22 Now it came about at that time that Abimelech and Phicol , the commander 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 or with my offspring or with my posterity , but according to the kindness that I have shown to you, you shall show to me and to the land in which you have sojourned ." 24 Abraham said , "I swear it." 25 But Abraham complained to Abimelech because e of the well of water which the servants of Abimelech had seized . 26 And Abimelech said , "I do not know who has done this thing ; you did not tell me, nor e did I hear of it until today ." 27 Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech , and the two of them made a covenant . 28 Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves . 29 Abimelech said to Abraham , "What do these seven ewe lambs mean, which you have set by themselves ?" 30 He said , "You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a witness to me, that I dug this well ." 31 Therefore e he called that place Beersheba , because there the two of them took an oath . 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba ; and Abimelech and Phicol , the commander of his army , arose and returned to the land of the Philistines .
33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba , and there he called on the name of the Lord , the Everlasting God . 34 And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines for many days .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 21:22-34
Commentary on Genesis 21:22-34
(Read Genesis 21:22-34)
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. Wells of water are scarce and valuable in eastern countries. Abraham took care to have his title to the well allowed, to prevent disputes in future. No more can be expected from an honest man than that he be ready to do right, as soon as he knows he has done wrong. Abraham, being now in a good neighbourhood, stayed a great while there. There he made, not only a constant practice, but an open profession of his religion. There he called on the name of the Lord, as the everlasting God; probably in the grove he planted, which was his place of prayer. Abraham kept up public worship, in which his neighbours might join. Good men should do all they can to make others so. Wherever we sojourn, we must neither neglect nor be ashamed of the worship of Jehovah.