Open and honest rebuke is sometimes the only way to resolve conflicts and establish true peace and a stable agreement [תורה תמימה, מזרחי]. After settling his past grievances with Abimelech, Abraham seeks to permanently and absolutely secure his ownership of a vital well. To do this, he takes deliberate action, separating seven female sheep from the larger herds and flocks he had already presented as a gift [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].
The specific choice of these animals is highly intentional. Female sheep symbolize the future growth and ongoing continuity of the entire flock [רש ר הירש]. Furthermore, the exact nature of the exchange indicates that these were young, small ewes, still closely bound to their mothers [הכתב והקבלה].
Commentators offer different perspectives on why these particular sheep were set apart. One approach views this as a strict legal transaction. Rather than being part of a general gesture of reconciliation, these ewes served as a direct payment specifically for the well. This exchange was designed to permanently cancel any future claims the Philistines might make regarding the water source [ביאור יש״ר]. Another perspective suggests a miraculous test rooted in the ongoing dispute between the shepherds over who originally dug the well. The ewes were separated to see toward whose flock the underground waters would naturally rise. Only after the water miraculously surged toward Abraham's sheep, publicly proving his rightful ownership, did he hand the animals over to Abimelech [אלשיך].
Beyond the physical exchange, the primary approach among commentators highlights a profound linguistic and conceptual connection between the number seven and the swearing of an oath. In the ancient world, the number seven held deep sacred significance. While surrounding nations linked this to the influence of the seven known planets, Abraham elevated the number, recognizing it as a representation of God's ultimate sources of blessing and abundance [מלבי״ם].
By setting aside exactly seven ewes, Abraham transformed his claim over the well into a binding oath. This act carried a powerful spiritual message, demonstrating that all human material wealth is ultimately subject to God's watchful care. When Abimelech accepted the animals, he formally recognized Abraham's ownership, creating a permanent and official testimony for all future generations [רש ר הירש]. It is precisely this merging of the seven ewes and the swearing of the oath that gave the location its enduring name, Beersheba [רד״ק, חזקוני, הטור הארוך, אלשיך].