Gen 21:22-34 | 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.
21:32 ^v The Philistines in Genesis are different from the Philistines of Judges through Kings. The earlier Philistines had Semitic names (e.g., Abimelech) and Canaanite culture. The later Philistines were apparently of Greek origin, with Greek customs and culture. They seem to have arrived in Canaan by sea from the Aegean area around 1200 BC, during the time of the judges. Probably the name of the later Philistines was used here simply to describe the region’s earlier inhabitants.
Summary for Gen 21:33-34: 21:33-34 ^w A tamarisk tree requires a lot of water; this act indicated Abraham’s security in his land rights and his faith that God would provide water in this desert area. He settled as a foreigner in the land, but dwelling under his tree was a sign of peaceful security (cp. Zech 3:10 ^x).

• there he worshiped the Lord: See study note on 12:8.