Gen 24 – The Love Story of Isaac and Rebecca - Also, a controversy solved: almah and Bethuwlah.

She was blessed by Elohim and was the woman He had picked out for Isaac before she was born. Her full genealogy was given because in Genesis 22:20-24 we are told the Nahor also had children with a concubine. The child of a wife enjoyed higher prestige. She is described as "a virgin."

The Hebrew word "Bethuwlah" means "a young woman of marrying age whether married or not. When it is joined with the phrase, "no man had known her," then it connotates virginity. This passage made it a point to state "the girl was very beautiful, a virgin, and no man had had relations with her;" because they wanted to make sure that "Bethuwlah" in this case meant "virgin."

One of the most controversial passage in Scripture is Isaiah 7:14. It is often criticized whether or not the translation "virgin" was justified in that passage.

The Hebrew word "Bethuwlah" would be used instead of the word "almah" which also means "maiden " or "virgin."

Jewish scholars and liberal Christian scholars have debated for centuries over this issue claiming that "maiden" should be used instead of "virgin." However, this argument falls apart upon examination.

The word "almah" as in Isaiah 7:14 appears to always refer to a virgin. But in Joel 1:8, the term Betuwlah is used to describe a woman lamenting over the death of her husband.

Similar instances of Bethuwlah being used in reference to married woman are in the Talmud also. In the translating of the Septuagint, the term "almah" is referred to as virgin in Isaiah 7:14 also.

The controversy never materialized until there was an axe grind by Jewish Orthodox who are offended by the Truth of Yeshua as Messiah. So if a virgin is being spoken of, without other surrounding verbal support, the term almah, as used in Isaiah 7:14 is best.

Gen 24:17
Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar."

Gen 24:18
And she said, "Drink, my lord"; and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand, and gave him a drink.

Gen 24:19
Now when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw also for your camels until they have finished drinking."

This young woman showed a servants heart and a love for her neighbor. Drawing that much water and giving it to the camels until they were full was hard work. A single camel could drink as much as 30 gallons of water in ten minutes. This was the specific sign asked for and was the specific sign given.

Gen 24:20
So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran back to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels.

Gen 24:21
Meanwhile, the man was gazing at her in silence, to know whether the LORD had made his journey successful or not.