Rebekah Drawing Water From a Spring WellBible World

Genesis 24:11

And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.

The verse places Abraham's servant with his camels outside the city, identified as Nahor by Haran, beside a well of water in the evening, at the time when the women go out to draw water. The servant had halted there while seeking God's guidance in choosing a wife for Isaac, and the setting gave him opportunity to meet the local women. At that well outside the city where people gathered, he watched Rebekah's courteous conduct and received the evidence he had asked God to give him in choosing Isaac's wife. It describes Abraham's messenger arriving at a well with attendants and camels bearing rich gifts, in contrast to Jacob, who later arrived at a well as a lone, foot-sore traveler with only his staff.

The verse belongs to the account of Abraham arranging a suitable wife for Isaac through his experienced, God-fearing servant's mission. That account teaches parents to guide their children's affections toward a suitable companion and to instruct them to respect parental authority rather than leave their affections entirely unrestrained, as part of raising them to a life of obedience.

That account presents Isaac as an example for children who profess to fear God, in trusting God to direct him in obtaining a wife, deferring to his father's judgment, accepting the choice made by his God-fearing father's servant, and seeking God's direction with parental guidance, which led to a happy marriage.