Genesis 21:21-31

21 And he dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran, and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

22 And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the chief captain of his host, spoke unto Abraham, saying, "God is with thee in all that thou doest.

23 Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son; but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned."

24 And Abraham said, "I will swear."

25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.

26 And Abimelech said, "I know not who hath done this thing; neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it until today."

27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them unto Abimelech, and both of them made a covenant.

28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, "What mean these seven ewe lambs, which thou hast set by themselves?"

30 And he said, "These seven ewe lambs shalt thou take from my hand, that they may be a witness unto me that I have dug this well."

31 Therefore he called that place Beersheba [that is, The well of the oath], because there they swore, both of them.

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.