SELECTIVE INSURANCE GROUP INC
AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.16.A
<SEQUENCE>5
<FILENAME>y54821ex10-16_a.txt
<DESCRIPTION>AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
<TEXT>
<PAGE>

                                                                  Exhibit 10.16a


                    AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


           AMENDMENT NO. 3, dated as of August 1, 2001, among SELECTIVE
INSURANCE GROUP, INC., a New Jersey corporation ("Selective"), having an office
at 40 Wantage Avenue, Branchville, New Jersey 07826, SELECTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY
OF AMERICA, a New Jersey corporation ("SICA"), having an office at 40 Wantage
Avenue, Branchville, New Jersey 07826, and GREGORY E. MURPHY, having an address
at 8 Brandy Ridge Road, Sparta, New Jersey 07871 (the "Executive"), to
Employment Agreement dated as of August 1, 1995, among Selective, SICA and the
Executive, as heretofore amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto dated as of May 1,
1998, and as heretofore amended by Amendment No. 2 thereto dated as of May 5,
2000, (as so amended, the "Employment Agreement").


           WHEREAS, Selective, SICA and the Executive have executed and
delivered the Employment Agreement, and Selective has guaranteed all of the
obligations of SICA as the Employer under the Employment Agreement; and


                     WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to further amend the
Employment Agreement to extend the term thereof and to modify the
Salary (as defined in Section 3 of the Employment Agreement) provided for
therein.


           THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:


           1. The term of employment under the Employment Agreement is hereby
extended for a period of three (3) years commencing August 1, 2001 (the "Renewal
Term"), and all references in the Agreement to the term thereof or the
Executive's term of employment thereunder shall include the Renewal Term.


           2. The Salary, as defined and provided for in Section 3 of the
Employment Agreement, shall be paid to the Executive at a rate of not less than
Five Hundred Fifty Thousand and 00/100 ($550,000.00) Dollars per year during the
Renewal Term.


           3. Selective reaffirms that it guarantees to the Executive the full
performance by SICA of all of its obligations under the Employment Agreement as
amended herein.

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           4. Except as amended herein, the Employment Agreement shall continue
in full force and effect on and after the date hereof.



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed by the
Executive and on behalf of Selective and SICA by their duly authorized officers
as of the date and year first above written.


                                SELECTIVE INSURANCE GROUP, INC.


                                 By: /s/ Thornton R. Land
                                    -------------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Thornton R.Land
                                    Title: Executive Vice President and
                                           General Counsel


                                 SELECTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                 OF AMERICA


                                 By: /s/ Thornton R. Land
                                    -------------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Thornton R. Land
                                    Title: Executive Vice President and
                                               General Counsel

                                     /s/ Gregory E. Murphy
                                    -------------------------------------------
                                    Executive



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