Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba: tamarisk tree is described as a tree or shrub that grows in deserts, dunes, and salt marshes. It produces needle-like leaves, is evergreen, and provides year-round food for goats.

Because the two clauses in this short verse are placed together, it is very likely that readers are expected to see a connection between them; that is, the tree was a sacred tree, or a tree to mark the place of worship. Speiser comments that this verse “ties the worship of Yahweh to the symbolism of a sacred tree.” Translators should try to maintain this connection by keeping the clauses together, and by translating tamarisk tree in a way that will make clear its function in marking the place as a place of worship.

Called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God: this statement should not be confused with that in 4.26, in which people began to pray to God by calling him “LORD.” Here the meaning is that Abraham worshiped, prayed to the LORD who is the Everlasting God. Everlasting God translates a Hebrew expression that means the eternal God, the God who lives forever.

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 .