21:20 God was with the boy as he grew. He lived in the wilderness and became an archer. 21:21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran. 2 His mother found a wife for him from the land of Egypt. 3
21:22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you 4 in all that you do. 21:23 Now swear to me right here in God’s name 5 that you will not deceive me, my children, or my descendants. 6 Show me, and the land 7 where you are staying, 8 the same loyalty 9 that I have shown you.” 10
21:24 Abraham said, “I swear to do this.” 11 21:25 But Abraham lodged a complaint 12 against Abimelech concerning a well 13 that Abimelech’s servants had seized. 14 21:26 “I do not know who has done this thing,” Abimelech replied. “Moreover, 15 you did not tell me. I did not hear about it until today.”
21:27 Abraham took some sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech. The two of them made a treaty. 16 21:28 Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs apart from the flock by themselves. 21:29 Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these 17 seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” 21:30 He replied, “You must take these seven ewe lambs from my hand as legal proof 18 that I dug this well.” 19 21:31 That is why he named that place 20 Beer Sheba, 21 because the two of them swore 22 an oath there.
21:32 So they made a treaty 23 at Beer Sheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, returned 24 to the land of the Philistines. 25 21:33 Abraham 26 planted a tamarisk tree 27 in Beer Sheba. There he worshiped the Lord, 28 the eternal God. 21:34 So Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for quite some time. 29