Genesis 21:22-34

Living Bible

²² About this time King Abimelech and Phicol, commander of his troops, came to Abraham and said to him, “It is evident that God helps you in everything you do; ²³ swear to me by God’s name that you won’t defraud me or my son or my grandson, but that you will be on friendly terms with my country, as I have been toward you.”

²⁴ Abraham replied, “All right, I swear to it!” ²⁵ Then Abraham complained to the king about a well the king’s servants had taken violently away from Abraham’s servants.

²⁶ “This is the first I’ve heard of it,” the king exclaimed, “and I have no idea who is responsible. Why didn’t you tell me before?”

²⁷ Then Abraham gave sheep and oxen to the king, as sacrifices to seal their pact.

^28-29 But when he took seven ewe lambs and set them off by themselves, the king inquired, “Why are you doing that?”

³⁰ And Abraham replied, “They are my gift to you as a public confirmation that this well is mine.”

³¹ So from that time on the well was called Beer-sheba (“Well of the Oath”), because that was the place where they made their covenant. ³² Then King Abimelech and Phicol, commander of his army, returned home again. ³³ And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree beside the well and prayed there to the Lord, calling upon the Eternal God. ³⁴ And Abraham lived in the Philistine country for a long time.