The Treaty between Abraham and Abimelech: The report of Abimelech’s entering into covenant with Abraham is presented so tersely that it is hard to understand fully the transaction that takes place between them. The outer frame (vv. 22–24, 27, 31) describes the making of the covenant. In the heart of the story Abraham lodges a formal complaint against Abimelech’s servants for seizing a well he had dug (vv. 25–26, 28–30). Pressing his claim, Abraham achieves a pretrial settlement. Both men swear that Abraham had dug the well, and then they seal the covenant. In God’s providence Abraham regains access to an important well in a way that increases his reputation.

It is possible that two distinct episodes have been woven together. It is also possible that Abimelech’s initiation of a covenant prov…