Genesis 21:22–33

The Covenant Between Abraham and Abimelech

²²And it happened that at that time, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you, in all that you do. ²³So now, swear to me here by God that you will not deal with me falsely, or with my descendants, or my posterity. According to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall pledge to do with me and with the land where you have dwelled as an alien.” ²⁴And Abraham said, “I swear.” ²⁵Then Abraham complained to Abimelech on account of the well of water that servants of Abimelech had seized. ²⁶And Abimelech said, “I do not know who did this thing, neither did you tell me, nor have I heard of it except for today.” ²⁷And Abraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech. And the two of them made^k a covenant. ²⁸Then Abraham set off seven ewe-lambs of the flock by themselves. ²⁹And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe-lambs that you have set off by themselves?” ³⁰And he said, “You shall take the seven ewe-lambs from my hand as proof on my behalf^l that I dug this well.” ³¹Therefore that place is called Beersheba, because there the two of them swore an oath. ³²And they made^m a covenant at Beersheba. And Abimelech, and Phicol his army commander stood and returned to the land of the Philistines. ³³And heⁿ planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of Yahweh, the everlasting God.^o