Discovery BoxGenesis 26:21 
Context26:21 His servants 1 dug another well, but they quarreled over it too, so Isaac named it 2 Sitnah. 3
Genesis 21:30
Context21:30 He replied, “You must take these seven ewe lambs from my hand as legal proof 4 that I dug this well.” 5
Genesis 26:19
Context26:19 When Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well with fresh flowing 6 water there,
1 tn Heb “they”; the referent (Isaac’s servants) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Heb “and he called its name.” The referent (Isaac) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 sn The name Sitnah (שִׂטְנָה, sitnah) is derived from a Hebrew verbal root meaning “to oppose; to be an adversary” (cf. Job 1:6). The name was a reminder that the digging of this well caused “opposition” from the Philistines.
4 tn Heb “that it be for me for a witness.”
5 sn This well. Since the king wanted a treaty to share in Abraham’s good fortune, Abraham used the treaty to secure ownership of and protection for the well he dug. It would be useless to make a treaty to live in this territory if he had no rights to the water. Abraham consented to the treaty, but added his rider to it.
6 tn Heb “living.” This expression refers to a well supplied by subterranean streams (see Song 4:15).
