22 At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. 23 Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.”
Abimelek didn’t want any more lying about sisters from Abraham.
24 Abraham said, “I swear it.”
That means he agreed it was also a good idea.
25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimelek’s servants had seized. 26 But Abimelek said, “I don’t know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today.”
Is Abimelek telling the truth here? or is he getting back at Abraham for before when he lied to him?
27 So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty. 28 Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, 29 and Abimelek asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?”
Passing large amounts of animals back and forth from one to another was common in that day.
30 He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.”
Proof he’s telling the truth.
31 So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there.
32 After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God. 34 And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time.
Beersheba on a map today. Learn more about it here.
Tamarisk Tree
Scripture Discussed: Genesis 21:22-33
IIWAC: Double A, Some Other People, And A Treaty
Abimelek didn’t want any more lying about sisters from Abraham.
24 Abraham said, “I swear it.”
That means he agreed it was also a good idea.
25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimelek’s servants had seized. 26 But Abimelek said, “I don’t know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today.”
Is Abimelek telling the truth here? or is he getting back at Abraham for before when he lied to him?
27 So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty. 28 Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, 29 and Abimelek asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?”
Passing large amounts of animals back and forth from one to another was common in that day.
30 He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.”
Proof he’s telling the truth.
31 So that place was called Beersheba,[d] because the two men swore an oath there.
32 After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God. 34 And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time.
Beersheba on a map today. Learn more about it here.
Tamarisk Tree
Scripture Discussed: Genesis 21:22-33