Setting: Genesis 21:22-32
The wealth of Gerar was diminished by the deception of Abraham, and he left our city wealthier than we, with nearly as many people, and certainly with more livestock. And it seemed his house was always growing.
When any messengers would come to Gerar with news, or with propositions for trade or alliance or marriages, I saw that my master Abimelech was suspicious that Abraham was somehow behind it, and that some secret trick lay in their proposals. He was paralyzed by fear so that he seemed unable to give his word, whether yes or no, about anything to anyone.
I told my lord that we must go out and meet with Abraham. We must make a covenant with him that he would not deceive us in any way. And this we did. We took with us a great feast: a fatted calf, and dates and olives and cheeses and breads and honeys, and we found him in the desert, and we had a great feast, and we made a covenant with him.
I said to the great man Abraham, “All can see that the Elohim are with you in all that you do. Now, therefore, swear to my lord Abimelech here before the Elohim that you will not deal falsely with my lord, or with his children or with their children. Show to us and to this country in which you reside the same kindness that my lord has shown you, in dealing honorably and without deception.”
And Abraham readily replied to us, “I swear it. And should you deceive us seventy seven times, still I would honor my word to you, that we shall not deceive in return. And we shall deal with you honorably. But if you would deal honorably with us, as you have said, then give us back the well that my servants have dug here in the Negev, for water is precious to us, and your lord's servants have seized it from us by force.”
Abimelech was taken aback, and he was pained in his expression, and he spoke at once, “I do not know what you are speaking of, or who has done it! You did not speak of it, and so I have heard nothing of this matter until today! You have my word, my lord, the well will be yours forever, to all your generations.”
Abraham rose from his rug suddenly, and went to speak with is servants in his tent, and we did not know what he spoke of to them. We feared lest he had been offended, or that in some way our peace with the man might be endangered. No one in all of Canaan, I assure you, wants to cross swords with the fighting force that prevailed in the war of the four and the the five kings, putting to flight Chedorlaomer and his confederates.
When he returned, his servants brought seven ewe lambs with him, and he sent them to our camp. Again, Abimelech was taken aback, “Why have you set apart these seven ewe lambs?”
“You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from my hand as my witness that I dug this well” said Abraham.
Abimelech rose to his feet and embraced him as a friend, and from that day his fear of Abraham ceased, and they lived at peace with one another.
From that time onward, that well was referred to as the well of the seven sheep, but in time it became known as the well of the oath, for our words for seven and for oath sound the same.