Bereshis 21:27

27 And Avraham took tzon and oxen, and gave them unto Avimelech; and both of them made a brit.

Bereshis 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.

Bereshis 21:27 In-Context

25 And Avraham reproved Avimelech because of a be’er hamayim, which Avimelech’s avadim had violently seized.

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

27 And Avraham took tzon and oxen, and gave them unto Avimelech; and both of them made a brit.

28 And Avraham set apart seven ewe lambs of the tzon by themselves.

29 And Avimelech said unto Avraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set apart by themselves?