THE HOLY BIBLE
TELEPLAY EDITION
Episode 1009
“Rebekah”
by
George Willson
Based on the novel by God
TEASER
EXT. ABRAHAM’S ENCAMPMENT –
SUPER: “2087 Anno Mundi”
Eliezer, Abraham’s chief servant, walks across the camp and
walks into Abraham’s tent.
INT. ABRAHAM’S TENT – DAY
Abraham, now 140, sits in his tent, waiting
for Eliezer. Eliezer
enters and sits in front of Abraham.
ELIEZER
You
sent for me, Abraham?
ABRAHAM
Yes, Eliezer. You know that a few
months ago, I received word that
my brother, Nahor, died.
ELIEZER
Yes,
sir.
ABRAHAM
And
my nephew,
ELIEZER
Man
is not living as long as he
used to.
ABRAHAM
Well
said. As you know, then, I am
also old and well advanced in years
myself. The Lord has blessed me in
every way, but I do not know the
day of my own death. Put your hand
under my thigh.
Abraham lifts his leg in order for Eliezer to place his hand
under Abraham’s thigh.
ABRAHAM
I
want you to swear by the Lord, the
God
of heaven and the God of earth,
that you will not get a wife for my
son from the daughters of the
Canaanites,
among whom I am living,
but will go to my country and my own
relatives and get a wife for my son
Isaac.
ELIEZER
What
are the names of your brother’s
sons, so I may identify them when
I
arrive?
ABRAHAM
My
brother Nahor had eight sons by his
wife Milcah who live in
Kemuel, Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph,
and Bethuel. By his concubine, Reumah,
he also had Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and
Maacah.
ELIEZER
What
if the woman is unwilling to
come back with me to this land? Shall
I
then take your son back to the
country you came from?
ABRAHAM
Make
sure you do not take my son back
there. The Lord, the God of heaven,
who brought me out of my father’s
household and my native land and who
spoke to me and promised me on oath,
saying, “To your offspring I will
give this land” – he will send his
angel before you so that you can get
a wife for my son from there. If the
woman is unwilling to come back with
you, then you will be released from
this oath of mine. Only do not take
my son back there.
ELIEZER
I
swear it.
Eliezer withdraws his hand.
ABRAHAM
Go
now. As you know, my son, Isaac,
is learning the ways of the Lord
from Shem, the son of Noah, and his
great-grandson, Eber. I’m going to
send Unic to bring him home.
ELIEZER
How
old is Shem these days?
ABRAHAM
Old. He was with Noah during the
flood and even then, he was almost
one hundred. That was over four
hundred years ago.
ELIEZER
How
long do you think he’ll live?
ABRAHAM
Noah
was nine-hundred fifty when
he died, so I imagine Shem will get
up to six hundred at this rate.
ELIEZER
Amazing,
although I know such ages
used to be commonplace in the old
days.
Eliezer gets up and stands before Abraham.
ELIEZER
What
do you wish me to take in
payment to your family in
ABRAHAM
Ten
camels, and a fair supply of
your own judgment from my things.
ELIEZER
I
can do it. I will return soon.
Eliezer slips out of the tent.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
EXT.
Eliezer leads the camels into the town of
them by a watering place. He has the camels kneel by the
watering place. The sun is low in the sky.
Eliezer looks around. There are women coming to and from around
the watering place with jars on their heads. Few give him any
notice. Those that do, mostly ignore him. He prays.
ELIEZER
O
Lord, God of my master Abraham,
give me success today, and show
kindness to my master Abraham. See,
I
am standing beside this spring,
and the daughters of the townspeople
are coming out to draw water. May
it be that when I say to a girl,
“Please
let down your jar that I may
have a drink,” and she says, “Drink
and I’ll draw water for your camels
too” – let her be the one you have
chosen for your servant Isaac. By
this I will know that you have shown
kindness to my master.
Before he completes his prayer a girl of 15,
REBEKAH, walks to
the watering place with a jar on her head. Eliezer
watches her.
She lowers her jar at the watering place,
filling it with water.
She raises it back to her head and begins
walking back. Eliezer
walks over to her.
REBEKAH
Yes,
sir?
ELIEZER
Please
give me a little water from
your jar.
REBEKAH
Drink,
my lord.
Rebekah lowers her jar. Eliezer takes a
drink. She looks over to
his camels. Eliezer finishes drinking.
REBEKAH
I’ll
draw water for your camels
too.
She dumps all of her water into a trough
where the camels sit.
They begin drinking as she refills her jar
from the well and
dumps more into the trough. She refills her jar a third time, he
approaches her.
ELIEZER
I
would like to thank you for your
generosity.
He goes to one of the camels and takes out a
gold nose ring
(about 1/5 ounce)
and two gold bracelets (about 4 ounces). He
hands these items to her.
REBEKAH
Thank
you.
ELIEZER
Thank
you. Tell me, whose daughter
are you? And is there room in your
father’s house for us to spend the
night?
REBEKAH
I
am the daughter of Bethuel, the
son that Milcah bore to Nahor. We
have plenty of straw and fodder, as
well as room to spend the night.
ELIEZER
Thank
you.
REBEKAH
Please
wait here, while I tell my
father and brothers of this and they
will come to meet you.
Rebekah lifts the jar and goes home as fast as she can. Eliezer
falls to his knees.
ELIEZER
Praise
be to the Lord, the God of my
master Abraham, who has not abandoned
his kindness and faithfulness to my
master. As for me, the Lord has led me
on the journey to the house of my
master’s relatives.
EXT. BETHUEL’S HOUSE – SUNSET
Rebekah runs across the city to her house and enters.
INT. BETHUEL’S HOUSE – SUNSET
She quickly sets down the jar. In the room
listening are LABAN
(her brother),
BETHUEL (her father), and ARAMAH (her mother).
They rise at her swift entrance.
BETHUEL
Rebekah, what’s wrong? Where did you
get the nose ring and bracelets?
REBEKAH
Father,
there is a man at the
watering place who requires shelter
for himself and his camels. He gave
me these for giving him water. I told
him we have space for him.
BETHUEL
Laban, go prepare the stable and
bring this man to us, so he may stay
tonight. We cannot let a traveler
remain outside.
LABAN
Yes,
father.
Laban leaves.
BETHUEL
Well
done, Rebekah. You make us proud.
REBEKAH
Thank you, father.
EXT.
Eliezer stands waiting by the camels. Laban runs
out to him.
LABAN
You
are the man who gave Rebekah,
my sister, the ring and bracelets?
ELEIZER
I
am.
LABAN
Come,
you who are blessed by the
Lord.
Why are you standing out here?
I
have prepared the house and a
place for the camels.
ELIEZER
Thank
you.
Eliezer walks behind Laban as he leads the
camels.
LABAN
So
where did you come from?
ELIEZER
I
was born in
this time from
tent of my master.
LABAN
And
why are you in
city of
ELIEZER
I
am here on a mission from my master.
I
will tell all when we reach your
home and family.
LABAN
So
be it.
EXT. BETHUEL’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Laban leads Eliezer from the place of the
camels to the house
and enters.
INT. BETHUEL’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Laban leads Eliezer inside. Other members
of the family are
inside the house.
LABAN
Is
this the man, Rebekah?
REBEKAH
Yes,
it is.
LABAN
He
says he is on a mission for his
master in
BETHUEL
Aramah, we have a guest. We must
feed him like a king.
Aramah gathers the food she had prepared.
ARAMAH
Rebekah, help me with the food.
Rebekah assists her mother putting the food out on the table.
ELIEZER
Thank
you for your hospitality. But
I
will not eat until I have told you
what I have to say.
LABAN
Then
tell us.
ELIEZER
I
am Abraham’s servant.
Everyone reacts favorably to this news,
knowing who Abraham is.
BETHUEL
My
father’s brother is well known
to us and the people of this land.
ELIEZER
The
Lord has blessed my master
abundantly, and he has become wealthy.
He
has given him sheep and cattle,
silver and gold, manservants and
maidservants, and camels and donkeys.
My
master’s wife Sarah has borne him
a son in her old age, and he has
given him everything he owns. My
master made me swear an oath, and
said, “You must not get a wife for my
son from the daughters of the
Canaanites...”
TIME PASSES
Everyone is entranced by this story. Rebekah appears a little
shell-shocked, knowing the Lord has selected her as a wife
for
Isaac.
ELIEZER
...Then
I put the ring in her nose
and the bracelets on her arms, and
I
bowed down and worshiped the Lord.
I
praised the Lord, the God of my
master Abraham, who had led me on
the right road to get the grand-
daughter of my master’s brother for
his son.
Eliezer looks around the assembly. Bethuel is
unreadable.
ELIEZER
Now
if you will show kindness and
faithfulness to my master, tell me;
and if not, tell me, so I may know
which way to turn.
Laban and Bethuel looks at each other. Laban shrugs and nods.
Bethuel looks at Eliezer.
BETHUEL
This
is from the Lord; we can say
nothing to you one way or the other.
Bethuel holds his arm out to Rebekah, who
walks over to him to
stand before him.
BETHUEL
Here
is Rebekah; take her and go, and
let her become the wife of your
master’s son, as the Lord has directed.
Eliezer smiles and kneels to the ground.
ELIEZER
Praise
be to the Lord, the god of my
master Abraham. Praise be to the
Lord
who has granted me success on
the mission for my master.
Eliezer rises and looks at Bethuel.
ELIEZER
Bethuel, nephew of my master, Abraham
would not ask anything of you without
giving of himself in return. Come
with me. I have gold and silver and
fine clothing for you, your family,
and especially Rebekah.
BETHUEL
Your
gifts will come later. Now, we
eat!
The assembly loudly approves.
INT. REBEKAH’S ROOM – NIGHT
DEBORAH, a servant of the family, prepares Rebekah for bed.
Rebekah appears to still be a little shocked at this
development.
REBEKAH
What
am I to do, Deborah? Today,
I
am a daughter, but tomorrow, I
am to be a wife?
DEBORAH
The
choice is not yours to make. It
rests with your father.
REBEKAH
Of
course it does. Whatever he
decides for me, I must obey, but
I
am the one who must deal with
his decision.
DEBORAH
You
don’t feel ready for this
burden?
REBEKAH
I
don’t know what this burden is.
DEBORAH
Do
you believe his mission is from
the Lord?
REBEKAH
Do
you?
DEBORAH
I
have no reason not to, but the
decision is not mine to make. If the
choice were yours and not your
father’s, would you choose to go
with him or stay here?
Rebekah stares off and ponders this question deep within her.
EXT. BETHUEL’S HOUSE – DAY
Eliezer is preparing the camels to leave with provisions.
Satisfied that all is ready, he enters Bethuel’s house.
INT. BETHUEL’S HOUSE – DAY
Laban and Aramah are present. Eliezer speaks to Laban.
ELIEZER
All
is ready. Send me on my way to
my master.
Laban stands. He is apparently not ready to release his sister.
LABAN
Let
the girl remain with us for a
little while.
ELIEZER
A little while?
ARAMAH
Ten days or so. Then you may go.
ELIEZER
Do
not detain me now that the Lord
has granted success to my journey.
LABAN
You
come here only yesterday, and
she is to leave us today?
ELIEZER
Please,
send me on my way so I may
go to my master.
ARAMAH
Let’s
call the girl and ask her
about it. If she is to be a wife,
then she is certainly able to
make decisions for herself. Laban,
call Rebekah.
LABAN
Yes,
mother.
Laban runs out of the room. Aramah looks at
Eliezer. She appears
triumphant, while he is just angry.
ELIEZER
This
is humiliating.
ARAMAH
Please
do not wear out your welcome
with ugly words.
ELIEZER
Bethuel decided this last night.
Why
frustrate his decision?
ARAMAH
Never
mind that. Here is Rebekah.
Rebekah enters the room, accompanied by Laban
and a servant,
DEBORAH.
REBEKAH
Yes,
mother?
ARAMAH
Rebekah, here is the stranger who
made the claims last night regarding
your future and his master. Tell
me now, and do not be afraid of the
truth, child, will you go with this
man?
Rebekah looks at her mother with the greatest of sincerity.
Eliezer stands nervously, his mission hanging in a precarious
balance. Aramah watches her daughter, almost
knowing she will
not wish to leave.
REBEKAH
I
will go.
Aramah is shocked. Eliezer breathes a sigh
of relief.
ARAMAH
You
will ... go?
REBEKAH
The
Lord has chosen me as a wife for
his master’s son. Since the Lord has
called me for this, I must go.
Aramah relaxes and accepts the decision.
ARAMAH
You
have spoken wisely, daughter.
Aramah hugs Rebekah.
ARAMAH
I
love you.
REBEKAH
I
love you too, mother.
Aramah stands back and looks to Deborah.
ARAMAH
Take
care of her, Deborah, as you
always have.
DEBORAH
Yes,
ma’am.
Rebekah hugs Laban.
LABAN
Take
care of yourself.
REBEKAH
I
will. Perhaps our children will
get together as well.
LABAN
Maybe.
REBEKAH
Good-bye.
LABAN
Bye.
Rebekah turns to Eliezer. Deborah walks up
behind her.
ELIEZER
Are
you ready?
REBEKAH
I
am.
ELIEZER
Then
let’s go.
EXT.
Rebekah and Deborah ride their camels led by Eliezer
on his.
They cross the vast plains between
about 320 miles.
EXT. ABRAHAM’S ENCAMPMENT –
Isaac, now 40, walks over to Abraham, who is
sitting under a
tree.
ISAAC
Father,
has Eliezer returned yet?
ABRAHAM
Not
yet, Isaac. I watch the
horizon daily, and he has not yet
returned. Be patient, however.
It
is several days’ journey from
here to
further than Shem’s house in
Beer Lahai Roi
in the
ISAAC
Still,
it has been a couple of
weeks since he left, hasn’t it?
ABRAHAM
Relax.
He will return. If you have
doubts, go into the fields and
talk to God. He will ease your
mind.
ISAAC
Yes,
father.
EXT. FIELDS OF ABRAHAM – DAY
Isaac walks out to the grazing areas of the
flocks. He climbs
upon a large rock and sits. He closes his eyes and bows his
head, like he is thinking quietly.
ISAAC
Oh,
God in heaven, creator of
all things, is the mission of
my father’s servant to find me
a wife among his kin to be a
success.
GOD
Isaac,
look up.
Isaac lifts his head to find three camels
approaching. He stands
and squints his eyes to see. It is Eliezer,
Rebekah, and
Deborah. Isaac walks out to them.
Rebekah sees Isaac and halts her camel. She gets down and walks
a
few steps towards him. She turns to Eliezer, who gets
down as
well.
REBEKAH
Who
is that man in the field coming
to meet us?
ELIEZER
He
is my master’s son, Isaac.
Rebekah nods, and covers her face with he veil. Deborah
approaches behind her. Isaac reaches them. Rebekah averts her
eyes, modestly.
ISAAC
Eliezer, welcome
back. Who is this?
ELIEZER
This
is Rebekah, the grand-daughter
of your father’s brother. She is
to be your wife.
Isaac looks at Rebekah.
He takes her hand.
ISAAC
Welcome,
Rebekah. I am honored by
your presence.
REBEKAH
And
I, you.
ISAAC
Come.
My father awaits.
EXT. ABRAHAM’S ENCAMPMENT – LATER
Isaac and Rebekah
stand before Abraham.
ABRAHAM
Isaac.
Rebekah.
You will now
become one before the Lord.
As
husband and wife, you are
pledged to each other and no
one else for as long as you
both live.
Isaac takes Rebekah’s
hand and they enter Abraham’s tent.
INT. ABRAHAM’S TENT – DAY
Isaac and Rebekah
stand hand in hand within the tent, alone. She
removes her veil. Isaac smiles.
ISAAC
You
are beautiful.
REBEKAH
Thank
you. I hope you will be able
to love me.
ISAAC
I
know I will. I will love you for
as long as I will live, for one as
you beautiful as you cannot help
but be loved. For the first time
since the death of my mother, my
heart is coming alive again.
REBEKAH
Then
I hope to comfort you in her
death.
ISAAC
All
of God’s blessings will be upon
us, and he will comfort us for life.
They lower themselves to the bed.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
EXT. ABRAHAM’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
SUPER: “2106 Anno Mundi”
Isaac, now 59, walks among the flocks of
Abraham, overseeing
them. ZIMRAN, a son of Abraham and his new wife, KETURAH, walks
up to him.
ZIMRAN
Isaac!
ISAAC
What
is it, Zimran?
ZIMRAN
Our
father, Abraham, wishes to
speak with you.
ISAAC
I
will go right away. Tend to the
sheep.
ZIMRAN
Ok.
Isaac walks through the fields to the camp
proper. He meets
KETURAH, who is around his age.
ISAAC
Keturah, where is my father,
Abraham, your husband.
KETURAH
He
is in his tent. Zimran told
you?
ISAAC
Only
that he wanted to speak to
me.
KETURAH
Of course.
Isaac moves on and enters Abraham’s tent.
INT. ABRAHAM’S TENT – DAY
Abraham, now 159, sits in his tent, awaiting
Isaac.
ISAAC
Father,
you summoned me?
ABRAHAM
Yes,
Isaac, my beloved son. Please
sit down.
Isaac sits with his father.
ABRAHAM
Isaac.
I just wanted to speak
with you regarding my plans for
my wife Keturah and my sons with
her. Has their presence been
favorable to you?
ISAAC
They
follow the ways of the Lord
as you have taught them.
ABRAHAM
I
was concerned you would fear for
the sake of your inheritance.
ISAAC
They
are family with us. I miss
my mother, but Keturah has been
good to me. I know she has brought
you comfort as you have grown older.
ABRAHAM
Yes,
she is a good woman. Although
we have had six sons together, I
want to tell you that you alone
have a share in my inheritance.
ISAAC
(surprised)
Won’t
that cause strife between
them and me?
ABRAHAM
No.
I won’t allow it.
ISAAC
What
are you going to do?
ABRAHAM
I
am going to give them more than
enough to start somewhere else,
and send them away. I cannot risk
them taking over your inheritance
when I am gone.
ISAAC
But
the customs-
ABRAHAM
I
don’t care about customs. What
is mine is mine to deal with as
I
see fit, and it will be yours. I
assure you that you will have no
trouble from them.
ISAAC
Thank you, father.
Isaac remains next to his father as Abraham
relaxes himself.
INT. ISAAC’S TENT – NIGHT
Isaac enters his tent where his wife, Rebekah (34), is preparing
for bed.
ISAAC
Another
day has gone.
REBEKAH
All
is well?
ISAAC
Yes.
REBEKAH
Good.
Isaac looks at Rebekah
for a moment, as if seeing through her.
ISAAC
What’s
wrong?
REBEKAH
You
know what’s wrong.
Isaac watches her silently.
REBEKAH
I
know that your mother, Sarah,
was barren in her days until your
father prayed for her and she
conceived by him.
ISAAC
Yes.
REBEKAH
So
stand up and pray also to God and
he will hear your prayer and
remember us through his mercies.
ISAAC
Abraham
has already prayed for me
to God to multiply his seed. Perhaps
this barrenness comes to us through
you.
REBEKAH
But
you can also pray, and the Lord
may hear your prayer and grant me
children.
ISAAC
When
would you want to do this?
Rebekah looks at him expectantly. Isaac nods.
ISAAC
We
shall go to where the Lord provided
for my father in the
There
we will pray.
REBEKAH
Thank
you.
EXT.
Isaac and Rebekah
ride across the land on camels until they
reach Moriah. They stop the camels and get
off. They climb up
the side of the mountain, Isaac leading a sheep behind him.
At the very same place where Abraham nearly
sacrificed Isaac,
Isaac and Rebekah
stop.
REBEKAH
This
is where the Lord provided
for Abraham?
ISAAC
This
is the place: Jehovah Jireh.
Isaac walks over to the altar he and Abraham
built.
ISAAC
We
built this altar together. It was
then I learned never to make rash
promises before God. I told Ishmael
that I would gladly be a burnt
offering. It was hard to follow
through with it.
REBEKAH
I
can imagine.
ISAAC
Let’s
do this thing.
TIME PASSES...
The offering is burning into the heavens. Isaac
and Rebekah
kneel on the ground.
ISAAC
O
Lord God of heaven and earth, whose
goodness and mercies fill the earth,
who took my father from his father’s
house and from his birthplace, and
brought him to this land, and told
him, “To your seed I will give this
land.” You who promised and declared
to him, “I will multiply your seed
as the stars of heaven and as the
sand in the sea.” Now, O Lord God,
may your words be verified that you
spoke to my father. For you are the
Lord
our God, and our eyes are on
you to give us children as you had
promised. For you are our God, and
our eyes are on you only.
Isaac and Rebekah
remain on the mountain with their heads bowed
and the offering burning to heaven.
EXT. ABRAHAM’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
SUPER: “2107 Anno Mundi”
Rebekah walks through the camp. She is seven months pregnant.
She walks to the tent of Abraham and enters.
INT. ABRAHAM’S TENT – DAY
Inside the tent are Abraham (160), Shem
(549), and Eber (323,
Shem’s great-grandson).
SHEM
Rebekah, how are you feeling?
REBEKAH
I’m
doing all right. I just wish I
knew what was happening. None of
the women I’ve spoken to has ever
experienced anything like this.
EBER
And
you feel like there is possibly
more than one child within you?
REBEKAH
Yes.
SHEM
I’ve
not heard of such a thing
before. Our flocks give birth to
more than one offspring, but people
do not. Or at least, I am unaware
of it until now.
REBEKAH
Have
you inquired to the Lord about
it?
ABRAHAM
We
have, but he may wish to speak
directly to you.
REBEKAH
Oh
Lord God in heaven. What is
happening to me?
GOD
Rebekah.
Everyone falls face
down in the tent in reverence to the word of
God.
REBEKAH
I
am here, oh God.
GOD
Two
nations are in your womb, and
two peoples from within you will
be separated; one people will be
stronger than the other, and the
older will serve the younger.
Silence reigns for a moment before everyone
rises.
EBER
Two nations?
REBEKAH
What
does he mean, “The older
will serve the younger.”
SHEM
God
does not serve the customs of
our day. The right of the first born
means little to him. If he wishes
one to inherit instead of the other,
that is what will happen.
ABRAHAM
Just
as it did with Ishmael and
Isaac.
SHEM
The very same.
INT. ISAAC’S TENT – DAY
Keturah works at Rebekah’s feet. Rebekah is in the throes of
childbirth. Deborah attends her as well.
KETURAH
There
are two children, and we must
identify the firstborn. Give me
a cord from that garment.
Deborah tears a small strip from a robe in
the tent. She hands
it to Keturah.
DEBORAH
Will
this do?
KETURAH
Yes,
thank you Deborah. Ok, Rebekah,
give me a big push.
Rebekah responds in kind.
KETURAH
All
right, I have the head. One
more for this one.
Rebekah gives another big push.
KETURAH
And
he’s out.
Suddenly, Keturah
laughs.
DEBORAH
What
is it?
KETURAH
I
have an arm. The other child was
grasping the heel of his brother.
EXT. ISAAC’S TENT – DAY
Abraham and Isaac wait patiently outside the
tent.
ISAAC
Are
all births this nerve-wracking?
ABRAHAM
Every one.
Rebekah lets out another cry and all is silent. Isaac and
Abraham stop and
look to the tent. Keturah comes out.
KETURAH
Congratulations,
Isaac. You have
two sons.
ISAAC
Really?
KETURAH
Yes,
the first one is hairy all
over like he was born with clothes.
The
second one is smooth, but
we found him grasping the heel of
his older brother.
ISAAC
Thank
you, Keturah.
Isaac enters the tent.
ABRAHAM
(smiling)
I’m
a grandfather.
KETURAH
Well,
congratulations to you
too, then.
He smiles and hugs her.
INT. ISAAC’S TENT – DAY
Isaac emerges in the tent and looks at Rebekah, who looks beat.
Rebekah is holding both children in her arms. Deborah wets a
cloth and cools Rebekah’s forehead. Deborah
looks at Isaac and
smiles.
DEBORAH
Your
husband is here.
Rebekah opens her eyes and smiles.
REBEKAH
My husband. We have sons.
ISAAC
So
I hear.
DEBORAH
I’ll
leave you alone for a moment.
Deborah exits the tent.
REBEKAH
What
do you wish to name them?
ISAAC
(re: Esau)
This
one shall be called Esau, since
he is hairy all over.
(re: Jacob)
This
one, I hear, grasped the heel
of his brother, so we will call
him Jacob.
REBEKAH
Those
are fine names.
ISAAC
And
these are fine children.
REBEKAH
I
love you.
ISAAC
I
love you.
They kiss lightly and then gaze upon their
children.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
EXT. ABRAHAM’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
SUPER: “2122 Anno Mundi”
Isaac stands in the fields watching the
flocks. Over the ridge
comes Esau, now 15, carrying a goat over his shoulder.
ISAAC
Esau,
what do you have there?
ESAU
Dinner.
ISAAC
Well
done, son! You’re spoiling me
with the game you bring in.
ESAU
Thank you, father.
ISAAC
Where
is Jacob?
ESAU
Where
he usually is: helping mother.
Isaac nods as Esau takes his game into the
camp. Rebekah runs
past Esau out to Isaac.
REBEKAH
Isaac!
ISAAC
Rebekah?
What brings you out here?
REBEKAH
It’s
your father: Abraham.
ISAAC
What’s
wrong?
REBEKAH
He
has asked to see you. He hasn’t
gotten out of bed today. Deborah
thinks he might be dying.
A look of horror crosses Isaac’s face. He
runs across the camp
to Abraham’s tent and enters.
INT. ABRAHAM’S TENT – DAY
Abraham lies on his bed very still. Isaac
walks across the tent
and kneels beside Abraham. He takes Abraham’s hand. Abraham
opens his eyes and looks at Isaac. He smiles.
ABRAHAM
My son.
ISAAC
Is
this the end for you?
ABRAHAM
I
think it may be. You know that
all I have belongs to you.
ISAAC
Yes.
ABRAHAM
Do
you know and understand that
the Lord is God in heaven and in
earth, and there is no other beside
him?
ISAAC
Yes,
father.
ABRAHAM
It
was he who took me from my
father’s house, and from my birth
place, and gave me all the delights
upon the earth; who delivered me
from the counsel of the wicked, for
in him did I trust. And he brought
me to this place, and he delivered
me from Ur Casdim; and he said to
me,
“To
your seed I will give all these
lands, and they will inherit them
when they keep my commandments, my
statutes and my judgments that I
have commanded you, and which I will
command them.”
(MORE)
ABRAHAM (CONT’D)
Remember
my son to do all that I have
taught you and keep the commandments
of the Lord your God, and do not turn
from them to the right or to the left,
so it will go well with you and your
children after you forever. Always
remember the wonderful works of the
Lord, and his
kindness that he has
shown us in delivering us from the
hands of our enemies and causing them
to fall into our hands. Always keep
the commandments and instructions
of the Lord our God, and teach them
to your children and their children.
Teach
them the upright way to go, so
that it will go well with you and
them and your seed forever.
ISAAC
I
will do what the Lord has commanded,
and I will not depart from it.
ABRAHAM
Go
with God, my son.
ISAAC
Go
with God, father.
Abraham dies. Isaac cries on Abraham’s chest.
Crowded around the cave are Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Esau,
Ishmael, his wives, his twelve children,
Shem, Eber, Eber’s
wife, Ephron the Hittite, the rest of the
Hittites, Keturah,
Keturah’s children, and many
other people of
Some men exit the cave, like they had just
placed Abraham within
it. Isaac stands before the assembly.
ISAAC
My
father, Abraham, was well known
in this land as a man who knew God.
Abraham
had been good to you all,
and upright with God and men. There
has been no man who feared God like
my father. He feared God from his
youth, and served the Lord in all
his ways from childhood to manhood.
The
Lord was with him when he was
delivered from the council of
Nimrod and his people. When the
four kings of
he conquered them. He brought all
the children of the earth to the
service of God, and he taught them
all the ways of the Lord and caused
them to know him. He always prepared
in his tent meat and drink so that
anyone so that those who passed
through the land might satisfy
themselves in his house. The Lord
delivered the whole earth on account
of my father, Abraham. We will never
forget him as long as the earth
remains.
Ishmael steps forward. Isaac walks to him and
they hug as
brothers. Isaac moves on to Rebekah, and she
holds him in
comfort.
EXT. OPEN FIELDS – DAY
Esau, 15, walks through the field, hunting.
He has his bow
ready, and a sword at his side. He looks for game as he hunts.
Watching Esau from behind some bushes is
Nimrod, now 215, with
two of his men.
NIMROD
Do
you see him? The boy often hunts
in these fields. He is young and
fit. He finds game easily. I envy
him.
Nimrod looks back and Esau is gone.
NIMROD
Where
did he go? Let’s go. If he
kills, he can claim his game.
Nimrod and his men walk through the fields,
looking for game and
Esau.
Esau looks behind him and spots Nimrod and
his men emerging. He
ducks out of the way into the bushes.
ESAU
Who
is that? And why is he
following me? I’ve had enough
of him, whoever he is.
Nimrod and his men walk through the fields,
near where Esau is
hiding.
NIMROD
Where
is he?
Suddenly, an arrow lies out of no where. It
hits one of Nimrod’s
men. Before they can react, Esau jumps out of hiding and strikes
the other man with his sword. He turns to Nimrod, who has his
sword drawn. Nimrod attacks and Esau parries. Esau nimbly
defeats Nimrod, who falls to the ground.
Esau stands over him.
ESAU
Who
are you?
NIMROD
Nimrod, king of
ESAU
I
am Esau, son of Isaac, the son
of Abraham.
NIMROD
Abram!
FLASHBACK – NIMROD’S DREAM SEQUENCE FROM
EPISODE 1005
The river turns back into an egg. The egg
hatches and a bird
flies at Nimrod and lands on his head. The bird pecks out
Nimrod’s eyes. The voice of Nimrod’s wise servant, Anuki, echoes
over the sequence.
ANUKI
(V.O.)
As
for the river which turned to an
egg and then the bird that plucked
out your eyes: this is nothing else
but the seed of Abram who will slay
the king in the latter days.
END FLASHBACK
Nimrod dies at Esau’s feet. Voices rise over
the fields.
MEN (O.S.)
(variously)
Sire!
Where is he? I heard the
screams from over here!
Esau looks over to them. Esau runs through
the fields away from
them. They spot him and give chase. Esau runs out of the fields
and towards a nearby city.
Esau runs into the city and looks behind him.
The men are hot on
his trail. Esau, out of breath, keeps running. He skips between
the buildings trying to lose the men following him. He hides
behind a building and looks around the corner. The men are
looking for him.
He looks into the distance where Isaac’s
Encampment sits. The
men are walking in the other direction. With a deep breath, Esau
takes off for the camp. The men do not follow. He doesn’t stop
running until he reaches the camp.
EXT. ISAAC’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
Esau stands next to a tent. He sniffs the
air. He holds his
stomach for a moment. Food is cooking. He looks behind him, and
then runs across the camp into a tent.
INT. KITCHEN TENT – DAY
Jacob has a fire contained and cooks stew
over it. He looks up
as Esau flies in.
JACOB
What
are you doing?
ESAU
I’ve
been out working. Quick, let
me have some of that red stew.
I’m
famished!
JACOB
Famished?
What will you give me?
ESAU
I
don’t care. I’m hungry.
JACOB
Hmm.
I’ll give you some stew, but
first, sell me your birthright?
ESAU
What?
JACOB
Your birthright. Sell it to me.
ESAU
Look,
I am about to die. What good
is the birthright to me?
JACOB
Swear
to me first.
ESAU
I
swear in the name of the Lord our
God
who lives in heaven over all
creation, my birthright is yours.
JACOB
Very good. Let me get you some stew.
Jacob serves some stew in a bowl and places
it before Esau with
bread and a drink. Esau eats hungrily, unmindful of what he has
done. Jacob stands back and smiles.
EXT. ISAAC’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
Isaac walks along with his servant, SHELACH,
on the edge of his
camp looking at the crops.
ISAAC
It
doesn’t look good, Shelach. No
rain for weeks now.
SHELACH
So
it is a famine. What so we do?
ISAAC
When
famine hit in the days of my
father, he went to
the camp. We will go there as well
to wait out this thing.
SHELACH
Yes,
sir.
Shelach runs off. Isaac overlooks the crops and shakes his head.
GOD
Isaac.
Isaac bows before God.
ISAAC
Here
am I.
GOD
Do
not go down to
the land where I tell you to live.
Go
to Gerar, to Abimelech king
of
the Philistines. Stay in this land
for a while, and I will be with you
and bless you. For to you and your
descendants I will give all these
lands and will confirm the oath I
swore to your father Abraham. I will
make your descendants as numerous as
the stars in the sky and will give
them all these lands, and through
your seed all nations on earth will
be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me
and kept my requirements, my
commands, my decrees, and my laws.
ISAAC
I
will do all you command.
Isaac rises. He runs after his servant.
ISAAC
Shelach!
Shelach turns to him.
ISAAC
The
plans have changed. We’re going
to Gerar.
SHELACH
All right.
EXT. GERAR – DAY
Isaac leads a caravan across Gerar to settle there and wait out
the famine. As they walk, Isaac leans to Rebekah.
ISAAC
There
is no fear of God in this
place. My father knew it when he
came here too.
REBEKAH
What
of it?
ISAAC
If
anyone asks you how you know
me, say you are my sister.
REBEKAH
What?
ISAAC
If
you don’t, since you are so
beautiful, the men may kill me
so they can have you.
REBEKAH
Would
they really?
ISAAC
That’s
what my father said of this
land.
REBEKAH
I
will do as you say then.
INT. GERAR PALACE THRONE ROOM – DAY
Abimlelech sits on his throne as several people enter
the room.
PERSON
1
My
lord and king, a most
beautiful woman has entered your
land.
PERSON
2
She
is worthy of you.
ABIMELECH
(interested)
Who
is she?
PERSON
3
She
is dwelling in the outer courts
with her brother.
PERSON
4
They
came from
Abimelech acts as if a memory stirs at the mention of
the name.
ABIMELECH
PERSON
2
Oh
yes, my lord. But don’t hold
that against her.
ABIMELECH
Whose
brother is she?
PERSON
3
She
came with Isaac, the son of
Abraham.
PERSON 4
We
asked who she is to him, and
he told us she is his brother.
Abimelech is immediately suspicious.
ABIMELECH
Did
he?
PERSON
1
Shall
we bring her to you, my lord?
Abimelech thinks for a moment.
ABIMELECH
No.
No, I believe I will consider
this for a time and watch our
visitors. No one is to touch her.
The people look at each other confused for a
moment, and then
bow to Abimelech.
PEOPLE
Yes,
my lord.
They leave as Abimelech
walks to his window.
INT. ISAAC’S TENT - GERAR – DAY
SUPER: “Three Months Later”
Rebekah stands in the tent looking like she just got dressed.
Isaac sits watching her. She notices him
watching her and
smiles.
REBEKAH
What?
ISAAC
You
are beautiful, you know that?
REBEKAH
Yes,
I do.
ISAAC
And
I love you, you know that too?
REBEKAH
One
wouldn’t think so, the way you
avoid me these last three months
here.
ISAAC
Is
this a problem we need to remedy?
She smiles again.
REBEKAH
Maybe.
Isaac lunges for her, playfully. She screams
and avoids him. She
runs out of the tent.
EXT. GERAR – DAY
Rebekah and Isaac run around their area in the outer courts of
the palace. He chases her and she avoids him.
INT. HOUSE OF THE KING – DAY
Abimelech hears them outside. He looks out his window
and sees
them together. His eyes open wide in realization.
EXT. GERAR – DAY
Isaac finally catches Rebekah,
and they fall to the ground,
laughing. He strokes her face gently and kisses her.
ISAAC
I
have missed you.
REBEKAH
Me too.
Abimelech walks out to them. Isaac looks up, realizes
what has
happened, and quickly comes to his feet. Rebekah
follows suit.
They bow to him. Abimelech
is unmoved.
ISAAC
How
can I help my king?
ABIMELECH
She
is really your wife, isn’t she?
ISAAC
She
is, my lord.
ABIMELECH
Then
why did you tell me, “She is
my sister”?
ISAAC
Because
I thought I might lose my
life on account of her.
ABIMELECH
What
is this you have done to us?
One
of the men might well have slept
with your wife, and you would have
brought guilt on all of us.
ISAAC
I
am sorry, king Abimelech, but when
I
saw no fear of God in this place,
I
felt, like my father before me,
that I had no choice.
ABIMELECH
I
will declare to everyone in this
land, “Anyone who molests this man
or his wife shall surely be put to
death.” You need have no fear. Live
in peace.
Abimelech leaves them.
ISAAC
Thank
you, my lord!
Rebekah jumps into Isaac’s arms. They kiss briefly.
EXT. ISAAC’S FIELDS – GERAR – DAY
Isaac walks through his bountiful crops. He
walks over to a well
to find it filled with earth. Isaac is very unhappy.
ISAAC
Shelach!
Shelach, who was standing nearby, runs over to him.
SHELACH
Yes,
sir.
ISAAC
The
Philistines have stopped up
the well again. I am really getting
tired of this.
SHELACH
You
are wealthier than any of
their people and yet are in their
land. They are jealous.
ISAAC
Clearly.
Shelach looks off to one side.
SHELACH
Is
that Abimelech?
ISAAC
Looks
like him. We’d better see
what he wants.
Isaac approaches Abimelech.
ABIMELECH
Isaac!
Son of my friend Abraham.
ISAAC
Good
day, king Abimelech. What
brings you here?
ABIMELECH
I
have a request for you and your
people.
ISAAC
What
is it?
ABIMELECH
Move
away from here; you have
become too powerful for us.
ISAAC
What?
ABIMELECH
I
hear the complaints of the people.
They
do not like you here.
ISAAC
Where
do I go?
ABIMELECH
Behold
the whole earth is before you,
dwell wherever it seems good in your
sight.
Isaac nods. Abimelech
leaves.
ISAAC
Shelach.
SHELACH
Yes,
my lord.
ISAAC
We’re
moving again.
EXT.
Isaac leads his caravan of flocks, servants,
children, Rebekah,
and tents across the expanse of Canaan back to
EXT.
Isaac walks into an area he seems to
recognize. He stops the
caravan.
REBEKAH
Are
we here?
ISAAC
Let
us camp here tonight. The
Lord
will tell us if we are where
we need to be.
SHELACH
I
will inform the others.
REBEKAH
Thank
you, Shelach.
Shelach runs off.
INT. ISAAC’S TENT – NIGHT
Isaac and Rebekah
sleep.
GOD
Isaac.
Isaac’s eyes snap open. He gets up and walks
outside the tent.
EXT. ISAAC’S ENCAMPMENT – NIGHT
Isaac looks around. Suddenly, a blinding
light shines down on
him from heaven. Isaac falls to the ground.
GOD
I
am the God of your father Abraham.
Do
not be afraid, for I am with you;
I
will bless you and will increase
the number of your descendants for
the sake of my servant Abraham.
The light goes out. Isaac stands.
ISAAC
This
is the place.
MONTAGE
--Isaac gathers rocks and stacks them to
build an altar to the
Lord.
--Isaac brings a sheep to the altar.
--Fire issues from the top of the altar as
the offering burns
into the heavens.
END MONTAGE
EXT. ISAAC’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
SUPER: “Three Months Later”
Rebekah walks through the camp with water. She stops at Isaac.
REBEKAH
Abimelech is coming.
Isaac looks off into the distance.
ISAAC
As
God lives, what could he
possibly want of me now?
Isaac walks across his field to Abimelech.
Abimelech has a procession who
carries him on their shoulders
and is led by Phicol, his prince of
armies, and AHUZZAH, his
personal advisor. Abimelech spots Isaac
approaching.
ABIMELECH
Stop
here.
His procession stops. Isaac reaches him.
ISAAC
Why
have you come to me, since you
were hostile to me and sent me
away?
Abimelech gets out of his carriage and stands before
Isaac.
ABIMELECH
We
saw clearly that the Lord was
with you; so we said, “There
ought to be a sworn agreement between
us” – between us and you. Let us make
a treaty with you that you will do us
no harm, just as we did not molest
you but always treated you well and
sent you away in peace. And now you
are blessed by the Lord.
ISAAC
I
don’t wish to have any kind of
conflict with you or your people.
You
will live in your land, and I
in mine.
ABIMELECH
Excellent. Ahuzzah, my advisor, has
the paper so it may be signed with
witnesses.
ISAAC
And
after this, you and your men are
welcome to stay and feast at my house.
They shake hands.
INT. ISAAC’S TENT – DAY
SUPER: “2125 Anno Mundi”
Isaac sits in his tent. Rebekah
enters followed by Esau and
Jacob, both 18.
REBEKAH
I
brought them as you asked.
ISAAC
Thank
you, Rebekah.
Rebekah leaves.
JACOB
Is
everything all right, father?
ISAAC
Yes,
Jacob, everything is fine.
ESAU
Why
have you called us?
ISAAC
Esau.
Jacob. The time has come for
you to learn the ways of the Lord:
his commands and statutes and
judgments. I wish to send you to
the house of Shem, where he will
teach you as he taught me and
your grandfather Abraham. These
ways are important, for it will
determine how God will bless your
life.
ESAU
I
don’t wish to go.
ISAAC
(stunned)
What?
ESAU
I
am a skilled hunter. The Lord has
given me blessings enough. I don’t
wish to learn any more. I can
sustain myself and live on my own.
Let
my brother go, but I am not
willing.
Isaac looks at Jacob.
ISAAC
Jacob,
what do you say?
JACOB
I
relish the opportunity to learn
the ways of the Lord my God, and
will happily go to Shem, if it
pleases my father.
ISAAC
It
does please me, my son. Very
well. Esau, return to your fields.
I
can’t make you go. Jacob,
prepare yourself, we leave for
Shem tomorrow.
EXT. ISAAC’S ENCAMPMENT – DAY
Jacob hugs Rebekah.
Isaac stands by with camels to travel.
REBEKAH
Be
good, Jacob.
JACOB
I
will, mother. Good-bye.
Jacob gets on the camel. Isaac hugs Rebekah.
ISAAC
I’ll
be back in a few days.
REBEKAH
Ok.
Be careful.
ISAAC
I
will.
Isaac goes to his camel and gets on. Together
father and son set
out for Shem’s house.
END OF ACT THREE
Source Material:
From the Bible:
Genesis 24:1-25:11, 25:19-26:33
From Extra-Canonical Works:
The Book of Jashar
24:22, 24:27-25:6, 25:28-28:17