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The Treaty at Beer-sheba
About this time King Abimelech, and Phicol, commander of his troops, came to Abraham and said to him, "It is evident that God helps you in everything you do; swear to me by God's name that you won't defraud me or my son or my grandson, but that you will be on friendly terms with my country, as I have been toward you."
Abraham replied, "All right, I swear to it!" Then Abraham complained to the king about a well the king's servants had taken violently away from Abraham's servants.
"This is the first I've heard of it," the king exclaimed, "and I have no idea who is responsible. Why didn't you tell me before?"
Then Abraham gave sheep and oxen to the king, as sacrifices to seal their pact.
But when he took seven ewe lambs and set them off by themselves, the king inquired, "Why are you doing that?"
And Abraham replied, "They are my gift to you as a public confirmation that this well is mine."
So from that time on the well was called Beer-sheba ("Well of the Oath"), because that was the place where they made their covenant. Then King Abimelech, and Phicol, commander of his army, returned home again. And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree beside the well, and prayed there to the Lord, calling upon the Eternal God [to witness the covenant]. And Abraham lived in the Philisine country for a long time.
TEXT SOURCE:
(Genesis 21:22-34) The Children's Living Bible, ©1970
Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton Illinois 60187
TITLE SOURCE: The New Student Bible, ©1992 Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids Michigan
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