Genesis 21:21-31

21 1He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Covenant with Abimelech

22 Now it came about at that time that 2Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, "3God is with you in all that you do;
23 now therefore, 4swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my offspring or with my posterity, but according to the kindness that I have shown to you, you shall show to me and to the land in which you have sojourned."
24 Abraham said, "I swear it."
25 But Abraham complained to Abimelech because * of the well of water which the servants of Abimelech 5had seized.
26 And Abimelech said, "I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor * did I hear of it until today."
27 Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and 6the two of them made a covenant.
28 Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 Abimelech said to Abraham, "What do these seven ewe lambs mean, which you have set by themselves?"
30 He said, "You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a 7witness to me, that I dug this well."
31 Therefore * he called that place 8Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath.

Genesis 21:21-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 21

This chapter gives an account of the conception, birth, circumcision, and weaning of Isaac, Ge 21:1-8; of the mocking of Ishmael, and of the casting out of him and his mother from Abraham's house, at the request of Sarah, which, though grievous to Abraham, he complied with at the direction of God, Ge 21:9-13; of the provision Abraham made for their departure, and of the supply they met with in the wilderness from God, where Ishmael was brought up, and where he married, Ge 21:14-21; and of a covenant between Abraham and Abimelech, king of Gerar, Ge 21:22-32; and of Abraham's planting a grove, and calling on the name of the Lord, Ge 21:33; and the chapter is closed with this observation, that Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many days, Ge 21:34.

Cross References 8

  • 1. Genesis 25:18
  • 2. Genesis 20:2, 14; Genesis 26:26
  • 3. Genesis 26:28; Isaiah 8:10
  • 4. Joshua 2:12; 1 Samuel 24:21
  • 5. Gen 26:15, 18, 20-22
  • 6. Genesis 26:31
  • 7. Genesis 31:48
  • 8. Genesis 21:14; Genesis 26:33

Footnotes 3

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