Bible Study Online Article
Sometime had gone by and now we find that Abraham's camp had some kind of run in with some of Abimelech servants. This spat came about a situation which involved a water well that the two camps had access to. Abimelech servants would end up claiming possession of the water well from Abraham's camp, through force and intimidation. Now this did not sit well with Abraham and he was very upset with Abimelech's camp because of what had happen. It's possible to assume that Abimelech did not know or gave his servants orders to claim possession of the water well? The reason for this assumption is for the mere fact that when this account is introduced, we find that it was Abimelech coming to resolve this matter with Abraham: "...God is with you in everything that you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants..." (Genesis 22-23) I'm quite sure Abimelech didn't forget what had happen when Abraham had first enter into his Philistine district and he decided to take Abraham's wife Sarah, and make her his very own? And although Abimelech was deceived into thinking that Sarah was Abraham sister and not his wife, the Philistine king was still found guilty for taking Sarah against her will. Needless to say, God was not happy with what Abimelech was intending to do with Sarah. This is why the Lord had visited the Philistine king in a dream, in which He made it very clear to Abimelech, that Sarah was to be returned back unharmed to Abraham at once. God made Abimelech see that He was very serious, for the Lord struck the Philistine king with a disease that would have eventually ended his life, He also struck all the women in his household with a condition of barrenness which prevented them from bearing anymore children. It would take Abraham interceding on his behalf to the one true God, in order for the physical conditions to be removed from Abimelech and the women in his household. God had also indicated to Abimelech that Abraham was His prophet and that it wouldn't be wise for the king to go against him. These are the reasons why I believe that the account of this meeting between Abimelech and Abraham began the way that it did. Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces had a meeting with Abraham. "God is with you in everything that you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you," the Philistine king would ask of Abraham. Abraham would indeed swear to this request that was made by Abimelech. But the man of God would also start complaining about the water well that Abimelech servants had forcibly claimed possession of from his camp. But Abimelech would reply by saying: "I don't know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today." So this would explain the reason why he had Abraham promise that he would not have any harm brought against him and his family. In the meantime, Abraham had brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech as gifts. These gifts would become part of the treaty that the two men had made between each other. But Abraham would go a step further by separating seven ewe lambs from his overall gift to Abimelech. "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?" Abimelech will ask Abraham. "Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this water well," Abraham would say to the Philistine king. So Abimelech would accept the seven ewe lambs as a confirmation by the king that Abraham had indeed dug that well. So the place was called -- Beersheba the Well of the Oath, because of the oath that the two men had made together at that place. So after the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. A short while later, Abraham would plant a grove in that place and there he would call on the name of the Lord. Understand that Abraham was appreciative of the fact that God had once again shown him favor and blessed him with a high level royal friendship with Abimelech. So therefore, Abraham would reside in the land of the Philistines for quite awhile. Start at the Beginning: The Introduction of Abraham 16) Abimelech Angry with Abraham 18) Hagar & Ishmael - Sent Away 20) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 21) Abraham & The Great Sacrifice 25) Rebekah gets Permission to Leave 28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael  CrossDaily.com Web Search where you can VOTE FOR THIS SITE & other great ones. Christian search engine, directory & voting index. You'll find Bible, chat, churches, jobs, music, reviews, software, theology, & more. See the best sites!
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