Genesis 21:23-31

A Treaty with Abimelech

23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but e as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned." 24 And Abraham said, "I will swear."

25 When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech's servants f had seized, 26 Abimelech 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 Abimelech, and the two men g made a covenant. 28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?" 30 He said, "These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this 1 may be a witness for me that I dug this well." 31 Therefore h that place was called Beersheba, 2 because there both of them swore an oath.

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 20:14
    Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him.
  2. Cross References
    Genesis 26:15
    (Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.)
    Genesis 26:18
    And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them.
    Genesis 26:20 - 22
    The herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours." So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him.
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 26:31
    In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths. And Isaac sent them on their way, and they departed from him in peace.
  4. Cross References
    Genesis 26:33
    He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.