ch 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 children." Nor did she disdain to satisfy his
inquiries, but told him her family. "They," says she, "call me Rebeka;
my father was Bethuel, but he is dead; and Laban is my brother; and,
together with my mother, takes care of all our family affairs, and is
the guardian of my virginity." When the servant heard this, he was very
glad at what had happened, and at what was told him, as perceiving that
God had thus plainly directed his journey; and producing his bracelets,
and some other ornaments which it was esteemed decent for virgins to
wear, he gave them to the damsel, by way of acknowledgment, and as a
reward for her kindness in giving him water to drink; saying, it was but
just that she should have them, because she was so much more obliging
than any of the rest. She desired also that he would co