The remarkable favours shewn to Abraham, engaged the growing respect of his neighbours, which brings Abimelech to renew his acquaintance with him, and to commit it by a solemn covenant. 1. Abimelech's proposal. Convinced of God's peculiar regard to him, he would engage him for his perpetual friend, and under oath of mutual kindness, secure to his son and sons, this great bleffing of Abraham's friendship. Note, (1.) It is wise to take care that our children, when we are dead and gone, may be in good hands, and connected with the friends of God. (2.) Good done us is an obligation to return it, as Abimelech pleads. 2. Abraham confents; but first acquaints Abimelech with a transaction, of which he denies the knowledge, respecting a well. This matter is amicably adjusted, as obserious between brethren should be. Note, Servants are often in fault, when the matter is blamed. The treaty then is passed; and after liberal preform, Abraham ratifies it with no oath. Note, (1.) It becomes us not to reject proffers of friendship: we may be connected with those as worldly friends, whom we cannot acknowledge as Christian brethren. We should be courteous to all men. (2.) An oath is lawful on solemn occasions, and a confirmation of confidence, as well as an end of strife. 3. The name the well bore ever after, Beer-theba, alluding to the oath there made, or the seven lambs, which confirmed it to Abraham: the word Sheba bears either sense. (1.) If we swear, let us be punctual in the observance. (2.) If we bargain, let us make our bargain good. Or too. 33. ¶ And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-theba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God. 34. And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines land many days. As in the womb he caught his brother by the heel, and got the name Jacob, we here for how well he deserved it in his dealing with Esau. Jacob knew the value of the birth-right, and the promise which Rebekah must before in love have told him, might embolden him to attempt obtaining it. Now therefore, when occasion offers, he soars it. Observa. 1. The critical time. When Esau returned hungry from hunting, and seeing Jacob with some delightful red meek of postage, begs to have it; then he proposes the bargain: if he will sell his birthright, the meek should be his own. Note, (1.) It was had in Jacob, to take advantage of his brother's necessity, though it might not be pride that made him covet it, but the regard for the spiritual blessings, yet we may not seek even good things by wrong means. (2.) God over-rules our evil to the purposes of his own glory. 2. Esau's content to the bargain. Hunger pleased, and though in no danger of death, the strength of his appetite suggested to weak an excuse. The birth-right is trivial in his eyes, and probably, he thought in Isaac's regard he was late, and then he should lose nothing by the tale. Thus profaneness is his character, Job. vii. 16. Note, (1.) Gratifying forbid appetites, is the universal ruin of men's souls. (2.) The pleasures of sense for a moment will all repay the loss of God's blessing and favour to eternity. (3.) The wife are often outdone by simpler men; at least in soul concerns, this is usually the case. The plain followers of their Bible make a wiser choice, than the cunning disputes against it. 3. Esau's carefully afterward. As if nothing had happened, he went his way, and never troubled his head about the matter. Note, To be negligent about spiritual blessings, is the sure way to be deprived of them.