Genesis 21:33

21:33 Abraham ¹  planted a tamarisk tree ²  in Beer Sheba. There he worshiped the Lord, ³  the eternal God.

[21:33]  ¹ tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[21:33]  ² sn The planting of the tamarisk tree is a sign of Abraham’s intent to stay there for a long time, not a religious act. A growing tree in the Negev would be a lasting witness to God’s provision of water.

[21:33]  ³ tn 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; 12:8; 13:4; 26:25). See G. J. Wenham, Genesis (WBC), 1:116, 281.