Genesis 21:31

31 Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba[a] because it was there that the two of them swore an oath.

Genesis 21:31 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 21:31

Wherefore he called that place Beersheba
Either Abraham or Abimelech, or both, called it so; or it may be read impersonally, "therefore the place was called Beersheba" F20, for two reasons, one implied, the other expressed; one was, because of the seven lambs before mentioned; so the Targum of Jonathan,

``and therefore he called the well the well of seven lambs;''
"Beer" signifying a well, and "sheba" seven; the other, and which is more certain, being expressed, is as follows; because there they sware both of them;
by the living God, to keep the covenant inviolably they had made between them.
FOOTNOTES:

F20 (arqy) "vocatus", V. L. Calvin, Piscator.

Genesis 21:31 In-Context

29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "Why have you set apart these seven ewe lambs?"
30 He replied, "You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from my hand so that this act will serve as my witness that I dug this well."
31 Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba because it was there that the two of them swore an oath.
32 After they had made a covenant at Beer-sheba, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, left and returned to the land of the Philistines.
33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and there he worshiped the Lord, the Everlasting God.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Seven Wells, or Well of the Oath
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