had promised to her. Your neighbor may have a Ph.D. and you may be a blue collar worker. He suggested that Abraham and he make a treaty that would guarantee good relations between them (22-24). Abimelek avoids contention within his ranks. "The Lord visited Sarah as he had said." The Lord keeps His word. Philistines generally (Genesis 2 ISHMAEL AND ISAAC 22 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol the Th Genesis 21:22 time H6256 Abimelech H40 Phichol H6369 commander H8269 I already did that during the night while I was watching over my sick child, she replied. fruit of patient waiting upon God. at the time God Himself had 22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled Gunkel has given strong I dont have to give you my license and registration., Listen you ! 4. So Abraham, to demonstrate his commitment to the treaty and to demonstrate his good will toward Abimelek, brings to Abimelek sheep and cattle. Sometimes we may wonder, How does God fit in with the ordinary?. We live with the daily, ordinary routines that characterize the greater part of our lives: getting ready for the day, rushing off to work, getting the kids off to school, shopping for groceries, paying bills, mowing lawns, and maintaining the household. The angel relieves and comforts her. That word sounds very much like the Hebrew word for seven (sheva) used in 21:28, 29, and 30. laughed with the laughter of incredulity, now laughed with the _Abimelech, king of Gerara, who knew that Abraham was a prophet, and a Abimelech. Genesis 21:22 Commentaries: Now it came about at that time that The story of how Billy Graham extended Christs extraordinary love and grace toward a man who misrepresented Jesus to millions. The LXX. Thus Abimelek narrowly averted sinning against the Lord which, the Lord informed him, would have cost him his life. CONCLUSION: Behind every promise of God is the purpose a Genesis 21:3. 2. When Abimelech confronted Abraham about things, Abraham was rather uncomplimentary, saying that his reason for deceiving him was that he assumed that there would not be any fear of God among such people (20:11). Theyre people who live rather ordinary lives, except for one significant fact--their lives count for eternity because they are used by God to help fulfill His purpose. 1. So Abimelek took Sarah into his harem. Category: Sermon StructureTags: Genesis, Genesis 21, Old Testament Narrative, Home | Admissions | Academics | Campus Life | Alumni, All content copyright 2023 Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Perhaps Abimelech had heard of how God had given Abraham and Sarah a son in their old age. V1 The *Lord had promised that he would visit Sarah. Sensible of the many favours he had received from Abimelech in times past, and was still indulged with, he very readily agreed to his proposal; and the rather, as he knew by the vision between the pieces, that it would be four hundred years before his posterity should be put into the possession of the land of Canaan; and therefore could take an oath that neither he, nor his son, nor his grandson, should be injured or dispossessed. The new cop and the driver of the car are both backed into a corner. had once laughed through unbelief; now being ashamed of that, she Wherefore he called that place Beersheba. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Abimelech, that is _Father-King,_ was The outcast. 4. Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not de Genesis 21 He had to provide protection and give him the land, which He begins to do in a rather ordinary way through this peace agreement. mll "speak," an ancient and therefore solemn and poetical word. The passage is narrative. Verse Genesis 21:22. This visit of the king and his vizier appears to have taken place some considerable time after the beginning of the sojourn of Abraham at Gerar; for the friendly feelings which then existed had evidently given way to a coolness, occasioned by the quarrels between their herdsmen. Show us kindness like we have been kind to you. Didnt Jesus tell us If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. God promised that His covenant with Abraham would be an everlasting covenant; Abraham recognized God as everlasting., This foreshadows future encounters between the Israelites and the Philistines. The Treaty at Beersheba, Genesis 21:22-34 | kdmanestreet CHAPTER 21 and poetical word. They formalize the peace agreement, Abimelech leaves, Abraham plants a commemorative tree, worships the Lord, and life goes on. God's promises never fail. I wont ask you again!. . 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). One of Abrahams deeply rooted fears when God called him to leave his homeland and go to the land of Canaan was that the people of the land would see his wife and kill him in order to take her. 15. CHAPTER 21 ISAAC AND ISHMAEL AND THE COVENANT WITH ABIMELECH Here we have accomplished promise the blessed But what Im saying is that sinlessness isnt the requirement to bear witness for Christ. There he planted a grove for a shade to his tent, or perhaps an orchard of fruit-trees; and there, though we cannot say he settled, for God would have him, while he lived, to be a stranger and a pilgrim, yet he sojourned many days, as many as would consist with his character, as Abraham the Hebrew, or passenger. It seems to me that the answer is, It shows the faithfulness of God in the ordinary. Genesis 21:22-34 - The Pulpit Commentaries I like that, "as He had said, and as He had spoken." I've got that underlined that just sort of hit me. _mlel_ speak, an ancient and therefore solemn It also signified a tranquil, settled life, under Gods providential care. It hadnt worked the two times they tried it. surround, enclose, and _chum_ black. God used the only Scripture this retarded young man knew to give eternal life to this sophisticated businessman (told by Martin & Deidre Bobgan, Competent to Minister [EastGate], pp. 1. army H6635 spoke H559 (H8799) Abraham H85 saying And so it was at that time that Abimelech, and Phicol the captain This, however, was an error, which shows. and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken ( Genesis 21:1 ). Peace. - Genesis 21:22-23 Review After waiting years, God blessed Abraham and Sarah with their promised baby, Isaac. Paul at Athens adapted himself in preaching to the people's knowledge while leading them to faith.R. (Haydock)_ And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to undertakings. Abraham gets his well back. None ever waited in vain. He wasnt a TV evangelist. The alliance was contracted. There he called on the name of the Lord, as the everlasting God; probably in the grove he planted, which was his place of prayer. By the way the new cops boss, the Police Chief, called him into his office the next day for what the new cop thought was going to be an atta-boy. Though he was surrounded by pagans who had no scruples about murdering and plundering a wealthy mans belongings, Abraham could live securely because of Gods faithful protection, apart from any schemes on Abrahams part. and married, but when Isaac was weaned and Ishmael was expelled: It is not necessary to conclude from verse 1 and 2 that Sarah only became pregnant after the episode that is told in the previous chapter. His flight from New York was first delayed and then cancelled, so that he would have missed his meetings. 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. One way Abimelech knew that Abraham walked with God is that Abraham had prayed that God would heal Abimelech and his family, and God answered that prayer (20:17-18). ALL CHRISTIAN PROSPERITY IS CONSCIOUSLY IDENTIFIED WITH GOD. 22. It is as much the duty of him who has a grievance to reveal it, as it is the duty of him who has caused the grievance to remove it. The league is proposed by Abimelech, and Phichol his prime-minister of state and general of his army. Subscribe | RSS | Privacy Disclaimer. _chemet_ bottle, akin to _chamah_, Finally he blurted out, Well, thats all it will hold anyway. Abimelech attributes Abrahams success to God. Wheres the justice? You might be thinking. CHAPTER 21 Ishmael's marriage, but most probably to the former. 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, read more, And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Some try to convey that they are perfect. _ 1. Abraham. Scripture Story: Genesis 21:1-5; Genesis 22:1-12. genesis-21:22-34 - Bible Commentaries There he made, not only a constant practice, but an open read more, And it came to pass at that time ,. Not when Ishmael was grown up and married, but when Isaac was weaned and Ishmael was expelled: that Abimelech, and Phichol, the chief captain of his host, spake unto Abraham ; Abimelech was king of Gerar, the same that is spoken of in the preceding chapter, and Phichol was the general of his army; these two great personages came together and paid Abraham a visit, and had some conversation with him, who was still in Gerar, or however in some part of read more, Now therefore swear unto me here by God ,. By the true and living God, by whom only an oath is to be taken, who was Abraham's God, and whom Abimelech seems to have known and to have been a worshipper of; and therefore moves for an oath to be taken by him, which he knew would be sacred and binding to Abraham, could he prevail upon him to swear: that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son ; perhaps he had heard that God had promised to give the whole read more, And Abraham said, I will swear. 23. A son was ABIMELECHS COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM. Abimelech and PhicholHere a proof of the promise (Ge 12:2) being fulfilled, in a native prince wishing to form a solemn league with Abraham. Abraham denies his relationship How much specialized training (if any) do Christians need to be effective witnesses for Christ? His friendship is valued, is courted, though a stranger, though a tenant at will to the Canaanites and Perizzites. In Genesis 21:22-34, we see Abraham in a scene from his ordinary life. Wells of water are scarce and . Shortly after World War II, a woman went into a grocery store and asked for enough food to provide Christmas dinner for her children. GENESIS _The Covenant with Abimelech_ (Genesis 21:22-34) II. captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in 21:33 Abraham called on the name of the Lord, 21:34 Living in the land of the Philistines. reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH MAKE A COVENANT AT BEERSHEBA. Genesis 21:22-34 . Isaac is born, and circumcised. (2) that as Beersheba was situated on the confines of the Philistines' territory, Abraham must frequently have sojourned in their country while pasturing his flocks (Rosenmller). Abimelech protests that he is unaware of the situation regarding the disputed well and suggests that Abraham bears some of the blame for not telling him of the situation. Genesis 31 Genesis 32 Genesis 33 Genesis 34 Genesis 35 Genesis 36 Genesis 37 Genesis 38 Genesis 39 Genesis 40 Genesis 41 21:32-34 A place to call on the name of the Lord. Genesis 21:1; Genesis 22:1 that it could not be explained on merely natural grounds. And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken. The contemplated object. Do others see the hand of God on your life? neit EXPOSITION V2 So Sarah became *pregnant. So they conclude that Christians are hypocrites, and they fail to see God in our lives. Luke 6:21. We have here an account of the treaty between Abimelech and Abraham, in which appears the accomplishment of that promise (Gen. 12:2) that God would make his name great. has The proposal was reasonable, and agreed to [Ge 21:24]. and poetical word. Copyright 1996, Steven J. Cole, All Rights Reserved. Its not our job to meet out justice anyway. Hence "the ownership of wells m Palestine was as jealously guarded as the possession of a mine in our own" (Inglis). He was simply living his daily life as the friend of God before the watching world. In spite of Abrahams past deception, Abimelech recognized God in his life. mercy in Christ the Lord. Its our job to love God and to love people. His men may have dug who knows how many dry wells before finding this one. GENESIS 21:23. Sarah, at the unlikely age of 90 years, gives birth to Isaac, The herdsmen of the king had appropriated Abraham's well. . "Abraham stretched forth his hand, ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH COVENANT 3. THAT ABIMELECH, AND PHICHOL, THE CHIEF CAPTAIN OF HIS HOST, SPAKE And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief As a planter of tamarisks, the patriarch has been styled the father of civilization; it is more important to remark that he never neglected to worship God himself and publish his salvation to others. 14. captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in Abimelechs proposal includes his offspring, but does not specifically include any offspring of Abraham. PDF Scripture Story: Genesis 21:1-5; Genesis 22:1-12. Commentary Heres a bag. I. Without even reading it, he put it on one side of his old-fashioned scale. Peace commemorated. When the owner asked how much she could afford, she replied, My husband was killed in the war. It may have been that his servants were telling him, No way, Abraham didnt dig that well, we did! And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? Nor are they called upon to bear what by lawful means they are able to redress. We have had in fine the judgment of 22._And it came to pass at that time_. Do you see what happened here? Ruth 1:17, and vide Genesis 14:23). You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today., So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty. He wasnt perfect, but he had reality with God and Gods gracious hand was on him. Th Genesis 21:22 time H6256 Abimelech H40 Phichol H6369 commander H8269 "This scene occurs at the same time as the events of Scene 6 [ Genesis 21:1-21] but focuses on different characters and tensions. I. 21:22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham. He checked his boots, they were shiny. Genesis 12:1-3 sets forth Gods purpose to make of Abraham a great nation, to bless him and make his name great so that he would be the channel of Gods blessing to all the families of the earth. So we never bear witness for Jesus Christ, which is precisely what Satan wants. GENESIS 21:23. Arise We have had hitherto God's account of that which He had made; then the You many Read Genesis 21:22-34 here: Bible Gateway. that Abimelech, and Phichol, the chief captain of his host, spake unto Abraham; Abimelech was king of Gerar, the same that is spoken of in the preceding chapter, and Phichol was the general of his army; these two great personages came together and paid Abraham a visit, and had some conversation with him, who was still in Gerar, or however in some part of that country not far from it: saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest; greatly prospered him in the things of the world, for of them only could they make a judgment; they saw that he increased in worldly substance, and that his family was increased, and that he succeeded in everything in which he engaged; and, being jealous of his growing greatness and power, were desirous of securing an interest in him and in his favour. Wherever we sojourn, we must neither neglect nor be ashamed of the worship of Jehovah. 1. CHIEF CAPTAIN OF HIS HOST SPAKE UNTO ABRAHAM, SAYING, GOD IS WITH THEE "The great well has an internal diameter at the mouth of twelve feet six inches, or a circumference of nearly forty feet. (Haydock)_ And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to See also David living in the land of the Philistines (1 Sam. Love Like Jesusbegins with the story of how after a life of regular church attendance and Bible study, Bennett was challenged by a pastor to study Jesus. This passage raises three questions relevant for believers today: Application: Seven lambs sealed the covenant between Abraham and Abimelech, but it was one spotless lamb named Jesus who forever sealed Gods covenant with His people. _chemet_ bottle, akin to _chamah_, The blessing made manifest. This is the first use of everlasting (Hb. We dont know how much Abimelech knew about the one true God, but he at least knew enough to see clearly that God made a difference in Abrahams life. ; Psalms 34, tit.). They watch our attitudes, our words, and our actions. AndIf anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. (Matthew 5:39-41). A believer is invincible until it is his time to go. 45-46). 20:16 in the command not to bear false witness against ones neighbor. Two powerful princes, in their conduct exemplifying the spirit of unity and peace which should bind together private persons in their daily intercourse, as well as kings and nations in their political alliance. THE STORY OF ABRAHAM. Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not de Genesis 21 "the well of the oath," (LXX; Gesenius, Furst, Rosenmller), or the well of the seven (Keil), rather than the seven wells (Lange); discovered by Robinson in Bir-es-seba, in the Wady-es-seba, twelve miles to the south of Hebron, with two deep wells of excellent water.