Genesis 21:22-34

International Children’s Bible

Abraham’s Bargain with Abimelech

²² Then Abimelech came with Phicol, the commander of Abimelech’s army. They said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. ²³ So make a promise to me here before God. Promise that you will be fair with me and my children and my descendants. Be kind to me and to this land where you have lived as a stranger. Be as kind to me as I have been to you.”

²⁴ And Abraham said, “I promise.” ²⁵ Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about Abimelech’s servants. They had captured a well of water.

²⁶ But Abimelech said, “I don’t know who did this. You never told me about this before today.”

²⁷ Then Abraham gave Abimelech some sheep and cattle. And they made an agreement. ²⁸ Abraham also put seven female lambs in front of Abimelech.

²⁹ Abimelech asked Abraham, “Why did you put these seven female lambs by themselves?”

³⁰ Abraham answered, “Accept these lambs from me. That will prove that you believe I dug this well.”

³¹ So that place was called Beersheba^[a] because they made a promise to each other there.

³² So Abraham and Abimelech made an agreement at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, went back to the land of the Philistines.

³³ Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba. There Abraham prayed to the Lord, the God who lives forever. ³⁴ And Abraham lived as a stranger in the land of the Philistines for a long time.