![Bartolomé Esteban Murillo - Rebecca and Eliezer [c.1655] by Gandalf's Gallery](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7319/9123043773_21405450c8.jpg)
Abraham went about finding a wife for his son Isaac, who was already thirty-seven years old. He commanded his servant Eleizer of Damascus to journey to his birthplace of Aram Naharaim to select a bride from his own family, rather than engage Isaac to a local Canaanite girl. Abraham sent along expensive jewelry, clothing and dainties as gifts to the bride and her family. If the girl had refused to follow him, Abraham stated that Eliezer would be absolved of his responsibility.
Eliezer devised a test in order to find the right wife for Isaac. As he stood at the central well in Abraham's birthplace with his men and ten camels laden with goods, he prayed to God:
"Let it be that the maiden to whom I shall say, 'Please tip over your jug so I may drink,' and who replies, 'Drink, and I will even water your camels,' her will You have designated for Your servant, for Isaac.”
To his surprise, a young girl immediately came out and offered to draw water for him to drink, as well as water to fill the troughs for all his camels. Rebecca continued to draw water until all the camels were sated, proving her kind and generous nature and her suitability for entering Abraham's household.
[Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid - Oil on canvas, 108 x 151.5 cm]