Abimelech and Phichol Speak With Abraham at the WellBible World
21:24Genesis 21:24
And Abraham said, I will swear.
Genesis 21 places “I will swear” in the account of Abraham’s life surrounding the birth of Isaac. That birth came shortly after the destruction of Sodom. The events belong to God’s providential dealings with Abraham’s family as the family chosen to be progenitors of the Seed.
The saying records Abraham agreeing to Abimelech’s request for an oath. By it he consented to confirm his covenant with Abimelech by an oath, and that covenant was a mutual agreement of friendship. It concerned the well at Beer-sheba. The name Beer-sheba, meaning well of the oath, commemorated that sworn agreement.
The use of covenant in Genesis 21:22-32 for the agreement between Abraham and Abimelech shows that the word can refer to such an agreement. The agreement did not prevent Abraham from afterward raising the wrong done to him by Abimelech’s servants over the well. He addressed the matter without breaking their friendship, so that the dispute could be fairly settled. The covenant was respected as long as Abraham lived.
Genesis 21 places “I will swear” in the account of Abraham’s life surrounding the birth of Isaac. That birth came shortly after the destruction of Sodom. The events belong to God’s providential dealings with Abraham’s family as the family chosen to be progenitors of the Seed.
The saying records Abraham agreeing to Abimelech’s request for an oath. By it he consented to confirm his covenant with Abimelech by an oath, and that covenant was a mutual agreement of friendship. It concerned the well at Beer-sheba. The name Beer-sheba, meaning well of the oath, commemorated that sworn agreement.
The use of covenant in Genesis 21:22-32 for the agreement between Abraham and Abimelech shows that the word can refer to such an agreement. The agreement did not prevent Abraham from afterward raising the wrong done to him by Abimelech’s servants over the well. He addressed the matter without breaking their friendship, so that the dispute could be fairly settled. The covenant was respected as long as Abraham lived.