Genesis 21:27

27 So the two of them made a covenant. Abraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech.

Genesis 21:27 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 21:27

And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto
Abimelech
In gratitude for former favours he had received from him, in token of the friendship that subsisted between them, and for the confirmation of it; and to show that he was fully satisfied with Abimelech's answer to his complaint, as well as willing to enter into covenant by sacrifice, when such creatures were divided, and the covenanters passed between the pieces, for so it follows: and both of them made a covenant;
or, "cut or struck a covenant" ^F19; cut the sacrifice in pieces and passed between them, in token of the compact and agreement they entered into with each other; signifying that whoever broke it deserved to be cut in pieces as those creatures were.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (wtrky) "foedus percusserunt", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; "secuerunt", Cocceius.

Genesis 21:27 In-Context

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.

29 Abimelech said, "What does this mean? These seven sheep you've set aside."