Abraham And Abimelech At Beer-Sheba – Fulfilled Promises

   January 24, 2020
ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH AT BEER-SHEBA

Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham.

It is wise to connect ourselves with those who are blessed of God; and we ought to requite kindness to those who have been kind to us.

Genesis 21:22-34 KJV

[22] And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

[23] Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

[24] And Abraham said, I will swear.

[25] And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.

[26] And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.

[27] And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.

[28] And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

[29] And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

[30] And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

[31] Wherefore he called that place Beer–sheba; because there they sware both of them.

[32] Thus they made a covenant at Beer–sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

[33] And Abraham planted a grove in Beer–sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.

[34] And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.

Genesis 21:22 KJV

And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

  • Here a proof of the promise (Genesis 12:2) being fulfilled, in a native prince wishing to form a solemn league with Abraham.
  • The proposal was reasonable, and agreed to [Genesis 21:24 ].

Genesis 21:23 KJV

Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

  • In other words, Abimelech wants to make a contract or a treaty with this man Abraham—and they become good friends because of this.

Genesis 21:24 KJV

And Abraham said, I will swear.

  • The oath of peace between Abimelech (and his people) and Abraham was agreed to by Abraham.

Genesis 21:25 KJV

And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.

Genesis 21:26 KJV

And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.

Genesis 21:27 KJV

And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.

  • The oath of peace between Abimelech (and his people) and Abraham was then sealed by the transfer to Abimelech of sheep and oxen.

Genesis 21:28 KJV

And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

  • The Hebrew is not clear as to whether the seven ewe lambs were part of the gift mentioned in v. 27 or an additional gift.

Genesis 21:29 KJV

And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

  • The significance of seven in Hebrew thought was completion-hence indicating the “completion,” or “sealing,” of the oath.

Genesis 21:30 KJV

And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

  • The Hebrew word for “seven” and “oath,” in fact, is the same (sheva‘), as reflected in the name of the well.

Genesis 21:31 KJV

Wherefore he called that place Beer–sheba; because there they sware both of them.

  • Eventually the town over which the oath was made-i.e., Beersheba (be’er sheva‘), which bears the complementary (not contradictory) meanings, “Well of the Oath” and “Well of the Seven.”

Genesis 21:32 KJV

Thus they made a covenant at Beer–sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

  • Abraham alone gave gifts and not Abimelech suggests that Abraham was the supplicant in this treaty.
  • Moreover, the entire narrative portrays Abraham as dwelling in Philistine land and therefore still awaiting the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Genesis 21:33 KJV

And Abraham planted a grove in Beer–sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.

  • Abraham is calling upon God’s name everywhere he goes.

Genesis 21:34 KJV

And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.

We are told later that Abraham was always a stranger and a pilgrim in this land that God had promised to him, and this is an evidence of it.

I hope that you have really enjoyed this post,

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