^21:32So they made a treaty⁵⁹ at Beer Sheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, returned⁶⁰ to the land of the Philistines.⁶¹^21:33Abraham⁶² planted a tamarisk tree⁶³ in Beer Sheba. There he worshiped the Lord,⁶⁴ the eternal God.

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Footnotes

56 Heb “that is why he called that place.” Some translations render this as an impersonal passive, “that is why that place was called.”
57 The name Beer Sheba (בְּאֵר שָׁבַע, bé’er shava’) means “well of the oath” or “well of the seven.” Both the verb “to swear” and the number “seven” have been used throughout the account. Now they are drawn in as part of the explanation of the significance of the name.
58 The verb forms a wordplay with the name Beer Sheba.
59 Heb “cut a covenant.”
60 Heb “arose and returned.”
61 The Philistines mentioned here may not be ethnically related to those who lived in Palestine in the time of the judges and the united monarchy. See D. M. Howard, “Philistines,” Peoples of the Old Testament World, 238.
62 Heb “and he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
63 The planting of the tamarisk tree is a sign of Abraham’s intent to stay there for a long time, not a religious act. A growing tree in the Negev would be a lasting witness to God’s provision of water.
64 Heb “he called there in the name of the Lord.” The expression refers to worshiping the Lord through prayer and sacrifice (see Gen 4:26; 12:8; 13:4; 26:25). See G. J. Wenham, Genesis (), 1:, .

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there.

After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba because it was there that the two of them swore an oath. After they had made a covenant at Beer-sheba, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, left and returned to the land of the Philistines.

Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.

NLTNew Living Translation

Then he named the place Beersheba (which means “well of the oath”), because that was where they had sworn the oath.

After making their covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech left with Phicol, the commander of his army, and they returned home to the land of the Philistines. Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he worshiped the Lord, the Eternal God.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Therefore that place is called Beersheba, because there the two of them swore an oath. And they made a covenant at Beersheba. And Abimelech, and Phicol his army commander stood and returned to the land of the Philistines. And he planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of Yahweh, the everlasting God.

KJV 1900King James Version

Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them. Thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines. And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.

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