Genesis 21:22-32

Modern English Version

The Treaty With Abimelek

²² Now it came to pass at that time that Abimelek and Phicol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do. ²³ Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal deceitfully with me, or with my children, or with my descendants. Instead, according to the kindness that I have shown to you, you will show to me and to the land where you have lived.”

²⁴ Abraham said, “I will swear.”

²⁵ Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimelek’s servants had violently seized. ²⁶ And Abimelek said, “I do not know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.”

²⁷ So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelek, and the two of them made a covenant. ²⁸ Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. ²⁹ And Abimelek said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set by themselves?”

³⁰ And he said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that they may be a witness that I have dug this well.”

³¹ Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because the two of them swore an oath there.

³² Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelek rose with Phicol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines.