Genesis 21:32

_THUS THEY MADE A COVENANT AT BEERSHEBA: THEN ABIMELECH ROSE UP, AND PHICHOL THE CHIEF CAPTAIN OF HIS HOST, AND THEY RETURNED INTO THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES._ Thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba. A large town rose in later times on that spot, which is well known as the southern boundary point of Palestine. It is now called Bir es-Seba, and is situated in Wady es-Seba, which Robinson ('Biblical Researches') describes as 'a wide watercourse, or bed of a torrent running W.S.W. toward Wady Essuny.' AND THEY RETURNED INTO THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES - i:e., from Beer-sheba into their own country; not, it must be remembered, what was afterward posessed by the Philistine nation-the Shephelah, or lowlands, the extensive fertile plain on the coast of the Mediterranean-but the kingdom of Gerar, as described above....

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

THUS THEY MADE A COVENANT AT BEERSHEBA,.... Which took its name from the oath annexed to the covenant there made; and which is observed for the sake of what follows, to show that when they finished their agreement, and the ceremony of it, THEN ABIMELECH ROSE UP, AND PHICHOL, THE CHIEF CAPTAIN OF HIS HOST; from the place where they had been conversing and covenanting with Abraham: AND THEY RETURNED INTO THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES; from Beersheba, which was in the extreme border of it, unto Gerar, which lay in the midst of it, and was the capital city in it; otherwise both places were in Palestine, or the land of the Philistines, a people that came out of Egypt originally, and settled here: in Jerom's u time Beersheba was a large village, twenty miles from Hebron to the south. u De loc. Heb. fol. 89. F....

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....

_returned into the land of the Philistines_ The reference to the Philistines is an anachronism. It is doubtful whether the Philistines occupied S. E. Palestine before the reign of Raamses III (1202 1172 b.c.). See Genesis 26:1....

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.’...