Rebecca Receiving the Bracelet at the Well
Artist: Benjamin West (American, 1738β1820)
Date: 1775
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, CT, United States
Description
Abraham, advancing in age, made his servant swear an oath not to take a wife for Isaac from the local Canaanite women. The servant arrived in the town of Nahor and stopped by the city well. Knowing that the local women would come to draw water in the evening, he devised a test to find the right woman. He prayed that the maiden who not only offered him a drink but also voluntarily offered to water his thirsty camels should be the one God intended for Isaac.
Before he finished praying, a beautiful young woman named Rebecca arrived with her water jar on her shoulder. She graciously fulfilled the servant's prayer by drawing water for both him and his entire caravan of camels. Amazed by her hospitality and the swift answer to his prayer, the servant gifted her a gold nose ring and two gold bracelets.
