Genesis 21:26

26 Abim'elech said, "I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until 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 When Abraham complained to Abim'elech about a well of water which Abim'elech's servants had seized,
26 Abim'elech said, "I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today."
27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abim'elech, and the two men made a covenant.
28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.