Covenant with Abimelech

26 Now Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army.(A) 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me? You hated me and sent me away from you.”

28 They replied, “We have clearly seen how the Lord has been with you. We think there should be an oath between two parties—between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you: 29 You will not harm us, just as we have not harmed you but have done only what was good to you, sending you away in peace. You are now blessed by the Lord.”(B)

30 So he prepared a banquet for them, and they ate and drank. 31 They got up early in the morning and swore an oath to each other.[a](C) Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace. 32 On that same day Isaac’s servants came to tell him about the well they had dug, saying to him, “We have found water!” (D) 33 He called it Sheba.[b] Therefore the name of the city is still Beer-sheba[c](E) today.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 26:31 Lit swore, each man to his brother
  2. 26:33 Or Shibah
  3. 26:33 = Well of the Oath

26 But Abimelech set out toward him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his ally and Phicol the commander of his forces. 27 Isaac said to him, “Why have you come after me? You resented me and sent me away from you.”

28 They said, “We now see that the Lord was with you. We propose that there be a formal agreement between us and that we draw up a treaty[a] with you: 29 you must not treat us badly since we haven’t harmed you and since we have treated you well at all times. Then we will send you away peacefully, for you are now blessed by the Lord.” 30 Isaac prepared a banquet for them, and they ate and drank. 31 They got up early in the morning, and they gave each other their word. Isaac sent them off, and they left peacefully.

32 That day Isaac’s servants informed him about the well that they had been digging and said to him, “We found water.” 33 He called it Shibah;[b] therefore, the city’s name has been Beer-sheba[c] until today.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 26:28 Or covenant
  2. Genesis 26:33 Or giving one’s word or seven
  3. Genesis 26:33 Or Well of giving one’s word or Well of seven