The story begins with Abraham, who, concerned about finding the right wife for his son Isaac, sends his trusted servant Eliezer on a mission to Haran. Eliezer is laden with gifts and accompanied, according to tradition, by not one, but two angels – one to guard him, and another to watch over the destined bride, Rebekah! According to Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, the journey, which would normally take days, was miraculously shortened to mere hours because "the earth hastened to meet him in a wonderful way."
Upon arriving at the well in Haran, Eliezer devises a test. He prays to God that the woman destined to be Isaac's wife will be the one who, unlike the other maidens, offers him water (Genesis 24:12-14). Now, some might say this wish was "unseemly," as Ginzberg puts it. What if a simple servant girl had offered him water? But God, as always, had a plan.
Enter Rebekah. She arrives at the well, and not only readily offers Eliezer water, but also rebukes the other maidens for their lack of courtesy. Eliezer also notices something miraculous: the water rises up to meet her, saving her the effort of drawing it herself. He's convinced – this is the one. He presents her with a nose ring, set with a precious stone, foreshadowing the half-shekel that her descendants would later contribute to the sanctuary, and two bracelets, symbolizing the two tablets of stone and the Ten Commandments.
Rebekah, adorned with these gifts, returns home, and her brother Laban, seeing the wealth, rushes out to meet Eliezer. Laban initially intended to harm Eliezer and take his goods! But seeing Eliezer, Laban is reminded of Abraham and is intimidated. He greets him with feigned hospitality, saying, "Come in, thou blessed of the Lord! It is not becoming that thou shouldst stand without, I have cleansed my house of idols."
But the deceit doesn't end there. According to Legends of the Jews, when Eliezer arrives at Bethuel's house, they attempt to poison him! Luckily, Eliezer refuses to eat until he has explained his mission. While he recounts his story, the poisoned dish miraculously ends up in front of Bethuel, who eats it and dies!
Eliezer then presents the document in which Abraham deeds all his possessions to Isaac. At first, Rebekah's family agrees to let her go. But with Bethuel's death, they hesitate, wanting her to stay at least through the week of mourning. But Eliezer, seeing the angel waiting, insists on immediate departure. Rebekah, when asked, declares her readiness to go. Her mother and brother reluctantly grant their blessing – a blessing, however, that "did not come from the bottom of their hearts," and which, according to tradition, contributed to Rebekah's later struggles with infertility.
The return journey is as miraculous as the first. A seventeen-day trip is compressed into just three hours! Eliezer arrives in Hebron at the time of the Minhah prayer, which Isaac himself had instituted. Rebekah sees Isaac praying and is struck by his beauty and the angelic presence accompanying him. At that moment, she learns, through divine intuition (Ruach HaKodesh), that she is destined to be the mother of the wicked Esau. Terrified, she falls from her camel and injures herself.
Isaac, after hearing Eliezer's incredible story, takes Rebekah into his mother Sarah's tent. And here's where the magic truly happens. The cloud that had hovered over Sarah's tent during her lifetime, and vanished upon her death, reappears. The light that Sarah had kindled each Sabbath, and that had burned miraculously throughout the week, shines again. The blessing that had blessed Sarah's dough returns, and the gates of the tent are once again opened wide to the needy.
For three years, Isaac had mourned his mother's death, finding solace only in the academy of Shem and Eber. But Rebekah, a counterpart of Sarah in both appearance and spirit, finally brings him comfort. It's a beautiful testament to the power of connection and the enduring legacy of faith.
And what about Eliezer? As a reward for his loyal service, Abraham sets him free. The curse resting on the descendants of Canaan, according to Legends of the Jews, is transformed into a blessing for Eliezer because of his faithfulness. And, most remarkably, God deems him worthy of entering Paradise alive – a rare honor indeed.
So, what can we take away from this story? It's a reminder that love stories, even those divinely orchestrated, are filled with human drama, tests of faith, and moments of profound connection. It shows us the importance of kindness, loyalty, and the enduring power of a good blessing – or the consequences of a bad one. And perhaps, most importantly, it reminds us that even in the face of destiny, we always have a choice.