Finding a Man at the Well: Repetitive Scenes in Tanach

(1) And Abraham was old, well stricken in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. (2) And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had: ‘Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh. (3) And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell. (4) But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son, even for Isaac.’ (5) And the servant said unto him: ‘Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land; must I needs bring thy son back unto the land from whence thou camest?’ (6) And Abraham said unto him: ‘Beware thou that thou bring not my son back thither. (7) The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my nativity, and who spoke unto me, and who swore unto me, saying: Unto thy seed will I give this land; He will send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife for my son from thence. (8) And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath; only thou shalt not bring my son back thither.’ (9) And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter. (10) And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed; having all goodly things of his master’s in his hand; and he arose, and went to Aram-naharaim, unto the city of Nahor. (11) And he made the camels to kneel down without the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water. (12) And he said: ‘O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I pray Thee, good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. (13) Behold, I stand by the fountain of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water. (14) So let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say: Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say: Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also; let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant, even for Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast shown kindness unto my master.’ (15) And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. (16) And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her; and she went down to the fountain, and filled her pitcher, and came up. (17) And the servant ran to meet her, and said: ‘Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher.’ (18) And she said: ‘Drink, my lord’; and she hastened, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. (19) And when she had done giving him drink, she said: ‘I will draw for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.’ (20) And she hastened, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw, and drew for all his camels. (21) And the man looked stedfastly on her; holding his peace, to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. (22) And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; (23) and said: ‘Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee. Is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?’ (24) And she said unto him: ‘I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore unto Nahor.’ (25) She said moreover unto him: ‘We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.’ (26) And the man bowed his head, and prostrated himself before the LORD. (27) And he said: ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master; as for me, the LORD hath led me in the way to the house of my master’s brethren.’ (28) And the damsel ran, and told her mother’s house according to these words. (29) And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban; and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the fountain. (30) And it came to pass, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying: ‘Thus spoke the man unto me, ‘that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the fountain. (31) And he said: ‘Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have cleared the house, and made room for the camels.’ (32) And the man came into the house, and he ungirded the camels; and he gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men that were with him. (33) And there was set food before him to eat; but he said: ‘I will not eat, until I have told mine errand.’ And he said: ‘Speak on.’ (34) And he said: ‘I am Abraham’s servant. (35) And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great; and He hath given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and men-servants and maid-servants, and camels and asses. (36) And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and unto him hath he given all that he hath. (37) And my master made me swear, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell. (38) But thou shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son. (39) And I said unto my master: Peradventure the woman will not follow me. (40) And he said unto me: The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s house; (41) then shalt thou be clear from my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give her not to thee, thou shalt be clear from my oath. (42) And I came this day unto the fountain, and said: O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now Thou do prosper my way which I go: (43) behold, I stand by the fountain of water; and let it come to pass, that the maiden that cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say: Give me, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher to drink; (44) and she shall say to me: Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels; let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed for my master’s son. (45) And before I had done speaking to my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the fountain, and drew. And I said unto her: Let me drink, I pray thee. (46) And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said: Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also. So I drank, and she made the camels drink also. (47) And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? And she said: The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore unto him. And I put the ring upon her nose, and the bracelets upon her hands. (48) And I bowed my head, and prostrated myself before the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son. (49) And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.’ (50) Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said: ‘The thing proceedeth from the LORD; we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. (51) Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the LORD hath spoken.’ (52) And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth unto the LORD. (53) And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah; he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. (54) And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said: ‘Send me away unto my master.’ (55) And her brother and her mother said: ‘Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.’ (56) And he said unto them: ‘Delay me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.’ (57) And they said: ‘We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.’ (58) And they called Rebekah, and said unto her: ‘Wilt thou go with this man?’ And she said: ‘I will go.’ (59) And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men. (60) And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her: ‘Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them.’ (61) And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man. And the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. (62) And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the land of the South. (63) And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide; and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming. (64) And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel. (65) And she said unto the servant: ‘What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us?’ And the servant said: ‘It is my master.’ And she took her veil, and covered herself. (66) And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. (67) And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted for his mother.

(1) Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east. (2) And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it.—For out of that well they watered the flocks. And the stone upon the well’s mouth was great. (3) And thither were all the flocks gathered; and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back upon the well’s mouth in its place.— (4) And Jacob said unto them: ‘My brethren, whence are ye?’ And they said: ‘Of Haran are we.’ (5) And he said unto them: ‘Know ye Laban the son of Nahor?’ And they said: ‘We know him.’ (6) And he said unto them: ‘Is it well with him?’ And they said: ‘It is well; and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.’ (7) And he said: ‘Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together; water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.’ (8) And they said: ‘We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.’ (9) While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep; for she tended them. (10) And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. (11) And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. (12) And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son; and she ran and told her father. (13) And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. (14) And Laban said to him: ‘Surely thou art my bone and my flesh.’ And he abode with him the space of a month. (15) And Laban said unto Jacob: ‘Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?’ (16) Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. (17) And Leah’s eyes were weak; but Rachel was of beautiful form and fair to look upon. (18) And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said: ‘I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.’ (19) And Laban said: ‘It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.’ (20) And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. (21) And Jacob said unto Laban: ‘Give me my wife, for my days are filled, that I may go in unto her.’ (22) And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. (23) And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. (24) And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid. (25) And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban: ‘What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?’ (26) And Laban said: ‘It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born. (27) Fulfil the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.’ (28) And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife. (29) And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid. (30) And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

(15) Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well. (16) Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. (17) And the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. (18) And when they came to Reuel their father, he said: ‘How is it that ye are come so soon to-day?’ (19) And they said: ‘An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock.’ (20) And he said unto his daughters: ‘And where is he? Why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.’ (21) And Moses was content to dwell with the man; and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. (22) And she bore a son, and he called his name Gershom; for he said: ‘I have been a stranger in a strange land.’

(1) And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of valour, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz. (2) And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi: ‘Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find favour.’ And she said unto her: ‘Go, my daughter.’ (3) And she went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and her hap was to light on the portion of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. (4) And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers: ‘The LORD be with you.’ And they answered him: ‘The LORD bless thee.’ (5) Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers: ‘Whose damsel is this?’ (6) And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said: ‘It is a Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the field of Moab; (7) and she said: Let me glean, I pray you, and gather after the reapers among the sheaves; so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, save that she tarried a little in the house.’ (8) Then said Boaz unto Ruth: ‘Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens. (9) Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them; have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.’ (10) Then she fell on her face, and bowed down to the ground, and said unto him: ‘Why have I found favour in thy sight, that thou shouldest take cognizance of me, seeing I am a foreigner?’ (11) And Boaz answered and said unto her: ‘It hath fully been told me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people that thou knewest not heretofore. (12) The LORD recompense thy work, and be thy reward complete from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge.’

(11) As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them: ‘Is the seer here?’ (12) And they answered them, and said: ‘He is; behold, he is before thee; make haste now, for he is come to-day into the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place. (13) As soon as ye are come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that are bidden. Now therefore get you up; for at this time ye shall find him.’

(1) And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. (2) And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said: ‘I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore get her for me to wife.’ (3) Then his father and his mother said unto him: ‘Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?’ And Samson said unto his father: ‘Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.’ (4) But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines had rule over Israel.