Genesis 21:22-34
Expanded Bible
Abraham’s Bargain with Abimelech
22 ·Then [At that time] Abimelech came with Phicol, the commander of his army, and said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. 23 So ·make a promise to me here before [swear to me by] God that you will ·be fair [L not deal falsely] with me and my children and my descendants. Be ·kind [loyal] to me and to this land where you have lived as a ·stranger [sojourner; wanderer; resident alien]—as ·kind [loyal] as I have been to you.”
24 And Abraham said, “I ·promise [swear].” 25 Then Abraham ·complained to [reproved; reproached] Abimelech about Abimelech’s servants who had seized a well of water.
26 But Abimelech said, “I don’t know who did this. You never told me [L and I have not heard] about this before today.”
27 Then Abraham gave Abimelech some sheep and cattle, and they made an ·agreement [covenant; treaty]. 28 Abraham also put seven female lambs ·in front of Abimelech [L apart by themselves].
29 Abimelech asked Abraham, “Why did you put these seven female lambs by themselves?”
30 Abraham answered, “Accept these lambs from ·me [L my hand] to ·prove that you believe [verify/witness that] I dug this well.”
31 So that place was called Beersheba [21:14; C meaning either “well of seven” or “well of promise”] because they ·made a promise to each other [swore an oath] there.
32 After Abraham and Abimelech ·made the agreement [L cut a covenant/treaty] at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, went back to the land of the Philistines [C a region on the southern Mediterranean coast of Canaan].
33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba and prayed to the Lord, the ·God who lives forever [eternal God]. 34 And Abraham lived as a ·stranger [wanderer; sojourner; resident alien] in the land of the Philistines for ·a long time [L many days].
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Genesis 21:22-34
Amplified Bible
Covenant with Abimelech
22 Now at that time Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do; 23 so now, swear to me here by God that you will not deal unfairly with me [by breaking any agreements we have] or with my son or with my descendants, but as I have treated you with kindness, you shall do the same to me and to the land in which you have sojourned (temporarily lived).” 24 And Abraham said, “I will swear.” 25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well of water which the servants of Abimelech had [violently] seized [from him], 26 Abimelech said, “I do not know who did this thing. Indeed, you did not tell me, and I did not hear of it until today.”
27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant (binding agreement). 28 Then Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs of the flock, 29 and Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set apart?” 30 Abraham said, “You are to accept these seven ewe lambs from me as a witness for me, that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore that place was called Beersheba (Well of the Oath or Well of the Seven), because there the two of them swore an oath. 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba; then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, got up and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord [in prayer], [a]the Eternal God. 34 And Abraham lived [as a resident alien] in the land of the Philistines for [b]many days.
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- Genesis 21:33 Heb El Olam.
- Genesis 21:34 I.e. an extended period of time.
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