What significance do the "seven ewe lambs" hold in Genesis 21:28? Setting the Scene “Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock.” (Genesis 21:28) Abimelech’s officials had seized Abraham’s well. To resolve the dispute, Abraham gives Abimelech livestock and, significantly, sets aside seven ewe lambs. Why Seven Ewe Lambs? • Legal witness of ownership – “You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from my hand as my witness that I dug this well.” (Genesis 21:30) – In an age without written deeds, a tangible transaction provided undeniable proof. • Symbol of completeness and an oath – Seven marks fullness from creation’s seven days (Genesis 2:2–3). – Hebrew bĕʾēr šebaʿ can mean “well of seven” or “well of oath,” intertwining the number with covenant. – Oaths and sevens pair elsewhere (Genesis 31:44–48; Joshua 6:4–5). • Ewe lambs—innocence and future sacrificial imagery – Unblemished lambs later became standard offerings (Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 1:10). – By giving lambs, Abraham links the covenant to purity and sacrifice, foreshadowing the sacrificial system. Lasting Results • The place receives its name: “Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because it was there that the two of them swore an oath.” (Genesis 21:31) • The treaty secures peaceful borders for Abraham, allowing him to “plant a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and call upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.” (Genesis 21:33) Foreshadowing the Ultimate Lamb • The pattern of covenant plus lamb anticipates the gospel. – John 1:29: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” – 1 Peter 1:18–19: redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.” – Revelation 5:6: the Lamb stands at the center of heaven’s worship. Takeaways for Today • God honors clear, honest dealings; covenant matters. • The number seven continues to remind us of God’s perfect work and trustworthy promises. • Every covenantal lamb points forward to Christ, the final, flawless witness securing our eternal well of living water (John 4:14). |
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