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In the last article we were able to follow the events of Hagar and Ishmael a little bit more closely, after Abraham had out them out in the wilderness. This was done at the demands of Sarah, Abraham's wife. We also saw how Ishmael had become close to death, and how Hagar had became very upset and helpless, being that she felt that there couldn't be nothing else she could do. But God would step in and keep his promise to both Abraham and Hadar when it came to Ishmael: God's Promise to Abraham "Do not be so distressed about the boy [Ishmael] and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your [Abraham's] offspring." -- Genesis 21:12,13 God's Promise to Hagar "God heard the boy [Ishmael] crying and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, 'What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.'" -- Genesis 21:17-18 So we move forward and we now read that sometime had gone by and it's at this point, we find that Abraham's camp had some kind of run-in with some of Abimelech's servants. This spat dealt with a situation that would involved a water-well that the two camps had access to. It wouldn't be long before Abimelech's servants would end up claiming possession of the water-well from Abraham's camp, which involved and was done through force and intimidation. Now this didn't sit well with Abraham and he was very upset with Abimelech's camp because of what had happen. Now it's possible to assume that Abimelech did not know or had given 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, and not the other way around: "...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) However, I'm quite sure Abimelech didn't forget what had happen when Abraham had first enter into his Philistine district and the king had decided to take Abraham's wife Sarah, and make her his very own? And although Abimelech was deceived into thinking that Sarah was Abraham's 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 and it would be at this time that the Lord made it very clear to Abimelech, which dealt with -- that Sarah was to be returned back unharmed to Abraham at once. Know that God also made it clear to Abimelech that He was very serious. God would prove this, by striking the Philistine king with a disease that would have eventually ended his life. God also struck all the women in Abimelech's household as well. This particular judgement dealt with a condition of barrenness which prevented the women from bearing anymore children. It would take Abraham interceding to the Almighty God on Abimelech's behalf, in order for the physical conditions to be removed from king 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. But 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. After seeing what Abraham was doing, the king asked Abraham: "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?" And after hearing the king's question, Abraham responded by saying: "Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this water-well." So Abimelech would accept the seven ewe lambs as a confirmation by the king that Abraham had indeed dug that water-well. So the place was called "Beersheba the Well of the Oath", because of this 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. And because of this, Abraham would reside in the land of the Philistines for quite awhile.
**YOUR CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES WOULD BE HERE** Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 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 
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