21:24 Abraham said, “I swear to do this.” 1 21:25 But Abraham lodged a complaint 2 against Abimelech concerning a well 3 that Abimelech’s servants had seized. 4
1 tn Heb “I swear.” No object is specified in the Hebrew text, but the content of the oath requested by Abimelech is the implied object.
2 tn The Hebrew verb used here means “to argue; to dispute”; it can focus on the beginning of the dispute (as here), the dispute itself, or the resolution of a dispute (Isa 1:18). Apparently the complaint was lodged before the actual oath was taken.
3 tn Heb “concerning the matter of the well of water.”
4 tn The Hebrew verb used here means “to steal; to rob; to take violently.” The statement reflects Abraham’s perspective.