Genesis 21:22

Genesis 21:22

And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

a. NLT: About this time, Abimelech came with Phicol, his army commander, to visit Abraham. “God is obviously with you, helping you in everything you do,” Abimelech said.

b. NIV: At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do.

c. YLT: And it cometh to pass at that time that Abimelech speaketh -- Phichol also, head of his host -- unto Abraham, saying, 'God is with thee in all that thou art doing;

d. Amplified Bible: At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, God is with you in everything you do.

e. Septuagint: And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech spoke, and Ochozath his friend, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, to Abraam, saying, God is with thee in all things, whatsoever thou mayest do. 

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: At that time, Abimelech and Phicol, general of his legion, said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.

1. “And it came to pass at that time…”

a. And it came to pass at that time [6256 * `eth] [Strong: from 5703; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.:--+ after, (al-)ways, X certain, + continually, + evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-)tide, ((meal-)), what) time, when.]

2. “…that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham…”

a. that Abimelech [40 * 'Abiymelek] [Strong: from 1 and 4428; father of (the) king; Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites:--Abimelech.]

b. and Phicol [6369 * Piykol] [Strong: pparently from 6310 and 3605; mouth of all; Picol, a Philistine:--Phichol.]

c. the chief captain [8269 * sar] [Strong: from 8323; a head person (of any rank or class):--captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord, ((-task- ))master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.]

d. of his host [6635 * tsaba'] [Strong: or (feminine) tsbadah {tseb-aw-aw'}; from 6633; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship):--appointed time, (+) army, (+) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).]

e. spake [559 * 'amar] [Strong: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.]

f. unto Abraham [85 * 'Abraham] [Strong: contracted from 1 and an unused root (probably meaning to be populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram:--Abraham.]

1). Looking at the whole text Genesis 21:22-32 it is clear these men came from where they were living and of course went back. This was a property dispute between Abraham and Abimelech over a well of water. Abimelech is a generic term for that nations leader, such as president, governor or Pharoah. It is unknown if this was the same Abimelech in Genesis 20 which was 3-5 years previous. It probably was. After the disaster in Genesis 20, he was probably thinking, I can’t win if I cross this guy, so the best I can do is hope he is honest with me.Hence this covenant with Abraham.   

3. “…saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:”

a. saying [559 * 'amar] [Strong: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.]

b. God [430 * 'elohiym] [Strong: plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.]

c. is with thee in all that thou doest [6213 * `asah] [Strong: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, + finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin, spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be (warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.]

1). This is probably the same Abimelech that God visited in a dream and threatened him severely if he did not return Abraham’s wife to her. I can understand his actions in light of it.

a). Genesis 20:3-8  But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said, Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken [as your own], for she is a man’s wife.

20:4 But Abimelech had not come near her, so he said, Lord, will you slay a people who are just and innocent?

20:5 Did not the man tell me, She is my sister? And she herself said, He is my brother. In integrity of heart and innocency of hands I have done this.

20:6 Then God said to him in the dream, Yes, I know you did this in the integrity of your heart, for it was I Who kept you back and spared you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not give you occasion to touch her.

20:7 So now restore to the man his wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her [to him], know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.

20:8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things; and the men were exceedingly filled with reverence and fear.