This portion of God's Word tells of another meeting between Abraham and Abimelech. It was probably shortly after Isaac was weaned and Ishmael was sent away with his mother. Undoubtedly it was a difficult time for Abraham, but it is possible that the Lord comforted him with the visitor who came to him. We have met Abimelech before in the history of Sarah in Gerar (Genesis 20). This had occurred a few years before, because in the meantime Isaac had been born and weaned.

Most likely this Abimelech was the same person, but the name Abimelech is a title, not necessarily the name of a person. It is possible that this was the successor of the previous king, but this is not very likely, since he spoke of the kindness he had shown to Abraham in the past years. In this history we do not find extraordinary things; we would say that there is nothing special, but we do find here matters which show us the practice of godliness. It is something out of the daily life of the father of the faithful, and also these things are for our instruction.

We read in the beginning of this history, "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." For Abraham it was not particularly special that important people came to him, since he was one of the richest people of his time. He associated with the princes of Mamre, but also with the Pharaoh of Egypt, and he had also met Abimelech before.

We should not forget that Abraham at times had higher Visitors than earthly kings. The Lord had come to him personally and had spoken to him. Communion with God teaches a man to value worldly honor rightly: not too low, not too highly. Abraham, the friend of God, did not lose his spiritual balance because a Philistine king and his general visited him.

When we speak of Abimelech, then we should not think in terms of his ruling over a large kingdom such as we have today. The kings were usually over one city with its surrounding territory. Still, such a visit was an occasion which did not happen every day, and especially the reason why he had come was important, as he clearly confessed, "God is with thee in all that thou doest."

Abraham was a man who was richly blessed by the Lord. All that he did prospered. His cattle multiplied, and he had many servants and a large household. In one word, he was a man of great wealth and influence. Abraham did not pride himself in this, because he knew very well that it was the Lord's doing. Lot went to Sodom to become rich, and he lost everything. Abraham went to Egypt in a time of famine, and still he increased his possessions, even though there was a dark side to it. It was clear to everyone that the favor of the Lord rested upon all the work Abraham did; even the heathens saw it.

Is this always felt by God's children? No, often it is the opposite, and they complain, "The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me." Or they cry out, "All these things are against me." Then their eyes are closed for the benefits of the Lord, while others can speak about it, just as Abimelech did in this history. God's people are ashamed when they are judged by the world in this way, but our eyes are closed for it.

Probably some will ask, "But do God's people not have many adversities in their lives?" Yes, there are times in which everything seems to be broken down by the Lord, but also these ways are the fruit of divine favor and eternal love, so that His people may come to the right place before the Lord. As it is written in the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord says, "All that I have built I will break down."

The general observation of Abimelech that Abraham was so prosperous brought him to the tent of the patriarch. The reason was that he wanted to make a covenant with him. Why? It was because he saw that God richly blessed Abraham, and he was somewhat afraid that Abraham would overtake him in the future. Calvin wrote, "The king, indeed, openly avowed his own suspicions of him." While he would allow Abraham a free dwelling place, yet he held him bound to himself by an oath. He wished to be on his guard against him. Abraham had become so mighty that in the future he could become a threat to his son or to his grandson. The king requested Abraham not to do any harm to his descendants, and he asked that this be confirmed under an oath before God.

Probably you ask, "Whence had he this suspicion or fear for a stranger, who was an honest and moderate man?" We know that the heathens are often anxious without cause. This is still the case! Abraham was a man of great influence. He had many servants, probably more than most of the kings of those days. Abimelech was afraid of Abraham, although he had no reason for it.

For Abraham there were no real objections to making a covenant of friendship. It was not inconsistent with the special position he had in this country, in which he was separated from the other people accord­ing to the commandment of the Lord in the covenant He had made with him. We should realize that such a covenant was not the same as we find later on in the life of Jacob, who made a covenant with the inhabitants of Shechem to mix with them. This covenant between Abraham and Abimelech dealt only with social intercourse, such as regarding divi­sion of pastures and drinking water for the flocks, etc.

To prove this, think of the following. When Abraham later felt the need to look for a wife for Isaac, then he did not go to the Philistines but sent his servant to Haran. In social matters Abraham could make a covenant with Abimelech, but these dealings might never be allowed to do any harm to the covenant with God. This means that a Christian may deal with the world in daily life, but he must continue to be separate from the world. We are in the world, and we have to go through the world, but we may not become one with the world. How many have stumbled over this fine line and have gone along with the world. We have to be extremely careful and pray daily that the Lord will keep us.

The king requested that the covenant be made under oath, "Now therefore swear unto me here by God." The verb swear is derived from the Hebrew numeral seven. The septenary number was sacred, and an oath was confirmed either by seven sacrifices (21:28) or by seven witnesses and pledges.

It is peculiar that Abimelech so highly valued the oath, which was calling upon the name of the Lord to be the witness. When we break an oath, then the Lord may punish us. Also in our days, in which so little respect is left for God and His commandments, also for the oath, we find many who are not afraid to lie, but who hesitate to make an oath. Secretly they think, "You never know; what if there is a God?" We think of many in our country who do not believe in God. Some say, "When one does not believe in God, how can he call upon the name of the Lord and swear an oath?" It seems as though there is some ground in this reasoning, but consider this carefully.

Are there really people who believe there is no God? They say that there is no God. But our fathers said, "It is more a wishing than a believing that there is no God." They try to strengthen this conviction, because that is the way they would like it. If there were no God, then there would be no revenge to be feared from God. But their consciences tell them differently, as we know from many so-called atheists. Very often it happens that people, who have testified so loudly that there is no God, have trembled on their deathbed for fear, or they were in despair because they had to meet a holy and righteous God whom they had always denied.

Abimelech asked Abraham to swear not to deal falsely against him and his descendants, not to lie, to deceive, to deal unfaithfully, or to break the covenant. Calvin explains, "If thou shouldest break the promise given me, we call upon God to sit as Judge between us, and to show Himself the Avenger of perjury."

The king also mentioned his own acts of kindness toward Abraham in the past, which was another reason to exhort Abraham to exercise good faith. As you remember, this points to the time that he had taken Sarah to be his wife, because she said Abraham was her brother, but the Lord showed him his evil. Then he gave many presents to Abraham and sent Sarah back to him. This was his kindness.

Abraham did not have objections against such a covenant, but he had one obstacle which must be taken out of the way first. It was about a well which belonged to Abraham, but the servants of Abimelech had taken it. It seems that Abimelech was entirely unacquainted with the action of his servants until Abraham informed him. To take his water supplies away was the greatest possible injury of a material kind that could be done to a nomad chief. This is confirmed in Proverbs 5:15-17. So it was not a little thing, but until now Abraham had not spoken of it.

God's people, though expected to suffer wrong meekly, cannot avoid seeing the wrong which they suffer. Nor are they called upon to bear what by lawful means they are able to redress. A good man is entitled to be careful of his property, to preserve it from damage, to protect it against theft, and to recover it when stolen or lost. In other words, we must take care of that which God has given to us. It belongs to the Lord, and He has given it to us to be stewards over it. Our children also have a right to it in the future, D.V. Therefore parents must defend their possessions, even as Abraham did for Isaac, in a lawful way. Is this not especially so for the truth which is entrusted to us, fathers and mothers, that we may protect this inheritance for our children? This inheritance is much more valuable than our earthly goods. However, in general we spend much more time caring for our temporal goods than for our eternal needs. When by the grace of God we have become an heir to the kingdom of heaven, then it will become also of the greatest importance that our descendants may receive this inheritance. Young people, may your interest be directed to that most precious good. Then the world will take the second place!

What was the answer of the king to Abraham's complaint? First of all, he said that Abraham had never told him about it. Secondly, he condemned the action of his servants. Thirdly, he promised to restore the well immediately. This was not to be discussed anymore. Abraham was satisfied with the answer, and then they made a covenant. "And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Abimelech." Also in later times it was the custom to give presents at the making of a covenant (1 Kings 15:19; Isaiah 30:6; 39:1). Some believe that a sacrificial meal was held at that time, but this is not mentioned in God's Word.

Abraham gave also seven ewe lambs to Abimelech as surety that the disputed well belonged to him. He had dug the well, so it belonged to him, but now he also paid for it to make it sure that it was his. This precautionary measure was not superfluous, as we know from the history of Isaac (Genesis 26:15).

The name of the place where this covenant was made was called Beersheba, which means literally, "The well of the oath," or, "The well of the seven." Earlier in the chapter Moses called this place by this name, but it was done proleptically (in anticipa­tion). Now he declared when and for what reason this name was given. Here both Abraham and Abimelech had sworn to the Lord, and therefore it was "Beer-sheba." Afterwards Abimelech and his general returned into their own country.

According to historians, this same well has been found twelve miles south of Hebron, and it contains excellent water. The mouth of this great well has an internal diameter of twelve feet six inches, or a circum­ference of nearly forty feet. The shaft is formed of excellent masonry to a great depth until it reaches the rock, and at the juncture a spring trickles perpetually.

Although we have written many words about a covenant between these two mortal people, should we not think of a much richer and greater covenant which was made by the everlasting God? Beer-sheba means "Well of Swearing." Is the Lord Jesus not called the Well of Living Water? Is this Name not true? Throughout the ages there is a people who may drink from this Well, but it never diminishes. This Well can never be taken by the Philistines, because by the hand of Christ the pleasure of the Lord will be fulfilled. Have we already drunk of this Water of Life, by the grace of God? Only by the water from this Well can we be cleansed from our sins. By drinking from this Well the church will be refreshed and able to persevere to the end.

At the end of this chapter we read that Abraham planted a tree or a grove (a tamarisk) in Beer-sheba and called there on the Name of the Lord, the everlasting God. This was not an idol to Abraham, as we find among the heathens who planted trees to commit idolatry and sin. Abraham planted this grove so that in the hour of prayer he could retire from the world. He called God the everlasting God, as he had experienced in his life. He had never been made ashamed by the Lord, and this is the experience of every one who may trust in the Lord.

The tamarisk tree is always green, and it produces very durable wood. Later Israel was forbidden to sacrifice under the green trees because of the great danger that in this way the sin of the Canaanites would penetrate their nation. Also, the Lord had then given the sanctuary in which to serve Him. For Abraham it was no temptation, and he was allowed to do this in his days. Even though two people may do the same thing, it is not always the same. We must remember that the time in which the patriarchs lived was different from the time when the children of Israel occupied the land and later. It is important to remark that Abraham himself never neglected to worship God, and he published salvation to others by his lifestyle.

Abraham lived many days as a stranger in the land of the Philistines. He was not only a stranger on earth, but also in this land, even though he had made a covenant with the king. The church must also live many days in this world, but it is the greatest blessing when, in living on this earth, the Lord may have the first place in our life. May this, by the grace of God, also become our portion.

Questions:⤒🔗

1. List the covenants which are mentioned in God's Word.
2. The oath is allowed by the Lord in certain circumstances. Explain what an oath is and when we may swear an oath (see Lord's Day 37).
3. What are the different dispensations of the Covenant of Grace?
4. Explain the background of Abimelech's coming to Abraham to make a covenant with him.
5. What does the example of Abraham teach us about how a Christian should deal in daily life?