Rebekah Meets Isaac

Rebekah, then, was sitting on the camel. When she reached the country, before she came near, she looked up and saw Isaac with her own eyes, and she jumped down from the camel. Do you see her strength? Do you see her physical vigor? “She jumped down from the camel.” Such strength was joined to their chastity. And she said to the servant, “Who is that man walking in the field?” The servant replied, “He is my master.” Then she took her veil and covered herself.

Notice how her chastity is witnessed everywhere—how modest and reverent she was. “Isaac took her, and she became his wife, and he loved her; and he was comforted concerning Sarah his mother.” Scripture did not simply say that he loved her and was comforted concerning Sarah his mother. It said this so that you might learn the grounds of the affection and love with which the woman arrived from her own home. Who would not love such a woman—so chaste, so orderly, so hospitable, kind, and gentle, courageous in soul and strong in body?

I have said these things not merely so that you may hear them, nor merely so that after hearing them you may praise them, but so that you may imitate them. Fathers, imitate the patriarch's care in seeking a wife without pretense. He did not seek money, distinguished birth, physical beauty, or anything else, but nobility of soul alone. Mothers, raise your daughters in this way. And you bridegrooms who are about to take wives, take them with such dignity: banish dancing, laughter, shameful speech, pipes, flutes, devilish display, and all other such things, and always ask God to become the mediator in everything that is done.