Genesis 21:26

26 Abimelech said, "I have no idea who did this; you never told me about it; this is the first I've heard of it."

Genesis 21:26 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 21:26

And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing
He pleads ignorance; he knew nothing of it before, nor now which of his servants had done it; intimating, that if he could know who it was, he should severely reprimand him for it: neither didst thou tell me:
signifying that he was to blame he did not complain of it sooner; and at least he had no reason to blame him, since he had never informed him before of it, and therefore could not expect to be redressed: neither yet heard [of it] but today:
he had not heard of it from others, as the Targum of Jonathan rightly adds, by way of explanation, but that very day, and very probably not till the moment he had it from Abraham himself.

Genesis 21:26 In-Context

24 Abraham said, "I swear it."
25 At the same time, Abraham confronted Abimelech over the matter of a well of water that Abimelech's servants had taken.
26 Abimelech said, "I have no idea who did this; you never told me about it; this is the first I've heard of it."
27 So the two of them made a covenant. Abraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech.
28 Abraham set aside seven sheep from his flock.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.