Genesis 21:27

27 Then Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Abimelech: and both of them made a league.

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 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.

29 And Abimelech said to him: What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set apart?