Kejadian 21:31

21:31 That is why he named that place ¹  Beer Sheba, ²  because the two of them swore ³  an oath there.

Kejadian 25:33

25:33 But Jacob said, “Swear an oath to me now.” ⁴  So Esau ⁵  swore an oath to him and sold his birthright ⁶  to Jacob.

[21:31]  ¹ tn Heb “that is why he called that place.” Some translations render this as an impersonal passive, “that is why that place was called.”

[21:31]  ² sn The name Beer Sheba (בְּאֵר שָׁבַע, bÿ’er shava’) means “well of the oath” or “well of the seven.” Both the verb “to swear” and the number “seven” have been used throughout the account. Now they are drawn in as part of the explanation of the significance of the name.

[21:31]  ³ sn The verb forms a wordplay with the name Beer Sheba.

[25:33]  ⁴ tn Heb “Swear to me today.”

[25:33]  ⁵ tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Esau) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[25:33]  ⁶ sn And sold his birthright. There is evidence from Hurrian culture that rights of inheritance were occasionally sold or transferred. Here Esau is portrayed as a profane person who would at the moment rather have a meal than the right to inherit. He will soon forget this trade and seek his father’s blessing in spite of it.