Wherefore he called that place Beersheba,.... Either Abraham or Abimelech, or both, called it so; or it may be read impersonally, "therefore the place was called Beersheba" (t), for two reasons, one implied, the other expressed; one was, because of the seven lambs before mentioned; so the Targum of Jonathan,
"and therefore he called the well the well of seven lambs;''
"Beer" signifying a well, and "sheba" seven; the other, and which is more certain, being expressed, is as follows;
because there they sware both of them; by the living God, to keep the covenant inviolably they had made between them.
(t) יקרא "vocatus", V. L. Calvin, Piscator.
Wherefore he called that place Beersheba,.... Either Abraham or Abimelech, or both, called it so; or it may be read impersonally, "therefore the place was called Beersheba" (t), for two reasons, one implied, the other expressed; one was, because of the seven lambs before mentioned; so the Targum of Jonathan,
"and therefore he called the well the well of seven lambs;''
"Beer" signifying a well, and "sheba" seven; the other, and which is more certain, being expressed, is as follows;
because there they sware both of them; by the living God, to keep the covenant inviolably they had made between them.
(t) יקרא "vocatus", V. L. Calvin, Piscator.