Genesis 21:23-32 - The Biblical Illustrator

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Bible Comments

Swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me

Abraham the friend of man

I. ABRAHAM YIELDS READILY TO THE REQUEST FOR HIS FRIENDSHIP. Abimelech’s motives in seeking the friendship of Abraham were probably mixed, and included.

1. Expediency.

2. The worship of success.

3. The admiration of goodness.

II. ABRAHAM UNDERTAKES THE DUTIES OF FRIENDSHIP. He freely accepts Abimelech’s conditions.

1. True and righteous dealing.

2. Gratitude for favours shown.

3. Faithfulness to the faults of a friend.

III. ABRAHAM RECOGNIZED THE SACREDNESS OF FRIENDSHIP (Genesis 21:24). (T. H.Leale.)

Abraham and Abimelech

Observe--

(1) The motive that induces this friendly request; “he saw that God was with him.” Probably the news of the extraordinary birth of Isaac had reached the court of Abimelech, and became a topic of conversation. “This,” said he, “is a great man, and a great family, and will become a great nation; the blessing of heaven attends him. It is our wisdom therefore, to take the earliest opportunity to be on good terms with him!” Had Abimelech’s successors always acted on this principle towards Israel, it had been better for them; for whether they knew it or not, God, in blessing Abraham, had promised to “bless them that blessed him, and to curse them that cursed him.”

(2) The solemnity with which he wished the friendship to be confirmed: “swear unto me by God.”. .. It is a dictate of prudence very common among magistrates to require men to swear by a name which the party holds sacred. In this view Abimelech certainly acted a wise part; for whoever made light of God’s name, the party here concerned would not. Abraham’s cheerful and ready compliance. I hope he did not need to be sworn not to deal falsely; but as posterity was concerned the mere solemn the engagement the better. The friend of God has no desire but to be the friend of man. (A. Fuller.)

Related Commentaries of Genesis 21:23

Genesis 21:23-32

23 Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

24 And Abraham said, I will swear.

25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.

26 And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.

27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.

28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

30 And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

31 Wherefore he called that place Beersheba;a because there they sware both of them.

32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.