that that they either rarely or never were seen in that country,
The servant got thither not under a considerable time; for it
requires much time to pass through Meopotamia, in which it is
tedious traveling, both in the winter for the depth of the clay,
and in summer for want of water; and, besides this, for the
robberies there committed, which are not to be avoided by
travelers but by caution beforehand. However, the servant came to
Haran; and when he was in the suburbs, he met a considerable
number of maidens going to the water; he therefore prayed to God
that Rebeka might be found among them, or her whom Abraham sent
him as his servant to espouse to his son, in case his will were
that this marriage should be consummated, and that she might be
made known to him by the sign, That while others denied him water
to drink, she might give it him.

2. With this intention he went to the well, and desired the
maidens to give him some water to drink: but while the others
refused, on pretense that they wanted it all at home, and could
spare none for him, one only of the company rebuked them for
their peevish behavior towards the stranger; and said, What is
there that you will ever communicate to anybody, who have not so
much as given the man some water? She then offered him water in
an obliging manner. And now he began to hope that his grand
affair would succeed; but desiring still to know the truth, he
commended her for her generosity and good nature, that she did
not scruple to afford a sufficiency of water to those that wanted
it, though it cost her some pains to draw it; and asked who were
her parents, and wished them joy of such a daughter. "And mayst
thou be espoused," said he, "to their satisfaction, into the
family of an agreeable husband, and bring him legitimate