Genesis 21:22-34

Covenant with Abimelech

22 Now it came about at that time that ¹Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, "²God is with you in all that you do;

23 now therefore, ³swear 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 ⁴had 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 ⁵the 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 ⁶witness to me, that I dug this well."

31 Therefore * he called that place ⁷Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath.

32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba; and Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, arose and returned to the land of the Philistines.

33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there ⁸he called on the name of the LORD, the ⁹Everlasting God.

34 And Abraham sojourned ¹⁰in the land of the Philistines for many days.

Genesis 21:22-34 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

• 1. Genesis 20:2, 14; Genesis 26:26
• 2. Genesis 26:28; Isaiah 8:10
• 3. Joshua 2:12; 1 Samuel 24:21
• 4. Gen 26:15, 18, 20-22
• 5. Genesis 26:31
• 6. Genesis 31:48
• 7. Genesis 21:14; Genesis 26:33
• 8. Genesis 12:8
• 9. Exodus 15:18; Deuteronomy 32:40; Psalms 90:2; Psalms 93:2; Isaiah 40:28; Jeremiah 10:10; Habakkuk 1:12; Hebrews 13:8
• 10. Genesis 22:19

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "reproved"
• [b]. Lit "except"