Verse 25 may be viewed in two ways: as introducing a further topic in the treaty negotiations between Abimelech and Abraham (verses 22-24), or as a new and subsequent discussion. Good News Translation tends to favor the second of these. Revised Standard Version may be interpreted in either way. New International Version, “Then Abraham complained…,” and New Jerusalem Bible favor the first view.

If we assume that the well had been seized before the discussions in verses 22-24, as the Handbook does, then verse 25 is to be taken as part of the treaty discussion. In this case it will be natural in many languages to begin verse 25 with a transition such as “Then Abraham went on to complain…” or “After Abraham had sworn, he then complained….” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch makes it clear that verse 25 is part of the treaty talks, by beginning a new paragraph at verse 24, which contains verses 25 and 26 also. Translators may follow these models.

Abraham complained to Abimelech: the word translated complained may also be rendered “protested,” “objected,” “called Abimelech’s attention to.” Other expressions found in some languages are “Abraham had an argument with…,” “Abraham had something to talk to Abimelech about [meaning a complaint].”

For well of water see verse 19.

Abimelech’s servants had seized: had seized means at some time in the past they had taken it over, possessed it, and probably would not allow others to use it. We may assume that these servants or herdsmen of Abimelech had taken the well from Abraham, since he now claims ownership of it. In many languages it is necessary to say whom they had taken the well from. Some translations express the taking of the well as “… had made themselves the bosses [owners] of….”

In some languages it is more natural to express complaining about something in a direct quotation. A translation that does this here says “King, I have seen that your people have done something that isn’t right: they have taken a well that belongs to me, and blocked my people from getting water from it.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .