“Abraham said: I will swear” (Genesis 21:24). “Abraham reprimanded Avimelekh regarding the well of water that Avimelekh's servants had stolen” (Genesis 21:25). “Abraham reprimanded Avimelekh…” – Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: Reprimand leads to love, as it is stated: “Rebuke a wise person, and he will love you” (Proverbs 9:8). This is consistent with [another] opinion of Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina, as he said: Any love that is not accompanied by reprimand is not [true] love.
Reish Lakish said: Reprimand leads to peace – “Abraham reprimanded Avimelekh.” This is consistent with [another] opinion of his, as he said: Any peace that is not accompanied by reprimand is not [true] peace. “Regarding the well of water that Avimelekh’s servants had stolen [gazlu]” – what is a robber [gazlan]?12As opposed to a thief. Bar Kappara said: It is one who steals something in public, as it says: “They robbed everyone who passed them on the road” (Judges 9:25) – just as the road is in public, so, too, robbery is in public.
Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai derived it from here: “You brought [as sacrifices] the stolen [gazul] [animal], the lame, and the ill” (Malachi 1:13) – just as lameness and illness are visible, so too, a robber [gazlan] is visible [when he steals]. Rabbi Abahu said in the name of Reish Lakish: [If one steals] in the presence of nine people, he is a thief; in the presence of ten people, he is a robber. Rabbi Tanḥuma in the name of Rabbi Huna: One is not considered a robber until he takes something out of someone’s hand, as it is stated: “He stole [vayigzol] the spear from the hand of the Egyptian” (II Samuel 23:21).
“Avimelekh said: I did not know who did this matter, neither did you tell me, nor did I hear of it, other than today” (Genesis 21:26). “Avimelekh said: I did not know…neither did you tell me” – by means of a messenger, “nor did I hear of it, other than today.”