It was a magical time and they were all caught up in the romantic purpose of their journey. This time it was not for trade or adventure but to find a young woman and bring her back as a bride for Abraham’s handsome son. None of them knew if such a woman existed. After all their effort and struggle, the journey could prove futile. To any thoughtful man it would seem foolishness. The dream of the old man who stood before them spurred them on. To him it was all-important and so they must go and do their best.
Abraham must have sensed some of their doubts because he again reminded them, “The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and which spoke to me saying, ‘unto your seed I will give this land’; He shall send His angel before you and you shall take a wife for my son from there.” The steady look in his eyes and the firm assurance in his voice gave them confidence. However, their ultimate comfort during difficulties on the road would come from his reminder that an angel would go before them to prepare the way.
At the last moment, just as Eleazar was ready to mount and give the word for the caravan to move out along the path, Isaac motioned for him to wait. From his leather girdle he took a small box of intricate design. “When you find the maiden it would please me for you to give her these. They were my mother’s most prized possessions.”
He opened the box and showed Eleazar the earrings of pure beaten gold and two bracelets of ten shekels weight. “You will have other jewels to give her and other more costly ornaments, but this is more precious because it is all that I have of real value from my mother.”
Isaac was confused and unsure of his true feelings. He simply knew that this would have pleased his mother and he determined, for her sake, to go along with the plans peacefully.
Abraham wept in the darkness of the predawn mist and was comforted. He knew by the gift that Isaac too was beginning to trust the dream. Perhaps, in time, he would also stop yearning for the princess of Gerar.
They stood together and watched as the camels moved out and away onto the road that led up the valley to Beersheba.
* * *
As Eleazar traveled, he thought about the young woman he was to choose. What sort of woman must she be, and how would he recognize her? At first he thought that surely he must choose the most beautiful maiden. She would be competing for Isaac’s heart with the princess of Gerar. He pictured himself looking over any women who might be in Nahor’s family and then choosing the most attractive one.
However as he rode along he found his whole concept changing. Physical beauty did not last. He had seen young girls who were astonishingly beautiful who soon after the marriage became frumpish and coarse. Then again he had seen women who were quite plain blossom into women of real beauty.
How could one possibly tell what a woman would become? How would Elohim judge the right woman for Abraham’s son? He thought of Isaac’s attraction to Anatah’s beauty. He knew nothing about her disposition or character. It was obvious that this was not the way to choose a partner for life.
He pondered over the various traits that were important. She should be honest and kind; one almost took these for granted. Beyond that, he began to see that if a woman was always complaining and unhappy, a husband would soon tire of her, and if she was selfish, it would color all her relationships.
His final conclusion was that a generous, happy woman would make the best choice. One would not tire of her and he had noted that generous people were usually happy. Sorting out the women of Haran might be very difficult. He would have to take it one step at a time and depend on Elohim to guide him.
* * *
The caravan traveled at night when it was cooler, and finally arrived in sight of the town of Haran just at daybreak. Eleazar knew the women of the village would soon be going to the well to draw water, and so he found the well and camped there. He could observe them and perhaps get some clue as to what sort of women he would find in Haran. Surely the women who came for water at this hour would not be the lazy, unpleasant ones.
He stopped near the well and directed his camels with their drivers to rest in the shade of a large almond tree. It was the time of year that the tart, green outer shell of the almond was especially good, and since the tree was out in the open and unprotected, they felt sure it was public property. Eleazar plucked a handful of green almonds and then sat on the low stone wall beside the well.
He could see that the water was reached by six stone steps that were uneven and worn from constant use. The morning sun cast a warm glow on the smooth stones of the wall and glinted from the leaves of the caper plants that grew out of the cracks. Off to one side was a stone trough, and Eleazar surmised that this well was also used for watering the flocks.