John Gill Commentary Genesis 21:31

"Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba. Because there they sware both of them." — Genesis 21:31 (ASV)

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" ^F20 , 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.

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F20: (arqy) "vocatus", V. L. Calvin, Piscator.