2723. But in regard to Beersheba—“Beersheba” signifies the state and quality of the doctrine, namely, that it is Divine and it is that to which what is of human reason is adjoined-as is evident from the series of things treated of from verse 22 this verse (see n. 2613, 2614); and also from the signification of the word itself in the original language, which is “the well of the oath,” and “of seven.” That a “well” is the doctrine of faith may be seen above (n. 2702, 2720); that an “oath” is conjunction (n. 2720); and that a “covenant made by an oath,” has the same meaning (n. 1996, 2003, 2021, 2037); and that “seven” denotes what is holy and thus Divine (n. 395, 433, 716, 881); from all which it is evident that “Beersheba” signifies doctrine which is in itself Divine together with things of human reason or appearances adjoined.

[2] That the name Beersheba comes from all this is manifest from Abraham’s words:

Because these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take from my hand, that it may be a witness unto me that I have digged this well; therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there they sware both of them; and they struck a covenant in Beersheba (Genesis 21:30-32).

In like manner from Isaac’s words in chapter 26:

It came to pass on that day that Isaac’s servants came and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water; and he called it Shibah (an “oath” and “seven”); therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day (Genesis 26:32-33).

There also wells are spoken of about which there was contention with Abimelech, and a covenant with him is treated of; and by “Beersheba” are signified the things of human reason again adjoined to the doctrine of faith; and because they are again adjoined, and the doctrine thus became adapted to human comprehension, it is called a “city” (that a “city” signifies doctrine in its complex may be seen above, n. 402, 2268, 2450, 2451). Moreover Beersheba is mentioned with a similar signification as to the internal sense in other places (Genesis 22:19; 26:22-23; 28:10; 46:1, 5; Josh. 15:28; 19:1-2; 1 Samuel 8:2; 1 Kings 19:3; and also in the opposite sense, Amos 5:5; 8:13-14).

[3] The extension of the celestial and spiritual things belonging to doctrine is signified in the internal sense, where the extent of the land of Canaan is described by the expression “from Dan even to Beersheba;” for by the land of Canaan is signified the Lord’s kingdom, and also His church, consequently the celestial and spiritual things of doctrine; as in the book of Judges:

All the sons of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man from Dan even to Beersheba (Judg. 20:1).

In the book of Samuel:

All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba (1 Samuel 3:20).

And again:

To transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba (2 Samuel 3:10).

And again:

Hushai said to Absalom, Let all Israel be gathered together, from Dan even unto Beersheba (2 Samuel 17:11).

And again:

David told Joab to go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan even to Beersheba (2 Samuel 24:2, 7).

And again:

There died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men (2 Samuel 24:15).

In the book of Kings:

Judah dwelt under his vine and under his fig-tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon (1 Kings 4:25).

2720. Verse 22. And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech, and Phicol the captain of his army, said unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest. verse 23. And now swear unto me here by God, that thou wilt not be false to me, nor to my son, nor to my son’s son; according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned. verse 24. And Abraham said, I will swear. verse 25. And Abraham reproved Abimelech, because of the well of water which Abimelech’s servants had taken away. verse 26. And Abimelech said, I know not who hath done this word, neither didst thou tell me, neither heard I of it but today. verse 27. And Abraham took flock and herd, and gave to Abimelech, and they two struck a covenant. verse 28. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. verse 29. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What are these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? verse 30. And he said, Because these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that it may be a witness unto me that I have digged this well. verse 31. Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there they sware, both of them. verse 32. And they struck a covenant at Beersheba; and Abimelech rose up, and Phicol the captain of his army; and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

[2] “It came to pass at that time” signifies the state in which the Lord was when His rational was made Divine; “and Abimelech, and Phicol the captain of his army, said unto Abraham” signifies the human rational things from memory-knowledges that were to be adjoined to the doctrine of faith, which in itself is Divine; “saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest” signifies that it was Divine as to all things both in general and in particular.

[3] “And now swear unto me here by God” signifies affirmation; “that thou wilt not be false to me” signifies without a doubt; “nor to my son, nor to my son’s son” signifies concerning the things of faith; “according to the kindness that I have done unto thee” signifies the rational things in which the Lord had been previously instructed; “thou shalt do unto me and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned” signifies what is reciprocal.

[4] “And Abraham said, I will swear” signifies all that is affirmative. “And Abraham reproved Abimelech” signifies the Lord’s indignation; “because of the well of water which Abimelech’s servants had taken away” signifies as to the doctrine of faith, that the memory-knowledges desired to attribute it to themselves.

[5] “And Abimelech said” signifies a reply. “I know not who hath done this word” signifies that the rational dictated something different; “neither didst thou tell me” signifies that it was not from the Divine; “neither heard I of it but today” signifies that it was now first disclosed.

[6] “And Abraham took flock and herd, and gave to Abimelech” signifies the Divine goods implanted in the rational things of doctrine signified by “Abimelech”; “and they two struck a covenant” signifies conjunction thus. “And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves” signifies the holiness of innocence.

[7] “And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What are these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves” signifies that he should be instructed and would acknowledge. “And he said, Because these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand” signifies that the holiness of innocence is from the Divine; “that it may be a witness unto me” signifies certainty; “that I have digged this well” signifies that the doctrine was from the Divine. “Therefore he called that place Beersheba” signifies the state and quality of the doctrine; “because there they sware both of them” signifies from the conjunction.

[8] “And they struck a covenant in Beersheba” signifies that human rational things were adjoined to the doctrine of faith; “and Abimelech rose up, and Phicol the captain of his army, and they returned into the land of the Philistines” signifies that nevertheless these things had no part in the doctrine.