Gen 21:22-31 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gen 21:22-34: 21:22-34 This passage, at its climax, explains the name of Beersheba , Abraham’s home (21:31-34 ). Beersheba reflected the covenant Abraham made with the residents of the land, which enabled him to dwell there in peace and prosperity. God’s promise was coming to fruition (12:7 ; 13:14-17 ; 15:7 , 18-21 ; 17:8 ). Summary for Gen 21:22-23: 21:22-23 Abimelech pressed for the treaty so that Abraham would not cheat or deceive him. Abimelech knew that God was blessing Abraham even though Abraham was not entirely trustworthy (20:9-10 ). This sad contradiction made the treaty necessary. By contrast, God’s faithful people are exhorted to speak the truth (Eph 4:15 , 25 ), and Jesus warned against manipulating truth by the clever use of oaths (Matt 5:37 ; Jas 5:12 ).

Summary for Gen 21:22-34: 21:22-34 ^a This passage, at its climax, explains the name of Beersheba, Abraham’s home (21:31-34 ^b). Beersheba reflected the covenant Abraham made with the residents of the land, which enabled him to dwell there in peace and prosperity. God’s promise was coming to fruition (12:7 ^c; 13:14-17 ^d; 15:7 ^e, 18-21 ^f; 17:8 ^g).
Summary for Gen 21:22-23: 21:22-23 ^h Abimelech pressed for the treaty so that Abraham would not cheat or deceive him. Abimelech knew that God was blessing Abraham even though Abraham was not entirely trustworthy (20:9-10 ⁱ). This sad contradiction made the treaty necessary. By contrast, God’s faithful people are exhorted to speak the truth (Eph 4:15 ^j, 25 ^k), and Jesus warned against manipulating truth by the clever use of oaths (Matt 5:37 ^l; Jas 5:12 ^m).
21:25 ⁿ The motif of the well appears again (cp. 16:14 ^o; 21:19 ^p). God provided water (a symbol of blessing) in the barren wilderness and later even brought water out of a rock for Israel (Exod 15:22-27 ^q; 17:1-7 ^r; Num 20:1-13 ^s).
Summary for Gen 21:27-31: 21:27-31 ^t Abraham’s gifts to Abimelech (cp. 20:14 ^u) secured his legal right to dwell peaceably in the land and to claim ownership of the well. Beersheba marked one more step toward the fulfillment of God’s promise.