29 Then 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 (A)witness for me, that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore he called that place [a](B)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, got up and returned to the land of the Philistines.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 21:31 I.e., well of an oath

29 and Abimelek asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?”

30 He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness(A) that I dug this well.(B)

31 So that place was called Beersheba,[a](C) because the two men swore an oath(D) there.

32 After the treaty(E) had been made at Beersheba,(F) Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces(G) returned to the land of the Philistines.(H)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 21:31 Beersheba can mean well of seven and well of the oath.

29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

30 And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

31 Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.

32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

Read full chapter