God's blessing of Abraham resulted in his material prosperity. In response to Abimelech's initiative Abraham agreed to make a covenant of peaceful coexistence. This treaty enabled Abraham to serve and worship God freely in the Promised Land.
The writer may have included this incident in the text because it records the testimony of a Gentile king to God's faithfulness (v. 22) and Abraham's strong testimony to God's faithfulness (vv. 32-33). It also sets the stage for Isaac's dealings with Abimelech (ch. 26).
Since Abraham had become a powerful individual in the land by God's blessing, Abimelech initiated a treaty with him for his own protection. This was evidently the same Abimelech that Abraham had dealt with previously (ch. 20). They made a parity covenant (i.e., between equals, vv. 31-32). This was a remarkable admission of Abraham's standing and blessing by God and an expression of Abimelech's confidence in the future existence of the patriarch's family.
The birth of Isaac seems to have produced a much stronger faith in Abraham (cf. v. 14). Note his immediate response to God's instructions to him from then on (cf. 22:3).
"Phicol"(v. 22) seems to have been a title rather than a proper name, probably of Anatolian origin.566
Wells were extremely important in the life of semi-nomads like Abraham (v. 25).567
Beersheba, one of the more important sites throughout Old Testament times, meaning "oath-well,"became Abraham's possession with the payment of seven ewe lambs (v. 28; cf. 26:33).568
Critics of the historicity of the patriarchal narratives have pointed out references to the Philistines in Genesis (vv. 32, 34; 26:1) as evidence that the Bible contains errors. It is common knowledge that the Philistines did not invade Palestine until about 1200 B.C. whereas Abraham evidently lived about 800 years earlier. One explanation is that since the Philistines of Genesis were peaceful and those of Judges and later warlike perhaps the same name describes an earlier group of people. They may have resembled the later thirteenth-century Philistines who also emigrated from the Aegean area into Palestine.569On the other hand perhaps the Philistines of 2000 B.C. were Minoan and peaceful whereas those of 1200 were Mycenean and warlike.570
"I suggest that the Philistines of Genesis represent the first wave of Sea Peoples from the Aegean, and that the later Philistines represent the last wave (cf. 1200 B.C.)."571
By planting a tree Abraham indicated his determination to stay in that region. Tamarisk trees (v. 33) were long-lived and evergreen. This tree was an appropriate symbol of the enduring grace of the faithful God whom Abraham recognized as "the Everlasting God"(El Olam). Abraham now owned a small part of the land God had promised him.
"By granting Abraham rights to a well, Abimelek had made it possible for Abraham to live there permanently and had acknowledged his legal right at least to water. In other words, after so many delays the promises of land and descendants at last seem on their way to fulfillment."572
In contrast to Abraham's fear of Abimelech (ch. 20) we now see him boldly standing up to this powerful king. His changed attitude evidently resulted from God's grace in blessing the patriarch as He had promised.
"The reader is forced to ask why the author constantly draws attention to the fact that Abraham was dwelling with the Philistines during this time [cf. v. 34]. The purpose of such reminders may be to portray Abraham as one who had yet to experience the complete fulfillment of God's promises."573
Peaceful interpersonal relationships with those who acknowledge God enable the believer to proclaim his or her faith freely.
