And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:
Abimelech and Phichol. Here is a proof of the promise (Genesis 12:2) being fulfilled, in a native prince wishing to form a solemn league with Abraham. The proposal was reasonable, and agreed to. The manifest tokens of the divine blessing which rested on Abraham and his extensive flourishing establishment made a deep impression on the minds of these people, among whom, as with Melchizedek, the knowledge and worship of the true God still lingered. The record of a league proposed on such grounds as are stated is exceedingly interesting, as it affords a glimpse of early history, which shows that the lapse of the nations into idolatry and superstition was gradual.
Abimekech and Phichol the chief captain of his host. Abimelech (see the note at Genesis 20:3). Phichol - i:e., mouth of all; all-commanding. Here is a further notice of the early Philistine kingdom, whose capital was Gerar. It had a hereditary king, a standing army, and privy counselor (cf. Genesis 26:26). The size of this kingdom may be judged of 'by the territory of the Tiy bah Arabs (the modern successors of those pastoral Philistines), which extends northward to the vicinity of Gaza and Beer-sheba. Its boundary must have taken a southeasterly course from Khirbet el-Jerar (the ruins of Gerar), and probably followed the direction of the modern route from Gaza, which joins the great caravan road between central Canaan and Egypt at the entrance of Wady er-Ruhaibeh' ('Biblical Researches,' and 'Negeb').