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Genesis 21:22-34
New English Translation

22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you[a] in all that you do. 23 Now swear to me right here in God’s name[b] that you will not deceive me, my children, or my descendants.[c] Show me, and the land[d] where you are staying,[e] the same loyalty[f] that I have shown you.”[g]

24 Abraham said, “I swear to do this.”[h] 25 But Abraham lodged a complaint against[i] Abimelech concerning a well[j] that Abimelech’s servants had seized.[k] 26 “I do not know who has done this thing,” Abimelech replied. “Moreover,[l] you did not tell me. I did not hear about it until today.”

27 Abraham took some sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech. The two of them made a treaty.[m] 28 Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs apart from the flock by themselves. 29 Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning[n] of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” 30 He replied, “You must take these seven ewe lambs from my hand as legal proof[o] that I dug this well.”[p] 31 That is why he named that place[q] Beer Sheba,[r] because the two of them swore an oath[s] there.

32 So they made a treaty[t] at Beer Sheba; then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, returned[u] to the land of the Philistines.[v] 33 Abraham[w] planted a tamarisk tree[x] in Beer Sheba. There he worshiped the Lord,[y] the eternal God. 34 So Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for quite some time.[z]

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 21:22 sn God is with you. Abimelech and Phicol recognized that Abraham enjoyed special divine provision and protection.
  2. Genesis 21:23 tn Heb “And now swear to me by God here.”
  3. Genesis 21:23 tn Heb “my offspring and my descendants.”
  4. Genesis 21:23 tn The word “land” refers by metonymy to the people in the land.
  5. Genesis 21:23 tn The Hebrew verb means “to stay, to live, to sojourn” as a temporary resident without ownership rights.
  6. Genesis 21:23 tn Or “kindness.”
  7. Genesis 21:23 tn Heb “According to the loyalty which I have done with you, do with me and with the land in which you are staying.”
  8. Genesis 21:24 tn Heb “I swear.” No object is specified in the Hebrew text, but the content of the oath requested by Abimelech is the implied object.
  9. Genesis 21:25 tn The Hebrew verb used here means “to argue; to dispute”; it can focus on the beginning of the dispute (as here), the dispute itself, or the resolution of a dispute (Isa 1:18). Apparently the complaint was lodged before the actual oath was taken.
  10. Genesis 21:25 tn Heb “concerning the matter of the well of water.”
  11. Genesis 21:25 tn The Hebrew verb used here means “to steal; to rob; to take violently.” The statement reflects Abraham’s perspective.
  12. Genesis 21:26 tn Heb “and also.”
  13. Genesis 21:27 tn Heb “cut a covenant.”
  14. Genesis 21:29 tn Heb “What are these?”
  15. Genesis 21:30 tn Heb “that it be for me for a witness.”
  16. Genesis 21:30 sn This well. Since the king wanted a treaty to share in Abraham’s good fortune, Abraham used the treaty to secure ownership of and protection for the well he dug. It would be useless to make a treaty to live in this territory if he had no rights to the water. Abraham consented to the treaty, but added his rider to it.
  17. Genesis 21:31 tn Heb “that is why he called that place.” Some translations render this as an impersonal passive, “that is why that place was called.”
  18. Genesis 21:31 sn The name Beer Sheba (בְּאֵר שָׁבַע, beʾer shavaʿ) means “well of the oath” or “well of the seven.” Both the verb “to swear” and the number “seven” have been used throughout the account. Now they are drawn in as part of the explanation of the significance of the name.
  19. Genesis 21:31 sn The verb forms a wordplay with the name Beer Sheba.
  20. Genesis 21:32 tn Heb “cut a covenant.”
  21. Genesis 21:32 tn Heb “arose and returned.”
  22. Genesis 21:32 sn The Philistines mentioned here may not be ethnically related to those who lived in Palestine in the time of the judges and the united monarchy. See D. M. Howard, “Philistines,” Peoples of the Old Testament World, 238.
  23. Genesis 21:33 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  24. Genesis 21:33 sn The planting of the tamarisk tree is a sign of Abraham’s intent to stay there for a long time, not a religious act. A growing tree in the Negev would be a lasting witness to God’s provision of water.
  25. Genesis 21:33 tn Heb “he called there in the name of the Lord.” The expression refers to worshiping the Lord through prayer and sacrifice (see Gen 4:26; 12:8; 13:4; 26:25). See G. J. Wenham, Genesis (WBC), 1:116, 281.
  26. Genesis 21:34 tn Heb “many days.”
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Genesis 21:22-34
New International Version

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.
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