Study Desk

Now it came about at that time that ^(C1)Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, "^(C2)God is with you in all that you do;

so now, ^(C1)swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my offspring or with my descendants, but according to the kindness that I have shown to you, you shall show to me and to the land in which you have resided."

Abraham said, "I swear it."

But Abraham ^(F1)complained to Abimelech because of the well of water which the servants of Abimelech ^(C1)had seized.

And Abimelech said, "I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor did I hear of it ^(F1)until today."

So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and ^(C1)the two of them made a covenant.

But Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

Then Abimelech said to Abraham, "What do these seven ewe lambs mean, which you have set by themselves?"

He said, "You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a ^(C1)witness for me, that I dug this well."

Therefore he called that place ^(F1)(C1)Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath.

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.