Gen 26:1-5 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gen 26:1-35: 26:1-35 In this digression from Jacob’s story, Isaac’s prosperity (ch 26 ) shows that the blessing had passed to him (cp. 25:11 ) despite his failures of faith. 26:1 This Abimelech is probably not the man in ch 20 , for these events could have been 90 years apart. Possibly Abimelech was a dynastic name or title (a later King Achish, 1 Sam 21:10 , was also called Abimelech, Ps 34:title ).

a26:1-35►

b26►

c25:11►

d26:1►

e20►

f1 Sam 21:10►

gPs 34:title►

h26:2-5►

i12:2-3►

j15:5-8►

k17:3-8►

l22:15-18►

m28:13-14►

‏ Genesis 26:1-5

Summary for Gen 26:1-35: 26:1-35 ^a In this digression from Jacob’s story, Isaac’s prosperity (ch 26 ^b) shows that the blessing had passed to him (cp. 25:11 ^c) despite his failures of faith. 26:1 ^d This Abimelech is probably not the man in ch 20 ^e, for these events could have been 90 years apart. Possibly Abimelech was a dynastic name or title (a later King Achish, 1 Sam 21:10 ^f, was also called Abimelech, Ps 34:title ^g).
Summary for Gen 26:2-5: 26:2-5 ^h The Lord assured Isaac that the covenant promises (cp. 12:2-3 ⁱ; 15:5-8 ^j; 17:3-8 ^k; 22:15-18 ^l; 28:13-14 ^m) would pass to him because Abraham faithfully listened to God and obeyed all his requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions. These terms were later used in Deuteronomy to describe God’s full legal covenant with Israel. An Israelite reader would immediately think of the complete Torah when hearing these words and be prompted to obey God’s law as Abraham did, though Abraham had only a few commands from the Lord. Through these words, the text emphasizes that Abraham would have obeyed the later commands if he had had them, because he was an obedient servant of the Lord.