Genesis 21:30

_AND HE SAID, FOR THESE SEVEN EWE LAMBS SHALT THOU TAKE OF MY HAND, THAT THEY MAY BE A WITNESS UNTO ME, THAT I HAVE DIGGED THIS WELL._ These seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand. Abimelech's acceptance of this specific present was an earnest or pledge of his acknowledgment that the well was the patriarch's property; and while the former donation was, on Abraham's part, a token of his friendly disposition, the select ewe lambs (the number seven being a sacred and significant number) were given and received as a symbol of infeftment in the possession of the watering-place....

22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham. It is wise to connect ourselves with those who are blessed of God; and we ought to requite kindness to those who have been kind to us. Wells of water are scarce and valuable in eastern countries. Abraham took care to have his title to the well allowed, to prevent disputes in future. No more can be expected from an honest man than that he be ready to do right, as soon as he knows he has done wrong. Abraham, being now in a good neighbourhood, stayed a great while there. There he made, not only a constant practice, but an open profession of his religion. There he called on the name of the Lord, as the everlasting God; probably in the grove he planted, which was his place of prayer. Abraham kept up public worship, in which his neighbours might join. Good men should do all they can to make others so. Wherever we...

- The Birth of Isaac 7. מלל _mı̂lēl_ “speak,” an ancient and therefore solemn and poetical word. 14. חמת _chêmet_ “bottle,” akin to חמה _chāmâh_, “surround, enclose,” and הוּם _chûm_ “black. באר שׁבע _b__e__êr_-_sheba‛_, Beer-sheba‘, “well of seven.” 22. פיכל _pı̂ykol_, Pikhol, “mouth or spokesman of all.” 23. נין _nı̂yn_ “offspring, kin;” related: “sprout, flourish.”...

EXPOSITION GENESIS 21:22 AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THAT TIME,—possibly in immediate sequence to the incident of the preceding chapter, but, "according to the common law of Hebrew narrative, probably not long after the birth of Isaac." (Murphy)—THAT ABIMELECH—the king of Gerar (Genesis 20:2; Genesis 26:1, Genesis 26:16)—AND PHI-CHOL—if the name be Shemitic, "mouth of all," _i.e._ spokesman of all (Murphy), ruler of all (Gesenius); or "_the _distinguished" (Furst); believed to have been a titular designation of the Philistine monarch's grand v

AND HE SAID,.... That is, Abraham replied to Abimelech: FOR THESE SEVEN EWE LAMBS SHALL THOU TAKE OF MY HAND; as a present from him, to be retained as his own: THAT THEY MAY BE A WITNESS TO ME THAT I HAVE DIGGED THIS WELL: these were to be a testimony that the well that had been taken away from Abraham was one that he had dug, and was his property, and which Abimelech acknowledged by his acceptance of these seven lambs; and very probably Abraham received a note from the hand of Abimelech, owning his reception of the seven lambs, and his title to the well, which these were a witness of....

CHAPTER 21 ISAAC AND ISHMAEL AND THE COVENANT WITH ABIMELECH _ 1. Isaac's birth (Genesis 22:1) 2. His circumcision (Genesis 22:4)_ 3. Ishmael mocking (Genesis 22:9) 4. Sarah's demand (Genesis 22:10) 5. God speaks to Abraham (Genesis 22:12) 6. Hagar and Ishmael cast out (Genesis 22:14) 7. The intervention of God (Genesis 22:17)

GENESIS 12:1 TO GENESIS 25:18. THE STORY OF ABRAHAM. In this section the three main sources, J. E, P are present. Gunkel has given strong reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources, one connecting Abraham with Hebron, the other with Beersheba and the Negeb. The former associates Abraham with Lot. (For details, see ICC.) On the interpretation to be placed on the figures of Abraham and the patriarchs, see the Introduction. The interest, which has hitherto been diffused over the fortunes of mankind in general, is now concentrated on Abraham and his posterity, the principle of election narrowing it down to Isaac, Ishmael being left aside, and then to Jacob, Esau being excluded....

_that it may be a witness_ Abimelech's question and Abraham's answer are probably the technical terms of the usual transaction. The transfer of the seven lambs having taken place, it was a "witness" to the fact that Abraham was acknowledged by Abimelech to have digged the well. There is no mention of document or writing in the compact....

BIRTH OF ISAAC. DISMISSAL OF HAGAR AND ISHMAEL. COVENANT BETWEEN ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH 8. Weaned] in his second or third year, as is usual among Orientals....

GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 21 ISAAC IS BORN V1 The *Lord had promised that he would visit Sarah. He did what he had promised to her. V2 So Sarah became *pregnant. A son was born to her for Abraham, when Abraham was old. This son was born at the time that God had promised. V3 Abraham called his son Isaac. Sarah was Isaac’s mother. V4 Abraham *circumcised Isaac when Isaac was 8 days old. God had *commanded him to do that. V5 Abraham was 100 years of age when his son Isaac was born for him. V6 Then Sarah said, ‘God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me.’ V7 And she said, ‘Nobody would have said to Abraham, “Sarah will give her milk to a child.” But I am the mother of Abraham’s son in his old age.’...