And he builded an altar there
At Beersheba, where his father Abraham had planted a grove before, and very probably had built an altar also, though it might not be now standing, ( Genesis 21:33 ) ; and called upon the name of the Lord;
and gave him thanks for all his mercies to him; for the care he had taken of him, and provision he had made for him and his during the time of famine; and for the protection and preservation of him in Gerar; and for his deliverance of him out of the hands of envious, malicious, and unreasonable men; as well as prayed unto him for present and future mercies, for providential care of him and his; and for communications of special grace, and for meetness for eternal glory; all which every good man daily prays to God for: and pitched his tent there:
intending to take up his abode and settle there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well;
in order to find water for the family, and for the flocks and herds; and which was necessary to be done, as they perceived their master designed to fix his habitation here; wells of water being of great moment and consequence in those hot and desert countries, as the above contentions about them abundantly show.