Isaac’s Covenant with Abimelech

Abimelech comes with his adviser and commander, and Isaac questions why they have come after sending him away. They answer that the Lord’s presence with Isaac is now plain and ask for a covenant of non-aggression.

L²⁶ater, Abimelech came to Isaac from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army. ²⁷“Why have you come to me?” Isaac asked them. “You hated me and sent me away.” ²⁸“We can plainly see that the LORD has been with you,” they replied. “We recommend that there should now be an oath between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you ²⁹that you will not harm us, just as we have not harmed you but have done only good to you, sending you on your way in peace. And now you are blessed by the LORD.”

Isaac hosts a feast, and the next morning they swear an oath and part in peace. That same day Isaac’s servants report finding water, and the place is tied again to the name Beersheba.

³⁰So Isaac prepared a feast for them, and they ate and drank. ³¹And they got up early the next morning and swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace. ³²On that same day, Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug. “We have found water!” they told him. ³³So he called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the city is Beersheba.