Genesis 21:26

26 Abimelech said, "I do not know who has done this; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today."

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 And Abraham said, "I swear it."
25 When Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech's servants had seized,
26 Abimelech said, "I do not know who has done this; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today."
27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant.
28 Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs of the flock.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.