Genesis 21:26

26 And Abimelech answered: I knew not who did this thing: and thou didst not tell me, and I heard not of it till today.

Genesis 21:26 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 21:26

And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing
He pleads ignorance; he knew nothing of it before, nor now which of his servants had done it; intimating, that if he could know who it was, he should severely reprimand him for it: neither didst thou tell me:
signifying that he was to blame he did not complain of it sooner; and at least he had no reason to blame him, since he had never informed him before of it, and therefore could not expect to be redressed: neither yet heard [of it] but today:
he had not heard of it from others, as the Targum of Jonathan rightly adds, by way of explanation, but that very day, and very probably not till the moment he had it from Abraham himself.

Genesis 21:26 In-Context

24 And Abraham said: I will swear.
25 And he reproved Abimelech for a well of water, which his servants had taken away by force.
26 And Abimelech answered: I knew not who did this thing: and thou didst not tell me, and I heard not of it till today.
27 Then Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Abimelech: and both of them made a league.
28 And Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs of the flock.
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