30 And he answered, Because thou shalt receive of mine hand these seven lambs, that it may be a witness unto me, that I have dug this well.

31 Wherefore the place is called [a]Beersheba, because there they both swear.

32 Thus made they a [b]covenant at Beersheba: afterward Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain rose up, and turned again unto the land of the Philistines.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 21:31 Or, well of the oath, or of seven, meaning lambs.
  2. Genesis 21:32 Thus we see that the godly, as touching outward things may make peace with the wicked that know not the true God.

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)

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Footnotes

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

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.

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