And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
27. And Abraham took sheep, &c.] Abraham makes a gift, according to the custom, at the conclusion of a treaty (cf. 1Ki 15:19) and as a pledge of his good faith. He also acknowledges his need of protection from the king.
made a covenant ] Cf. Gen 15:18, Gen 26:31.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 27. Took sheep and oxen] Some think that these were the sacrifices which were offered on the occasion, and which Abraham furnished at his own cost, and, in order to do Abimelech the greater honour, gave them to him to offer before the Lord.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Abraham gave them unto Abimelech; partly, as an acknowledgment to him for his former favour and friendship; partly, as an assurance of his sincere friendship, both present and for the future, of his acquiescence in his answer about the well; and partly, for sacrifice, and for the usual rite in making covenants, which was, that the persons covenanting might pass through the parts of the slain beasts. See Gen 15:17.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech,…. In gratitude for former favours he had received from him, in token of the friendship that subsisted between them, and for the confirmation of it; and to show that he was fully satisfied with Abimelech’s answer to his complaint, as well as willing to enter into covenant by sacrifice, when such creatures were divided, and the covenanters passed between the pieces, for so it follows:
and both of them made a covenant; or, “cut or struck a covenant” s; cut the sacrifice in pieces and passed between them, in token of the compact and agreement they entered into with each other; signifying that whoever broke it deserved to be cut in pieces as those creatures were.
s “foedus percusserunt”, Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; “secuerunt”, Cocceius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
27. And Abraham took sheep. Hence it appears that the covenant made, was not such as is usually entered into between equals: for Abraham considers his own position, and in token of subjection, offers a gift, from his flocks, to king Gerar; for, what the Latins call paying tax or tribute, and what we call doing homage, the Hebrews call offering gifts. (443) And truly Abraham does not wait till something is forcibly, and with authority, extorted from him by the king; but, by a voluntary giving of honor, anticipates him, whom he knows to have dominion over the place. It is too well known, how great a desire of exercising authority prevails among men. Hence, the greater praise is due to the modesty of Abraham, who not only abstains from what belongs to another man; but even offers, uncommanded, what, in his own mind, he regards as due to another, in virtue of his office. A further question however arises; since Abraham knew that the dominion over the land had been divinely committed to him, whether it was lawful for him to profess a subjection by which he acknowledged another as lord? But the solution is easy, because the time of entering into possession had not yet arrived; for he was lord, only in expectation, while, in fact, he was a pilgrim. Wherefore, he acted rightly in purchasing a habitation, till the time should come, when what had been promised to him, should be given to his posterity. Thus, soon afterwards, as we shall see, he paid a price for his wife’s sepulcher. In short, until he should be placed, by the hand of God, in legitimate authority over the land he did not scruple to treat with the inhabitants of the place, that he might dwell among them by permission, or by the payment of a price.
(443) “ Num pro eo quod dicunt Latini, Pendere vectigal vel tributum, et Gallice dicimus, Faire hommage, Hebraei dicunt Munera offerre.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
27. Abraham took sheep If there has been any lack of frankness on his part he will now make the first gift towards alliance .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and they two made a covenant.’
Abraham makes a payment to Abimelech. He recognises that this is Abimelech’s territory and that compensation must be paid for the use of certain facilities (compare the tithes paid to Mechizedek (14:20). ‘And they made a treaty’. Terms of agreement are hammered out.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 21:27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
Ver. 27. Abraham took sheep and oxen. ] In token of true and hearty reconciliation. Reconciliationes , saith Menander, sunt vulpinae amicitiae . Let it be so among heathens. But we have not so learned Christ.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gen 21:27-34
27Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. 28Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. 29Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs mean, which you have set by themselves?” 30He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a witness to me, that I dug this well.” 31Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath. 32So they made a covenant at Beersheba; and Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, arose and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. 34And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines for many days.
Gen 21:27 “the two of them made a covenant” Apparently the animals of Gen 21:27 were cut in half in order to make this covenant (see Special Topic: COVENANT ).
Gen 21:28 “seven ewe lambs” It is obvious that this is a separate group from Gen 21:27, apparently in connection with the well at Beersheba. The name “Beersheba” comes from two possible origins: (l) “the well of seven,” Gen 21:28 or (2) “the well of an oath” in Gen 26:33 (“seven” [BDB 987] and “swear” [BDB 989] are similar in Hebrew).
Gen 21:32 “the Philistines” Many commentators note that the Philistines had not yet entered the land in great numbers. Although this is quite true, the mercenary nature of these Aegean people shows that they could have been in this region in small numbers before the 12th century B.C., for that is when they settled here after a thwarted invasion of Egypt. It is also possible that this is an anachronism.
Gen 21:33 “planted a tamarisk tree” This symbolized two things.
1. The presence of underground water often associated with sacred sites (God provides water for Hagar, Ishmael, and also for Abraham).
2. Abraham, the nomad, planned to stay here for an extended period.
“he called on the name of the LORD” The name is the covenant name of Deity, YHWH (BDB 42). This implies a worship setting (cf. Gen 4:26; Gen 12:8). It is similar to what Noah did in Gen 8:20. See Special Topic: “The Name” of YHWH .
“the everlasting God” This name for God is found only here. It is made up of the Hebrew words El (BDB 42) and ‘olam (BDB 761). The term El is combined with several other titles in the early parts of Genesis to show the nature of God: (1) El Shaddai (BDB 42 and 994), Gen 17:1; Gen 43:14 and Exodus 3; (2) El Elyon (BDB 42 and 751 II), Gen 14:18-24; (3) El Roi (BDB 42 and 909), Gen 16:13; (4) El Bethel (BDB 42 and 110), Gen 31:13; Gen 35:7. El was the general name for God in the Ancient Near East (see Special Topic: Names for Deity ).
The name ‘olam (BDB 761) means “that which is hidden” and refers either to the past or the future. It is used in the sense of “everlasting,” but the meaning must be specifically ascertained from the context (see Special Topic: Forever (‘olam) .
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. Is chapter 20 a negative comment about Abraham?
2. Did Abimelech also know Adonai?
3. Why did Abimelech take Sarah as his wife when she was so old and who even describes herself as “worn out” (cf Gen 18:12)?
4. What does the term “prophet” mean and how does Abraham qualify for this title?
5. List the three reasons that Abraham gives in Gen 21:11-13 for his trying to trick Abimelech.
6. Why did Sarah demand that Hagar and Ishmael leave?
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
both. Not one party as in Gen 15:10-18. Compare Gal 3:20.
made. Hebrew. cut, because of the dividing of the sacrifice. Compare Gen 15:10. Jer 34:18-20. Eng. concluded or solemnized.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
took: Gen 14:22, Gen 14:23, Pro 17:8, Pro 18:16, Pro 18:24, Pro 21:14, Isa 32:8
made: Gen 26:28-31, Gen 31:44, 1Sa 18:3, Eze 17:13, Rom 1:31, Gal 3:15
Reciprocal: Gen 21:32 – General Jdg 14:3 – thy brethren