The words of the ceremony were simple, Father vowing before God to protect and provide for Akyas and her children as long as he lived, and Akyas vowing to serve him and his children with perfect love throughout her life. Rebekah noticed that she did not swear in the name of any god at all, no doubt to avoid giving offense by mentioning a false god in Father’s camp.

When the oaths were all taken—Rebekah having written the words of Akyas’s vow in the dirt—Ezbaal gave a great cry, of the kind shepherds give that can be heard a long distance in the dry desert air. Then he turned to Father, and Laban wrote his words as quickly as he could.

“Bethuel, it’s done, and you’ve been a patient man to wive her wrapped in a veil. But now it’s time for you to see the face you’ve vowed to keep with you throughout your life.”

By the time Laban wrote “face” in the dirt, Bethuel had caught the drift and turned expectantly to look at Akyas. But Akyas leaned down to Rebekah and whispered, “Ask your father to read all the words Ezbaal just said.”

Rebekah rephrased it a little. “Your bride hopes you will read all of her brother’s words”—so the request wouldn’t seem so peremptory.

Father dutifully turned and read the rest—which consisted of the reminder that he had vowed to keep her for life. He looked a little puzzled, and Rebekah understood why. It seemed odd for Akyas to insist on reminding him of something so obvious. It could only make Father worry about what must be wrong with her, that she would insist that he was bound. What difference did it make, in a world where a man could divorce his wife merely by saying so and sending her away, regardless of any vow that had been given?

“My word is given and I will stand by it,” said Father. “You have nothing to fear from me.”

At that, Akyas turned to Rebekah. “Since my veil is coming off, my dear daughter—for now I may call you that truly, may I not?”

“Yes, of course,” said Rebekah.

“Since my veil comes off, isn’t it time for all faces to be seen? Ezbaal asked me to ask it of you, but in truth I would have asked you anyway. For my sake, won’t you take off your veil first?”