Genesis 21:22-32

The Covenant between Abraham and Abimelech

²² And it cometh to pass at that time that Abimelech speaketh—Phichol also, head of his host—unto Abraham, saying, 'God 'is' with thee in all that thou art doing; ²³ and now, swear to me by God here: thou dost not lie to me, or to my continuator, or to my successor; according to the kindness which I have done with thee thou dost with me, and with the land in which thou hast sojourned.' ²⁴ And Abraham saith, 'I—I do swear.' ²⁵ And Abraham reasoned with Abimelech concerning the matter of a well of water which Abimelech's servants have taken violently away, ²⁶ and Abimelech saith, 'I have not known who hath done this thing, and even thou didst not declare to me, and I also, I have not heard save to-day.' ²⁷ And Abraham taketh sheep and oxen, and giveth to Abimelech, and they make, both of them, a covenant; ²⁸ and Abraham setteth seven Lambs of the flock by themselves. ²⁹ And Abimelech saith unto Abraham, 'What 'are' they—these seven lambs which thou hast set by themselves?' ³⁰ And he saith, 'For—the seven lambs thou dost accept from my hand, so that it becometh a witness for me that I have digged this well;' ³¹ therefore hath he called that place 'Beer-Sheba,' for there have both of them sworn. ³² And they make a covenant in Beer-Sheba, and Abimelech riseth—Phichol also, head of his host—and they turn back unto the land of the Philistines;