cp. 31:14-15). Rebekah displayed faithful love to the servant, Abraham's family, and Isaac by going to be Isaac's wife.  At Rebekah's departure, her family invoked the blessing that she would be a mother of many millions and that her descendants would conquer... their enemies. Rebekah's marriage to Isaac was part of God's plan to bless all humankind (12:1-3).” —NLT Study Bible

     “Isaac lived in the Negev, in the southern part of Canaan.

Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah, so Abraham was 140.”  —NLT Study Bible

     “Exactly when Abraham married... Keturah is unknown. It was probably, but not necessarily, after Sarah's death.  The birth of these nations from Abraham partially fulfilled God's promise to him (12:2; 17:4).  Sheba and Dedan: Cp. 10:7. Abraham's descendants probably settled in these regions and became identified by their names, along with people of other lineage.  Abraham loved all his sons, so before he died, he gave them gifts and sent them away as he had sent Ishmael.  In this way, he preserved Isaac's position as his heir.

     Gen 25:7-8 Abraham's death is recorded before the births of Jacob and Esau, but he lived until they were fifteen years old (25:19-26; cp. 21:5; 25:26). This literary arrangement closes Abraham's story before focusing on Isaac's family.”

—NLT Study Bible

     “Abraham died at the ripe old age of 175. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in Machpelah Cave, in the field east of Mamre that had belonged to Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite. 10 It was the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites; both Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried there. 11 After the death of Abraham, God blessed his son Isaac, who lived near "The Well of the Living One Who Sees Me."
(Beer Lahai Roi).”   Gen 25:7-11 (TEV)

     “This is the story of Abraham's son Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebecca, the daughter of Bethuel (an Aramean from Mesopotamia) and sister of Laban. 21 Because Rebecca had no children, Isaac prayed to the Lord for her. The Lord answered his prayer, and Rebecca became pregnant. 22 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. 23 The Lord said to her, "Two nations are within you; You will give birth to two rival peoples. One will be stronger than the other; The older will serve the younger." 24 The time came for her to give birth, and she had twin sons. 25 The first one was reddish, and his skin was like a hairy robe, so he was named Esau. 26 The second one was born holding on tightly to the heel of Esau, so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.”  Gen 25:19-26 (TEV)

     The time came for her to give birth, and she had twin sons. 25 The first one was reddish, and his skin was like a hairy robe, so he was named Esau. 26 The second one was born holding on tightly to the heel of Esau, so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.” Gen 25:24-26 (TEV)

     “The boys grew up, and Esau became a skilled hunter, a man who loved the outdoors, but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home. 28 Isaac preferred Esau, because he enjoyed eating the animals Esau killed, but Rebecca preferred Jacob. 29 One day while Jacob was cooking some bean soup, Esau came in from hunting. He was hungry 30 and said to Jacob, "I'm starving; give me some of that red stuff." (That is why he was named Edom. ) 31 Jacob answered, "I will give it to you if you give me your rights as the first-born son." 32 Esau said, "All right! I am about to die; what good will my rights do me?" 33 Jacob answered, "First make a vow that you will give me your rights." Esau made the vow and gave his rights to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave him some bread and some of the soup. He ate and drank and then got up and left. That was all Esau cared about his rights as the first-born son.”  Gen 25:27-34 (TEV)