Genesis 21:22-34
God’s presence with His people becomes evident, leading to peace, witness, and worship.
22 At that time, Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his army spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do.
23 Now, therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have lived as a foreigner.”
24 Abraham said, “I will swear.”
25 Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
26 Abimelech said, “I don’t know who has done this thing. You didn’t tell me, and I didn’t hear of it until today.”
27 Abraham took sheep and cattle, and gave them to Abimelech. Those two made a covenant.
28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs, which you have set by themselves, mean?”
30 He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well.”
31 Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because they both swore an oath there.
32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Abimelech rose up with Phicol, the captain of his army, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and called there on the name of Yahweh, the Everlasting God.
34 Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines many days.
God’s presence with His people becomes evident, leading to peace, witness, and worship.
To establish a covenant of peace between Abraham and Abimelek, affirming God’s presence with Abraham and securing rightful possession.
The LORD Fulfills His Promise in Isaac, Casts Out the Bondwoman’s Line from the Covenant Inheritance, and Preserves Ishmael in Mercy
The LORD faithfully fulfills His promise by giving Isaac at the appointed time, distinguishes the covenant heir from the son of human arrangement, and shows preserving mercy to Ishmael while establishing Abraham more firmly in the land.