Genesis 21:27

27 Avraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Avimelekh. Those two made a covenant.

Genesis 21:27 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 21:27

And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto
Abimelech
In gratitude for former favours he had received from him, in token of the friendship that subsisted between them, and for the confirmation of it; and to show that he was fully satisfied with Abimelech's answer to his complaint, as well as willing to enter into covenant by sacrifice, when such creatures were divided, and the covenanters passed between the pieces, for so it follows: and both of them made a covenant;
or, "cut or struck a covenant" ^F19; cut the sacrifice in pieces and passed between them, in token of the compact and agreement they entered into with each other; signifying that whoever broke it deserved to be cut in pieces as those creatures were.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (wtrky) "foedus percusserunt", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; "secuerunt", Cocceius.

Genesis 21:27 In-Context

25 Avraham complained to Avimelekh because of a water well, which Avimelekh's servants had violently taken away.

26 Avimelekh said, I don't know who has done this thing. Neither did you tell me, neither did I hear of it, until today."

27 Avraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Avimelekh. Those two made a covenant.

28 Avraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

29 Avimelekh said to Avraham, "What do these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves mean?"