Bible Verses About Patriarchal Government: Forming treaties and alliances

Then came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Ebrew, which dwelt in the plaine of Mamre ye Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner, which were confederat with Abram.

And at that same time Abimelech and Phichol his chief captaine spake vnto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest.

Nowe therefore sweare vnto me here by God, that thou wilt not hurt me, nor my children, nor my childrens children: thou shalt deale with me, and with the countrey, where thou hast bene a stranger, according vnto the kindnesse that I haue shewed thee.

Then Abraham said, I will sweare.

And Abraham rebuked Abimelech for a well of water, which Abimelechs seruants had violently taken away.

And Abimelech saide, I knowe not who hath done this thing: also thou toldest me not, neither heard I of it but this day.

Then Abraham tooke sheepe and beeues, and gaue them vnto Abimelech: and they two made a couenant.

And Abraham set seuen lambes of the flocke by themselues.

Then Abimelech said vnto Abraham, What meane these seuen lambes, which thou hast set by themselues?

And he answered, Because thou shalt receiue of mine hand these seuen lambes, that it may be a witnes vnto me, that I haue digged this well.

Wherefore the place is called Beer-sheba, because there they both sware.

Thus made they a couenant at Beer-sheba: afterward Abimelech and Phichol his chiefe captaine rose vp, and turned againe vnto the land of the Philistims.

Who answered, Wee sawe certainely that the Lord was with thee, and wee thought thus, Let there be nowe an othe betweene vs, euen betweene vs and thee, and let vs make a couenant with thee.

If thou shalt do vs no hurt, as we haue not touched thee, and as we haue done vnto thee nothing but good, and sent thee away in peace: thou nowe, the blessed of the Lord, doe this.

Then hee made them a feast, and they dyd eate and drinke.

And they rose vp betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: then Izhak let them go, and they departed from him in peace.

And that same day Izhaks seruantes came and tolde him of a well, which they had digged, and said vnto him, We haue found water.

So hee called it Shibah: therefore the name of the citie is called Beer-sheba vnto this day.