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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