Genesis 21:29
“Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves mean?””
What does Genesis 21:29 mean?
Abraham had just made a peace agreement with Abimelech, a local king, and gave him seven lambs as a sign of the deal. Abimelech noticed these lambs set apart from the rest of the flock and asked what they signified, since in that culture giving animals often sealed important promises between people. Abraham explains in the next verse that the lambs are meant as a witness or proof that Abraham had dug a well there, establishing his right to that land and water source. It's a simple moment that shows how people made binding agreements concrete and visible, so neither party could later claim ignorance about what was promised.