Covenant with Abimelech

22 Now it came about at that time that (A)Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “(B)God is with you in all that you do; 23 so now, (C)swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my offspring or with my descendants, but according to the kindness that I have shown to you, you shall show to me and to the land in which you have resided.” 24 Abraham said, “I swear it.” 25 But Abraham [a]complained to Abimelech because of the well of water which the servants of Abimelech (D)had seized. 26 And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor did I hear of it [b]until today.”

27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and (E)the two of them made a covenant. 28 But Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. 29 Then Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs mean, which you have set by themselves?” 30 He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a (F)witness for me, that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore he called that place [c](G)Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath. 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba; and 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 (H)he called on the name of the Lord, the (I)Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham resided (J)in the land of the Philistines for many days.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 21:25 Lit rebuked
  2. Genesis 21:26 Lit except
  3. Genesis 21:31 I.e., well of an oath

Abraham’s treaty with the Philistines

22 At that time Abimelech, and Phicol commander of his forces, said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything that you do. 23 So give me your word under God that you won’t cheat me, my children, or my descendants. Just as I have treated you fairly, so you must treat me and the land in which you are an immigrant.”

24 Abraham said, “I give you my word.” 25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized.

26 Abimelech said, “I don’t know who has done this, and you didn’t tell me. I didn’t even hear about it until today.” 27 Abraham took flocks and cattle, gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them drew up a treaty.[a] 28 Abraham set aside, by themselves, seven female lambs from the flock. 29 So Abimelech said to Abraham, “What are these seven lambs you’ve set apart?”

30 Abraham said, “These seven lambs that you take from me will attest that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore, the name of that place is Beer-sheba[b] because there they gave each other their word. 32 After they drew up a treaty[c] at Beer-sheba, Abimelech, and Phicol commander of his forces, returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and he worshipped there in the name of the Lord, El Olam.[d] 34 Abraham lived as an immigrant in the Philistines’ land for a long time.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 21:27 Or covenant
  2. Genesis 21:31 Or Well of seven; or Well of giving one’s word
  3. Genesis 21:32 Or covenant
  4. Genesis 21:33 Or the eternal God