Genesis 21:22-34

Abraham and Abimelech Make a Covenant at Beersheba. Probably from JE. The analysis is uncertain; perhaps Genesis 21:25 f., Genesis 21:28; Genesis 21:32 belong to J, the rest to E. One narrative represents Abraham as making a covenant of friendship with Abimelech at the king's request, the other as securing a recognition from Abimelech of his claim to the wells of Beersheba. The point of Genesis 21:25 f. is probably that whenever Abraham reproved Abimelech, as he did on various occasions, he could get no satisfaction from him. It does not continue Genesis 21:24, but begins an independent narrative, which is continued in Genesis 21:28. The variant in Genesis 26:13 should be compared. There are two suggestions as to the origin of the name Beersheba. One is that it refers to the seven ewe lambs (Genesis 21:28), the other that it means well of the oath (Genesis 21:31). The true meaning is probably well of seven, the reference being to the seven wells at Beersheba. A dispute about wells is very common in those regions (p. 32). For seven as a sacred number cf. Numbers 22:41 to Numbers 23:6 *.