Genesis 21:24

24 And Abraham said, "I will swear."

Genesis 21:24 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 21:24

And Abraham said, I will swear.
] Sensible of the many favours he had received from Abimelech in times past, and was still indulged with, he very readily agreed to his proposal; and the rather, as he knew by the vision between the pieces, that it would be four hundred years before his posterity should be put into the possession of the land of Canaan; and therefore could take an oath that neither he, nor his son, nor his grandson, should be injured or dispossessed.

Genesis 21:24 In-Context

22 At that time Abim'elech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, "God is with you in all that you do;
23 now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my offspring or with my posterity, but as I have dealt loyally with you, you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned."
24 And Abraham said, "I will swear."
25 When Abraham complained to Abim'elech about a well of water which Abim'elech's servants had seized,
26 Abim'elech said, "I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today."
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.