After a sojourn of twenty-six years in the land of the Philistines,
Abraham departed thence, and he settled in the neighborhood of Hebron.
There he was visited by Abimelech with twenty of his grandees,[219] who
requested him to make an alliance with the Philistines.
As long as Abraham was childless, the heathen did not believe in his
piety, but when Isaac was born, they said to him, "God is with thee."
But again they entertained doubt of his piety when he cast off Ishmael.
They said, "Were he a righteous man, he would not drive his first-born
forth from his house." But when they observed the impious deeds of
Ishmael, they said, "God is with thee in all thou doest." That Abraham
was the favorite of God, they saw in this, too, that although Sodom was
destroyed and all traffic had come to a standstill in that region, yet
Abraham's treasure chambers were filled. For these reasons, the
Philistines sought to form an alliance with him, to remain in force for
three generations to come, for it is to the third generation that the
love of a father extends.
Before Abraham concluded the covenant with Abimelech, king of the
Philistines, he reproved him on account of a well, for "Correction
leads to love," and "There is no peace without correction." The herdmen
of Abraham and those of Abimelech had left their dispute about the well
to decision by ordeal: the well was to belong to the party for whose
sheep the waters would rise so that they could drink of them. But the
shepherds of Abimelech disregarded the agreement, and they wrested the
well for their own use.[220] As a witness and a perpetual sign that the
well belonged to him, Abraham set aside seven sheep, corresponding to
the seven Noachian laws binding upon all men alike.[221] But God said,
"Thou didst give him seven sheep. As thou livest, the Philistines shall
one day slay seven righteous men, Samson, Hophni, Phinehas, and Saul
with his three sons, and they will destroy seven holy places, and they
will keep the holy Ark in their country as booty of war for a period of
seven months, and furthermore only the seventh generation of thy
descendants will be able to rejoice in the possession of the land
promised to them."[222] After concluding the alliance with Abimelech,
who acknowledged Abraham's right upon the well, Abraham called the
place Beer-sheba, because there they swore both of them unto a covenant
of friendship.
In Beer-sheba Abraham dwelt many years, and thence he endeavored to
spread the law of God. He planted a large grove there, and he made four
gates for it, facing the four sides of the earth, east, west, north,
and south, and he planted a vineyard therein. If a traveller came that
way, he entered by the gate that faced him, and he sat in the grove,
and ate, and drank, until he was satisfied, and then he departed. For
the house of Abraham was always open for all passers-by, and they came
daily to eat and drink there. If one was hungry, and he came to
Abraham, he would give him what he needed, so that he might eat and
drink and be satisfied; and if one was naked, and he came to Abraham,
he would clothe him with the garments of the poor man's choice, and
give him silver and gold, and make known to him the Lord, who had
created him and set him on earth.[223] After the wayfarers had eaten,
they were in the habit of thanking Abraham for his kind entertainment
of them, whereto he would reply: "What, ye give thanks unto me! Rather
return thanks to your host, He who alone provides food and drink for
all creatures." Then the people would ask, "Where is He?" and Abraham
would answer them, and say: "He is the Ruler of heaven and earth. He
woundeth and He healeth, He formeth the embryo in the womb of the
mother and bringeth it forth into the world, He causeth the plants and
the trees to grow, He killeth and He maketh alive, He bringeth down to
Sheol and bringeth up." When the people heard such words, they would
ask, "How shall we return thanks to God and manifest our gratitude unto
Him?" And Abraham would instruct them in these words: "Say, Blessed be
the Lord who is blessed! Blessed be He that giveth bread and food unto
all flesh!" In this manner did Abraham teach those who had enjoyed his
hospitality how to praise and thank God.[224] Abraham's house thus
became not only a lodging-place for the hungry and thirsty, but also a
place of instruction where the knowledge of God and His law were
taught.[225]