Its no wonder that Abimelek is asking Abraham to swear that he wont deal falsely with him. However, see 26:17-33, where Isaac also has a dispute with Abimelech (likely not the same person) over wells and makes a treaty with him. See also Genesis 21:22-34 in other biblical comments: Adam Clarke Bible Commentary. Philistines generally (Genesis 2 ISHMAEL AND ISAAC He sets apart seven lambs from the flock and gives them to Abimelek. But thats not fair! You might be saying. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Character of God, Discipleship, Ecclesiology (The Church), Empower, Spiritual Life, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. Another step in Abrahams walk with God is seen in verse 33, where he plants a tree and calls on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. Planting the tree was an act to remind Abraham of Gods faithfulness, especially in the everyday matter of providing the well which supplied the water for this tree to grow. So its a huge deal for someone to take over a well as Abimeleks servants did. Now, without Abrahams initiative or schemes, Abimelech comes and proposes this peace agreement, so that Abraham receives from God what he previously had tried to get through his deceptive scheme. His men may have dug who knows how many dry wells before finding this one. Why? There he made, not only a constant practice, but an open profession of his religion. The covenanting parties. _mlel_ speak, an ancient and therefore solemn Perhaps he is unaware of the birth of Isaac. He is not far from every one of us. 22 Abimelechs couenant with Abraham at Beer-sheba. his mother took him a wife --On a father's death, the mother looks out for a wife for her son, however young; and as Ishmael was now virtually deprived of his father, his mother set about forming a marriage connection for him, it would seem, among her relatives. when Abimelech, struck with God's providential regard to him, wa 5. The new name of God bore witness to Gods unchanging faithfulness and to the fact that Abrahams faith was not in Abimelech nor in the treaty between them, but in the eternal God who was his dwelling place. The files holding the data are as thick as unabridged dictionaries. Name signifies mouth of all, _i.e.,_ 3. AndIf anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. (Matthew 5:39-41). You many Read Genesis 21:22-34 here: Bible Gateway. You see, I think that Abraham may have recognized that Abimelek was in a tight spot. But what Im saying is that sinlessness isnt the requirement to bear witness for Christ. Abimelech's covenant with Abraham at Beersheba. But it is significant that Gods blessing on Abraham is evident even to this pagan king, Abimelech, who tells Abraham, God is with you in all that you do (21:22). I like that, "as He had said, and as He had spoken." I've got that underlined that just sort of hit me. CHRISTIAN PROSPERITY Its our job to love God and to love people. CHIEF CAPTAIN OF HIS HOST SPAKE UNTO ABRAHAM, SAYING, GOD IS WITH THEE (22) Abimelech and Phichol.Abimelech, that is Father-King, was the title not only of the king of Gerar, but of the kings of the Philistines generally (Genesis 26:1; 1Samuel 21:10, marg. Peace. Why are we told this? I. Asking their forgiveness is often the first step in that process. The trouble with this approach, of course, is that we never get to that place. He spoke and the universe was created. _chemet_ bottle, akin to _chamah_, had promised to her. (1) God fulfills His promise to Abraham and Sarah. 21:22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham. Whenever he looks at the slip of paper that contains her prayer, he is amazed, for it reads, Please, dear Lord, give us this day our daily bread. (Our Daily Bread.). Abimelek avoids contention within his ranks. Do we work hard or slack off? Abraham took the occasion of Abimelechs visit to bring up the matter of a well which Abimelechs servants had seized from Abrahams servants. Genesis 21:34 - Bible Hub Abimelech, on the other hand, acts generously as of old, and shows no signs of ill-will at the growing power of one whose expectation was that his race would possess the whole land. Abraham. _ALUN OWEN_ Of _Abimelech, _ see GENESIS 20:2. And the Lord visited Sarah, as he had said, and the Lord did unto Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers The grocer later discovered that the scale was out of order. Do we badmouth the boss or other workers behind their backs? In spite of Abrahams past deception, Abimelech recognized God in his life. 14. CHRISTI GENESISNOTE ON GENESIS 21:22 GOD IS WITH YOU IN ALL THAT YOU DO. Verse Genesis 21:22. A covenant between the patriarch and the Philistine king. Because Abimelech wanted this covenant to apply, not only to himself, but to his posterity (21:23), it secured this source of water not only for Abraham, but for his descendants. 3. And yet he was used in Gods great purpose of blessing the nations through Abrahams seed, the Lord Jesus Christ. Abraham, thinking the herdsmen had acted on their master's orders, reproved Abimelech. Isaac's birth (Genesis 22:1) 2. and married, but when Isaac was weaned and Ishmael was expelled: CHARACTERS: Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Hagar, Ishmael, Abimelech. And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me,that this peculiar kind of oath never occurs again in Old Testament history is no proof of the mythical character of the narrative (Bohlen); on the contrary, "that the custom existed in primitive Hebrew times is shown by the word , which had early passed into the language, and which would be inexplicable without the existence of such a custom" (Havernick)that I have digged this well. He gives Abimelek seven lambs so Abimelek can tell his servants that the well has been purchased. Th Genesis 21:22 time H6256 Abimelech H40 Phichol H6369 commander H8269 22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham. NOR WITH MY SON, NOR WITH MY SONS SON.] And Abraham plantedas a sign of his peaceful occupation of the soil (Calvin); as a memorial of the transaction about the well ('Speaker's Commentary'); or simply as a shade for his tent (Rosenmller); scarcely as an oratory (Bush, Kalisch)a grovethe wood, plantation (Targum, Vulgate, Samaritan, Kimchi); a field, (LXX. The LORD visited Sarah as He had said: It took a long time (25 years) for this promise to come to pass, but God was faithful to His promise. 21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt. undertakings. V2 So Sarah became *pregnant. Your neighbor may have a Ph.D. and you may be a blue collar worker. reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH MAKE A COVENANT AT BEERSHEBA. Youll be happier, people will be more cooperative toward you, and youll have healthier relationships. It hadnt worked the two times they tried it. Probably an official title. Abraham. the long-promised son was born. army H6635 spoke H559 (H8799) Abraham H85 saying And so it was at that time that Abimelech, and Phicol the captain There is no reason to question the sincerity of the Philistine monarch in disclaiming all knowledge of the act of robbery committed by his servants. 22 At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, "God is with you in everything you do. The LXX. Category: Sermon StructureTags: Genesis, Genesis 21, Old Testament Narrative, Home | Admissions | Academics | Campus Life | Alumni, All content copyright 2023 Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Enduring Word Bible Commentary Genesis Chapter 21 Yet in spite of Abrahams sins and insensitivity, Abimelech here seeks him out because he recognized God in Abrahams life! If you know the Savior, as you walk with Him and enjoy His faithful provision, God wants to use the ordinary events in your life to fulfill His purpose of blessing all the nations through the Seed of Abraham, the Lord Jesus Christ. They formalize the peace agreement, Abimelech leaves, Abraham plants a commemorative tree, worships the Lord, and life goes on. As a prince, Abimelech was afraid of Abraham's growing power; as a good man, he insures the safety of himself and his dominions not by resorting to war, but by forming an amicable treaty with his neighbornor with my son, nor with my son's son: (LXX. I heard a story about a new police officer who, on his first day on the job, caught someone speeding. Genesis 21:34 - Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary - StudyLight.org He did what he That was an extraordinary way that God provided for His children. The public ceremonial. 21:23 Abimelech proposes a treaty not to deal falsely. Thus Abimelek narrowly averted sinning against the Lord which, the Lord informed him, would have cost him his life. Weaned] in his second or third year, as is usual among Orientals. GODS ANCIENT PEOPLE Bondwoman and her son cast out. That led to an obsessive seven year deep dive. Now the grace of God bears its most important fruit in the history of CHAPTER 21 So instead of fighting Abimelek or insisting on Abimelek giving back control of the well, Abraham provides a graceful way out. 21:25-26 Interrupting the covenant-making ceremony, Abraham airs a grievance that he has with Abimelech related to Abimelechs servants taking possession of a well that Abraham previously dug. _God is with thee in all tha 1 Isaac is borne. When the owner asked how much she could afford, she replied, My husband was killed in the war. It is wise to connect ourselves with those who are blessed of God; and we ought to requite kindness to those who have been kind to us. 21:22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham. Abraham called on the name of the everlasting God. Finally he blurted out, Well, thats all it will hold anyway. For these promises to be fulfilled, God had to provide Abraham with a son, which He did in an extraordinary way in the birth of Isaac. Wherever we sojourn, we must neither neglect nor be ashamed of the worship of Jehovah. Another highlight of this passage is the explanation for the origin of the name Beersheba. Genesis 21:1; Genesis 22:1 Subscribe | RSS | Privacy Disclaimer. ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH 3. Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible - The Birth of Isaac 7. See also David living in the land of the Philistines (1 Sam.
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