GENESIS 21: Abimelech, King of Gerar

Abimelech, king of Gerar (literally: place of lodging) reappears in the narrative. He approached Abraham with a special request:

(Genesis 21:22-24)  At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, "God is with you in all that you do.  (23)  Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned."  (24)  And Abraham said, "I will swear."

It is interesting that Abimelech came to Abraham escorted by the commander of his army. It was a way to threaten him, but also a way to protect himself, due to the distrust there was towards foreigners.

Abimelech came to offer Abraham a treaty of peace and mutual respect. Abraham accepted. And taking advantage of the visit, Abraham complained about an injustice he had suffered.

(Genesis 21:25-26)  When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech's servants had seized,  (26)  Abimelech said, "I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today." 

This was not the first problem Abraham suffered due to the water, nor would be the last. Abraham already had a conflict with Lot, and now with Abimelech. We will also see that this will become a recurring problem during Isaac’s life.

Water is not only vital for human beings, but also for the livestock and the harvest. Since Canaan doesn’t have any rivers flowing through it, they depended on the rain from heaven during the rainy season and on water from the wells during the dry season.

(Deuteronomy 11:10-15)  For the land that you are entering to take possession of it is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated it, like a garden of vegetables.  (11)  But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven,  (12)  a land that the LORD your God cares for. The eyes of the LORD your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.  (13)  "And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,  (14)  he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil.  (15)  And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full.

Abimelech and Abraham reached an agreement of mutual respect.

(Genesis 21:27) So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. 

As a witness of the covenant, Abraham gave Abimelech seven ewe lambs and also planted a tree.

(Genesis 21:28-34) Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart.  (29)  And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?"  (30)  He said, "These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well."  (31)  Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath.  (32)  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.  (33)  Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.  (34)  And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines.

“Beersheba” literally means: well of seven or well of an oath.

Hebrew Beersheva = Be’er, well + Sheva, seven, or Shava, oath.

When they made an oath, they would repeat the agreement seven times.

In this place Abraham again called upon the Name of God. This is the first time the name “Everlasting God” (Hebrew El-Olam) is mentioned. This name involves not only everlasting in the sense of “lasting through all times” but also includes “all places and nations”. It is also translated as “God of the Universe”.

Abraham did not plant the tamarisk tree as a sign of the covenant with Abimelech, but of the covenant with God.
(Genesis 17:7-9)  And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.  (8)  And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God."  (9)  And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.”

The tamarisk is a tree with a long life. Its wood is very hard and its branches are thick and remain green all year long. It is a symbol of fortitude and permanence – as is the covenant with God.