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Text -- Genesis 21:21-34 (NET)
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Context
21:21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran . His mother found a wife for him from the land of Egypt .
21:22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol , the commander of his army , said to Abraham , “God is with you in all that you do .
21:23 Now swear to me right here in God’s name that you will not deceive me, my children , or my descendants . Show me , and the land where you are staying , the same loyalty that I have shown you.”
21:24 Abraham said , “I swear to do this.”
21:25 But Abraham lodged a complaint against Abimelech concerning a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized .
21:26 “I do not know who has done this thing ,” Abimelech replied . “Moreover , you did not tell me. I did not hear about it until today .”
21:27 Abraham took some sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech . The two of them made a treaty .
21:28 Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs apart from the flock by themselves .
21:29 Abimelech asked Abraham , “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart ?”
21:30 He replied , “You must take these seven ewe lambs from my hand as legal proof that I dug this well .”
21:31 That is why he named that place Beer Sheba , because the two of them swore an oath there .
21:32 So they made a treaty at Beer Sheba . Then Abimelech and Phicol , the commander of his army , returned to the land of the Philistines .
21:33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer Sheba . There he worshiped the Lord , the eternal God .
21:34 So Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for quite some time .
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
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expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes -> Gen 21:21; Gen 21:21; Gen 21:22; Gen 21:23; Gen 21:23; Gen 21:23; Gen 21:23; Gen 21:23; Gen 21:23; Gen 21:24; Gen 21:25; Gen 21:25; Gen 21:25; Gen 21:26; Gen 21:27; Gen 21:29; Gen 21:30; Gen 21:30; Gen 21:31; Gen 21:31; Gen 21:31; Gen 21:32; Gen 21:32; Gen 21:32; Gen 21:33; Gen 21:33; Gen 21:33; Gen 21:34
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NET Notes: Gen 21:22 God is with you. Abimelech and Phicol recognized that Abraham enjoyed special divine provision and protection.
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NET Notes: Gen 21:23 Heb “According to the loyalty which I have done with you, do with me and with the land in which you are staying.”
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NET Notes: Gen 21:24 Heb “I swear.” No object is specified in the Hebrew text, but the content of the oath requested by Abimelech is the implied object.
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NET Notes: Gen 21:25 The Hebrew verb used here means “to steal; to rob; to take violently.” The statement reflects Abraham’s perspective.
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NET Notes: Gen 21:30 This well. Since the king wanted a treaty to share in Abraham’s good fortune, Abraham used the treaty to secure ownership of and protection for ...
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NET Notes: Gen 21:32 The Philistines mentioned here may not be ethnically related to those who lived in Palestine in the time of the judges and the united monarchy. See D....
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NET Notes: Gen 21:33 Heb “he called there in the name of the Lord.” The expression refers to worshiping the Lord through prayer and sacrifice (see Gen 4:26; 12...
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