Genesis 21:33

21:33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer Sheba. There he worshiped the Lord, the eternal God.

Genesis 24:62

24:62 Now Isaac came from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev.

Genesis 25:11

25:11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac. Isaac lived near Beer Lahai Roi. 10 


tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

sn The planting of the tamarisk tree is a sign of Abraham’s intent to stay there for a long time, not a religious act. A growing tree in the Negev would be a lasting witness to God’s provision of water.

tn Heb “he called there in the name of the Lord.” The expression refers to worshiping the Lord through prayer and sacrifice (see Gen 4:26; 12:8; 13:4; 26:25). See G. J. Wenham, Genesis (WBC), 1:116, 281.

tn The disjunctive clause switches the audience’s attention to Isaac and signals a new episode in the story.

tn Heb “from the way of.”

sn The Hebrew name Beer Lahai Roi (בְּאֵר לַחַי רֹאִי, bÿer lakhay roi) means “The well of the Living One who sees me.” See Gen 16:14.

tn This disjunctive clause is explanatory.

tn Or “the South [country].”

sn Negev is the name for the southern desert region in the land of Canaan.

sn God blessed Isaac. The Hebrew verb “bless” in this passage must include all the gifts that God granted to Isaac. But fertility was not one of them, at least not for twenty years, because Rebekah was barren as well (see v. 21).

10 sn Beer Lahai Roi. See the note on this place name in Gen 24:62.