And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights a specific, deliberate choice of timing: the servant arrives "at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water." This isn't just a happenstance of travel; it's strategic, placing him where he's most likely to encounter the very person he's seeking and observe her character in action, preparing for the divine orchestration that's about to unfold.
And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Abraham's servant is on a crucial mission: to find a wife for Isaac from Abraham's own family, far from the Canaanites. After a long journey to Mesopotamia, he arrives at the city of Nahor and strategically stops by a well at the very time women would come to draw water. This sets the stage for his divinely guided encounter to identify the chosen bride for Isaac.
Why did Abraham's servant make his camels kneel down at a specific time and place?
Abraham's servant wasn't just resting his camels; he was strategically positioning himself. Making the camels kneel outside the city by the well at evening time was a deliberate choice. This wasn't a random stop. It was the precise moment when women typically came out to draw water. This wasn't about convenience for the camels alone; it was about encountering the right person at the right time. The servant's action shows a deep understanding of the culture and a reliance on God's timing. He set the stage for divine intervention by placing himself in a place where his prayer could be answered.
What makes a simple well the perfect backdrop for a life-changing encounter?
The well was more than just a source of water; it was a social hub, a place where community happened, and where character was revealed. For Abraham's servant, it was the chosen spot to seek a bride for Isaac. This wasn't accidental. By waiting at the well during this specific time, he created a scenario where the future wife of Isaac would not only be found but would also demonstrate crucial qualities like diligence, kindness, and hospitality. The act of drawing water was essential work, and how someone approached this task, and whether they extended kindness beyond the immediate need, spoke volumes about their heart. The well, therefore, becomes a testing ground, a place where God's provision for Isaac's future would be unveiled through a simple, yet profound, act of service.
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c. 2000 BC
Abraham leaves Ur
Abraham, a prominent figure in ancient Near Eastern history, leaves his homeland in Ur of the Chaldeans at God's command. This event marks the beginning of God's covenantal promises with Abraham and his descendants, setting the stage for the future of his lineage.
c. 1950 BC
Abraham's Journeys
Abraham journeys through Canaan, a land promised to him and his descendants by God. He lives as a sojourner, demonstrating faith and obedience despite the challenges and nomadic lifestyle.
c. 1900 BC— this verse
Abraham's servant sent to Nahor
As Abraham ages, he entrusts his most trusted servant with a crucial mission: to find a wife for his son Isaac from among Abraham's relatives in Mesopotamia, ensuring the continuation of the covenant lineage.
c. 1900 BC
The well at Haran
The servant arrives at the city of Nahor (Haran) and stops at a well of water in the evening, the common time for women to gather and draw water, as he seeks a sign from God to identify Isaac's future wife.
c. 1900 BC
Rebekah's encounter at the well
Rebekah, a young woman of noble lineage, appears at the well. She demonstrates exceptional kindness and diligence by not only offering water to the servant but also to his ten camels, fulfilling the sign he had prayed for.
This passage highlights a similar scene where a woman is found at a place associated with work and community, with a sense of expectation in the air, mirroring the communal gathering at the well.
John 4:7-15This narrative also features a significant encounter at a well, emphasizing the importance of wells as meeting places and the act of drawing water as a communal activity where divine appointments can occur.
Exodus 2:16-20Similar to this passage, women are depicted as gathering at a well for the essential task of drawing water, leading to an important encounter and interaction with a stranger.
Proverbs 31:10-31This passage describes the qualities of a virtuous woman, many of which are indirectly showcased by Rebekah's actions at the well, such as diligence, service, and hospitality.
clarkeGenesis 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."
He made his camels to kneel down - To rest themselves, or lie down, as the Septuagint has very properly expressed it, Και εκοιμισε τας καμηλους. The time that women go out to draw water - In Bengal it is the universal practice for the women to go to pools and rivers to fetch water. Companies of four, six, ten, or more, may be seen i…
calvinGenesis 24:1-67: "And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things."
The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
Iehova Deus coeli, qui tulit me e domo patris mei, et e terra cognationis meae, et qui loquutus est…
The verse highlights a specific, deliberate choice of timing: the servant arrives "at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water." This isn't just a happenstance of travel; it's strategic, placing him where he's most likely to encounter the very person he's seeking and observe her character in action, preparing for the divine orchestration that's about to unfold.
Abraham's servant is on a crucial mission: to find a wife for Isaac from Abraham's own family, far from the Canaanites. After a long journey to Mesopotamia, he arrives at the city of Nahor and strategically stops by a well at the very time women would come to draw water. This sets the stage for his divinely guided encounter to identify the chosen bride for Isaac.
Abraham's servant is on a crucial mission: to find a wife for Isaac from Abraham's own family, far from the Canaanites. After a long journey to Mesopotamia, he arrives at the city of Nahor and strategically stops by a well at the very time women would come to draw water. This sets the stage for his divinely guided encounter to identify the chosen bride for Isaac.
"And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water." — The verse highlights a specific, deliberate choice of timing: the servant arrives "at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water." This isn't just a happenstance of travel; it's st…
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Last reviewed October 2026