Abimelech's Treaty with Abraham. - Through the divine blessing which visibly attended Abraham, the Philistine king Abimelech was induced to secure for himself and his descendants the friendship of a man so blessed; and for that purpose he went to Beersheba, with his captain Phicol, to conclude a treaty with him. Abraham was perfectly ready to agree to this; but first of all he complained to him about a well which Abimelech's men had stolen, i.e., had unjustly appropriated to themselves. Abimelech replied that this act of violence had never been made known to him till that day, and as a matter of course commanded the well to be returned. After the settlement of this dispute the treaty was concluded, and Abraham presented the king with sheep and oxen, as a material pledge that he would reciprocate the kindness shown, and live in friendship with the king and his descendants. Out of this present he selected seven lambs and set them by themselves; and when Abimelech inquired what they were, he told him to take them from his hand, that they might be to him (Abraham) for a witness that he had digged the well. It was not to redeem the well, but to secure the well as his property against any fresh claims on the part of the Philistines, that the present was given; and by the acceptance of it, Abraham's right of possession was practically and solemnly acknowledged.

Genesis 22:1 Parallel Commentaries

A.M.

2132. B.C.

1872. Jos. Ant. God.

Exodus 15:25,26 And he cried to the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet...

Exodus 16:4 Then said the LORD to Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you...

Deuteronomy 8:2 And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, and to prove you...

Deuteronomy 13:3 You shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proves you...

Judges 2:22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.

2 Samuel 24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

2 Chronicles 32:31 However, in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon...

Proverbs 17:3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tries the hearts.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful...

Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

James 1:12-14 Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life...

James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?

1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire...

tempt. Or prove, or try, as tempt, from tento, originally signified.

Behold, here I am. Heb. Behold me.

Genesis 22:7,11 And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said...

Exodus 3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said...

Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.