Genesis 21:24-34

24 Avraham said, "I will swear."

25 Avraham complained to Avimelekh because of a water well, which Avimelekh's servants had violently taken away.

26 Avimelekh said, I don't know who has done this thing. Neither did you tell me, neither did I hear of it, until today."

27 Avraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Avimelekh. Those two made a covenant.

28 Avraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

29 Avimelekh said to Avraham, "What do these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves mean?"

30 He said, "You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well."

31 Therefore he called that place Be'er-Sheva, because they both swore there.

32 So they made a covenant at Be'er-Sheva. Avimelekh rose up with Pikhol, the captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Pelishtim.

33 Avraham planted a tamarisk tree in Be'er-Sheva, and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.

34 Avraham sojourned in the land of the Pelishtim many days.

Genesis 21:24-34 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.