Single lesson
Abraham's Treaty at Beersheba
Genesis 21:22–34
In this lesson, children trace how Abraham and Abimelech settled a problem about a well, made an oath, and marked the agreement at Beersheba. They will notice honest words, practical actions, and Abraham calling on Yahweh.
Before you teach
Genesis 21:22–34 tells of Abimelech and Phicol speaking with Abraham because they saw that God was with him. The passage then shows a request for truthful dealing, a complaint about a well, a covenant with animals given, and Abraham calling on Yahweh at Beersheba.
Students will be able to put the account in order and explain how the oath, the well, and Abraham’s worship shape the outcome in Genesis 21:22–34.
Welcome: God is with Abraham
5 minShow the title and explain that today’s story begins when Abimelech and Phicol speak to Abraham. Read verse 22 aloud and ask children to listen for what Abimelech notices. Point out that Abimelech says, “God is with you in all that you do,” which sets up why he wants an oath from Abraham.
Genesis 21:22
Read and explain: The oath and the complaint
7 minRead verses 23–26 slowly. Explain that Abimelech asks Abraham to swear by God that he will not deal falsely with him, his son, or his grandson. Then notice the problem: Abraham complains about a well taken by Abimelech’s servants. Abimelech answers that he did not know about it until that day.
Genesis 21:23, Genesis 21:24, Genesis 21:25, Genesis 21:26
Discuss: Covenant and witness at the well
6 minRead verses 27–31. Explain that a covenant is a serious agreement, and here both men make one. Abraham gives sheep and cattle, then sets seven ewe lambs apart. When Abimelech asks why, Abraham says they are a witness that he dug the well. The place is called Beersheba because they both swore an oath there.
Genesis 21:27, Genesis 21:28, Genesis 21:29, Genesis 21:30, Genesis 21:31
Make and respond: Beersheba sequence cards
7 minChildren make simple sequence cards for the main moments: Abimelech speaks, Abraham agrees, Abraham complains about the well, the covenant is made, the seven ewe lambs are explained, the place is called Beersheba, and Abraham calls on Yahweh. As they arrange the cards, ask what choices led towards peace and clear witness in the passage.
Genesis 21:22, Genesis 21:24, Genesis 21:25, Genesis 21:27, Genesis 21:30, Genesis 21:31, Genesis 21:33
Closing: Abraham worships at Beersheba
5 minFinish by reading verses 32–34. Point out that after the covenant, Abimelech and Phicol return, Abraham plants a tamarisk tree, and there he calls on the name of Yahweh, the Everlasting God. End by reviewing the order of events and how the passage finishes with worship and continued living in the land as a foreigner.
Genesis 21:32, Genesis 21:33, Genesis 21:34
Questions to explore
Why did Abimelech come to speak with Abraham at the beginning of this passage?
Look at the exact reason Abimelech gives in his opening words and repeat it in your own words.
Genesis 21:22
What problem did Abraham raise before the covenant was completed?
Find the verse about the water well and say who had taken it.
Genesis 21:25
What did the seven ewe lambs mean in this agreement?
Use Abraham’s own explanation about them being a witness connected with the well.
Genesis 21:28, Genesis 21:29, Genesis 21:30
Make, think or respond
Beersheba Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or textas
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Read Genesis 21:22–34 and list six to seven key moments from the passage.
- Draw one simple picture or write one short caption for each moment on separate cards.
- Mix the cards and work alone or in pairs to place them back in order.
- Retell the passage using the cards, including the oath, the well, the witness, and Abraham calling on Yahweh.
This activity helps children sequence the account and notice how the covenant, the well, and the witness fit together in Genesis 21:22–34.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare fewer cards with simple captions and let them match pictures to verses read aloud.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to add the exact words “witness”, “covenant”, and “Everlasting God” to the matching cards and explain each from the passage.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: “Yahweh, thank you for showing us this account. Please help us speak truthfully, deal fairly with others, and remember you as Abraham called on your name. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Genesis 21
22 At that time, Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his army spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do.
23 Now, therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me, and to the land in which you have lived as a foreigner.”
24 Abraham said, “I will swear.”
25 Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
26 Abimelech said, “I don’t know who has done this thing. You didn’t tell me, and I didn’t hear of it until today.”
27 Abraham took sheep and cattle, and gave them to Abimelech. Those two made a covenant.
28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs, which you have set by themselves, mean?”
30 He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well.”
31 Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because they both swore an oath there.
32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Abimelech rose up with Phicol, the captain of his army, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of Yahweh, the Everlasting God.
34 Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines many days.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.