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

The Treaty at Beersheba

22 At that time Abimelek(A) and Phicol the commander of his forces(B) said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do.(C) 23 Now swear(D) to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants.(E) Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.”(F)

24 Abraham said, “I swear it.”

25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimelek’s servants had seized.(G) 26 But Abimelek said, “I don’t know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today.”

27 So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty.(H) 28 Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, 29 and Abimelek asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?”

30 He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness(I) that I dug this well.(J)

31 So that place was called Beersheba,[a](K) because the two men swore an oath(L) there.

32 After the treaty(M) had been made at Beersheba,(N) Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces(O) returned to the land of the Philistines.(P) 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree(Q) in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord,(R) the Eternal God.(S) 34 And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines(T) for a long time.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 21:31 Beersheba can mean well of seven and well of the oath.