Commentaries:
No entry exists in Forerunner Commentary for Genesis 21:25.
Genesis 21:25
Excerpted from: Abraham (Part Twelve)If you have been reading through Genesis, and especially if you have read a little bit in advance here through several of the chapters that involve Isaac, I think that you will agree that one of the striking facts about Genesis is the frequency of the mention of wells. Now I think that it certainly gives an indication of how important they were to the existence of the people.
Now when we follow the story thread here, we are going to see not only Abraham, but Isaac as well is constantly it seems having problems with water wells because they were so important to the existence of the people. In this particular occasion there are two things that are stressed. One is the personal dignity and the strength of Abraham who deals with the situation with, I would call it, authoritative forcefulness. But even more important is that Abimelech recognizes that God is with Abraham in all that he does and that is why Abimelech wants to make a covenant. You will notice how this section begins.
Now here in the land of the Philistines, in the land of the worldly-wise, Abraham had enough impact from his personal example, from his witness, that the people of the land who were pretty well advanced, and I would have to say that from all that we see in the Bible about the Philistines, they were a pretty powerful people. They were a people that Israel always seemed to be afraid of. Yet here they are, coming to Abraham hoping to make a treaty of some kind with him because they recognize that God is with him. The occasion that is being taken advantage of by Abraham and Abimelech is a squabble over a well of water.
Now what it leads to is an agreement between the two of them, basically stating, “You stay here and I’ll stay there. You keep your men there and I’ll keep my men here. This is my well, you go dig your own well.” Abraham dealt a very strong hand, which gives me an indication there was a great deal of respect by these people for not only what he was personally, but apparently he represented a great deal of wealth and power that they would respect.
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Genesis 21:25:
Amos 4:4-5
Amos 5:5-6
Amos 5:21-24
<< Genesis 21:24 Genesis 21:26 >>
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