Rebekka gibt Abrahams Knecht Eliezer zu trinken 

Salomon de Bray created this ink drawing titled, *Rebekka gives Abrahams Knecht Eliezer zu trinken*, in the Netherlands, though its exact date is unknown. The story of Rebekah and Eliezer comes from the Book of Genesis. Abraham sends his servant Eliezer to find a wife for his son Isaac, and Eliezer asks God for a sign: that the woman who offers water to him and his camels will be the one. Here we see that scene played out: a kneeling Eliezer gratefully accepts Rebekah’s offer. The story emphasizes Rebekah’s virtue of kindness, and through marriage to Isaac, she becomes an important figure in the lineage of the Jewish people. In the Dutch Republic of the 17th century, biblical scenes were used to convey moral and religious lessons, though the culture was becoming increasingly secularized. Many artists were commissioned by the rising middle classes who were interested in these visual representations of religious stories. Studying drawings like this helps historians understand the role of art in shaping cultural and religious values. Further study of de Bray’s work, and the Dutch society of his time, would reveal more about the messages he was trying to communicate.