New American Standard Bible 1995

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Genesis

21

:

31

Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Therefore upon, above, over Prepostion H5921 עַל־ al-
he called to call, proclaim, read Verb H7121 קָרָ֛א ka·ra
that place a standing place, place Noun H4725 לַמָּקֹ֥ום lam·ma·ko·vm
Beersheba, "well of seven," a place in the Negev Noun H884 שָׁ֑בַע sha·va;
Analysis:
Read more about: Beersheba
because that, for, when Conjunction H3588 כִּ֛י ki
there there, thither Adverb H8033 שָׁ֥ם sham
the two two (a card. number) Noun H8147 שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃ she·nei·hem.
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 

of them took an oath. to swear Verb H7650 נִשְׁבְּע֖וּ nish·be·'u

Locations

Beersheba

BEERSHEBAbe-er-she'-ba (be'er shebha`; Bersabee): Allotted originally to Simeon (Joshua 19:2), one of "the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah" (Joshua 15:28).1. The Meaning of the Name:The most probable meaning of Beersheba is the "well of seven." "Seven wells" is improbable on etymological grounds; the numeral should in that case be firs... View Details

Parallel Verses

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New American Standard Bible 1995 Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath.
King James Bible Therefore Wherefore he called that place Beersheba, Beersheba; because there the two they sware both of them took an oath.them.
Hebrew Greek English Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath.