Genesis 21:27-31
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The gifts of sheep and oxen weren't just presents, but part of an ancient covenant ritual. By giving these animals, Abraham participated in a ceremony where the animals would have been sacrificed, symbolizing that the covenant breakers would deserve to be cut apart like the beasts.
So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following the difficult expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael, Abraham is now establishing a more formal, peaceful relationship with the local Philistine ruler, Abimelech. Abimelech, recognizing God's blessing on Abraham, seeks a sworn agreement of mutual non-aggression and kindness. Abraham readily agrees, solidifying their pact with a gift of livestock and a shared covenant.
Why did Abraham give Abimelech sheep and oxen? It wasn't just a friendly gesture; it was part of a sacred ritual.
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, making a covenant was a serious business.
The Practice of Covenant
Covenants were often ratified through offerings and symbolic actions. The giving of animals like sheep and oxen, as seen here, served multiple purposes:
This act wasn't just about sealing a deal; it was a religious and social act, deeply ingrained in the customs of the time, designed to ensure the seriousness and lasting nature of the agreement.
Abimelech recognized God's presence with Abraham, but he also had specific concerns. How did Abraham address these?
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The interaction between Abraham and Abimelech at this point is a beautiful example of how mutual respect and acknowledging past kindness can lead to lasting peace.
Building on a History of Goodness
Abimelech initiates this conversation, expressing a clear recognition of God's blessing on Abraham's life. He says, "God is with thee in all that thou doest." This acknowledgment is significant, showing that Abimelech observed and respected Abraham's unique relationship with the Divine.
However, Abimelech also voices a concern: he asks Abraham to swear that he will not deal falsely with him, his son, or his grandson, and explicitly links this to the "kindness" Abimelech had shown Abraham. This highlights a core principle:
Abraham readily agrees, demonstrating that he understands and values this principle. This mutual respect, rooted in past kindness and a desire for future peace, forms the bedrock of their covenant.
Understand the original words
berith · Hebrew Noun
A solemn, formal agreement or promise between two parties, often involving obligations, signs, or oaths, that establishes a binding relationship. In a biblical context, it often signifies a relationship sanctioned by God or a legal guarantee between humans.
edah · Hebrew Noun
Something that serves as evidence or testimony to establish the truth of a fact or event. In legal or relational settings, it functions to confirm a claim or validate an agreement.
beer · Hebrew Noun
A deep pit or shaft sunk into the earth to reach a supply of water, essential for survival and prosperity in the ancient Near East. It often symbolizes a source of life, provision, or a point of contention between parties.
sheba · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A number often associated with completeness, perfection, or divine order in biblical thought. Setting something apart in this number signifies a deliberate, thorough, and sanctified purpose.
Be'er Sheva · Hebrew Noun
A place name meaning 'well of the oath' or 'well of seven,' marking a site of divine encounter and human agreement. It serves as a significant geographic location in the patriarchal narratives.
shaba' · Hebrew Verb
A solemn, binding promise or invocation of divine witness to the truthfulness of a statement or the commitment to an action. It often invokes God as the guarantor of the agreement.
c. 1800 BC
Abraham sojourns in Gerar
Abraham and his household live among the Philistines in Gerar, interacting with King Abimelech. This period includes significant events like Sarah's near-capture and the birth of Isaac.
c. 1800 BC
Hagar and Ishmael sent away
Following Sarah's demand, Abraham reluctantly sends away Hagar and their son Ishmael. God intervenes to sustain them in the wilderness.
c. 1800 BC
Dispute over a well of water
Abraham confronts Abimelech's servants for taking a well that Abraham had dug, highlighting the scarcity and value of water resources.
c. 1800 BC— this verse
Covenant at Beersheba
Abraham and Abimelech formalize their relationship with a covenant, marked by gifts and an oath. Abraham establishes a well and plants a tamarisk tree, signifying a period of peace.
This passage describes God's initial covenant with Abraham, establishing a framework of promise and land inheritance that underpins later agreements like the one with Abimelech.
Genesis 26:28-31Here, Isaac makes a similar covenant with Abimelech's successor, demonstrating a pattern of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect between Abraham's lineage and the Philistine rulers, solidifying the importance of these agreements.
Joshua 24:11-13This later account recounts how the Israelites took possession of wells dug by others, highlighting the significance of water sources and the security that covenants provided in the Promised Land, echoing the context of Abraham's agreement.
1 Kings 15:19This verse mentions gifts being given to seal a covenant, paralleling Abraham's act of giving sheep and oxen to Abimelech as a tangible expression of their agreement and friendship.
gillGenesis 21:27: "And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant."
And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech,.... In gratitude for former favours he had received from him, in token of the friendship that subsisted between them, and for the confirmation of it; and to show that he was fully satisfied with Abimelech's answer to his complaint, as well as willing to enter into covenant by sacrifice, when such creatures were divided,…
calvinGenesis 21:1-34: "And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken."
And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Et dixit Deus ad Abraham, Ne displiceat in oculis tuis super puero, et super ancilla tua: in omnibus quae dixerit tibi Sarah, audi vocem ejus: quia in Ishac vocabitur…
The gifts of sheep and oxen weren't just presents, but part of an ancient covenant ritual. By giving these animals, Abraham participated in a ceremony where the animals would have been sacrificed, symbolizing that the covenant breakers would deserve to be cut apart like the beasts.
Following the difficult expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael, Abraham is now establishing a more formal, peaceful relationship with the local Philistine ruler, Abimelech. Abimelech, recognizing God's blessing on Abraham, seeks a sworn agreement of mutual non-aggression and kindness. Abraham readily agrees, solidifying their pact with a gift of livestock and a shared covenant.
Following the difficult expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael, Abraham is now establishing a more formal, peaceful relationship with the local Philistine ruler, Abimelech. Abimelech, recognizing God's blessing on Abraham, seeks a sworn agreement of mutual non-aggression and kindness. Abraham readily agrees, solidifying their pact with a gift of livestock and a shared covenant.
"So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apar…" — The gifts of sheep and oxen weren't just presents, but part of an ancient covenant ritual. By giving these animals, Abraham participated in a ceremony where the animals would have been sacrificed, sy…
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Last reviewed October 2026
