Gen 26 | TSK | STEP | Isaac, because of famine, sojourns in Gerar, and the Lord instructs and blesses him. He is reproved by Abimelech for denying his wife. He grows rich, and the Philistines envy his prosperity. He digs Esek, Sitnah, and Rehoboth. God appears to him at Beer-sheba, and blesses him; and Abimelech makes a covenant with him. Esau's wives. A.M. 2200. B.C. 1804. the first. And Isaac. Abimelech.

sowed.The author of the "History of the Piratical States of Barbary" observes, (p. 44,) that the Moors of that country are divided into tribes like the Arabians, and like them dwell in tents, formed into itinerant villages; that "these wanderers farm lands of the inhabitants of the towns, sow and cultivate them, paying their rent with the produce, such as fruits, corn, wax, etc. They are very skilful in choosing the most advantageous soils for every season, and very careful to avoid the Turkish troops, the violence of the one little suiting the simplicity of the other." It is natural to suppose, that Isaac possessed the like sagacity, when he sowed in the land of Gerar, and received that year an hundred-fold.

received. Heb. found. an hundredfold.

Ps 67:6; 72:16; Ec 11:6; Zec 8:12; Mt 13:8,23; Mr 4:8; 1Co 3:6

2Co 9:10,11; Ga 6:7,8

blessed.

3,29; 24:1,35; 30:30; Job 42:12

And the man waxed great.Dr. Adam Clarke remarks, that there is a strange and observable occurrence of the same term in the original, which is literally, "And the man was GREAT, and he went, going on, and was GREAT, until that he was exceeding GREAT." How simple is this language, and yet how forcible!

waxed great.

24:35; Ps 112:3

went forward. Heb. went going.

had possession.

12:16; 13:2; Job 1:3; 42:12; Ps 112:3; 144:13,14; Pr 10:22

servants. or, husbandry. envied.

37:11; 1Sa 18:9; Job 5:2; Ps 112:10; Pr 27:4; Ec 4:4

his father's.

21:30

had stopped.In those countries, a well of water was a great acquisition; and hence, this mode of injuring new settlers, or revenging themselves on their enemies, is still resorted to among the inhabitants.

Go.Dr. A. Clarke observes, that this is the first instance on record of what was termed among the Greeks, ostracism, i.e., the banishment of person from the state, of whose power, influence, or riches, the people were jealous.

mightier.

Ex 1:9

in the days.Houbigant contends, that instead of {bimey,} "in the days," we should read, {avdey,} "servants;" agreeably to the Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate: "And Isaac digged again the wells of water which the servants of Abraham his father had digged."

and he.

21:31; Nu 32:38; Ps 16:4; Ho 2:17; Zec 13:2

springing water. Heb. living.

So 4:15; Joh 4:10,11; 7:38

did strive.

21:25

Esek. i.e., Contention.

Sitnah. i.e., Hatred.

Ezr 4:6

digged.The wells in Arabia are generally dug in the rock: their mouths are about six feet in diameter, and they are from nineteen to twenty feet in depth. But Niebuhr informs us, that many wells are from 160 to 170 feet deep.

Rehoboth. i.e., Room. the Lord.

Ps 4:1; 18:19; 118:5

be fruitful.

17:6; 28:3; 41:52; Ex 1:7

Beer-sheba.

21:31; 46:1; Jud 20:1

I am the.

15:1; 17:7; 24:12; 28:13; 31:5; Ex 3:6; Mt 22:32; Ac 7:32

fear.

3,4; 13:16; 22:19; Ps 27:1-3; 46:1,2; Isa 12:2; 41:10,13-15; 43:1,2

Isa 44:2; 51:7,12; Lu 12:32; Heb 13:6; Re 1:17

builded.

8:20; 12:7; 13:18; 22:9; 33:20; 35:1; Ex 17:15

called.

Ps 116:17

Abimelech.

20:3; 21:22-32

Phichol.Phichol, as well as Abimelech, "father king," seems to have been a name of office or dignity among the Philistines; for it is not probable that they were the same as are mentioned in the days of Abraham (ch. 21:22, 32.)

seeing.

14,16; Jud 11:7; Ac 7:9,14,27,35; Re 3:9

sent me.

We saw certainly. Heb. Seeing we saw. was with.

21:22,23; 39:5; Jos 3:7; 2Ch 1:1; Isa 45:14; 60:14; 61:6,9; Ro 8:31

1Co 14:25; Heb 13:5

Let there.

21:31,32; 24:3,41; 31:49-53; Heb 6:16

That thou wilt. Heb. If thou shalt, etc. not.

11,14,15

the blessed.

12; 12:2; 21:22; 22:17; 24:31; Ps 115:15

19:3; 21:8; 31:54; Ro 12:18; Heb 12:14; 1Pe 4:9

betimes.

19:2; 21:14; 22:3; 31:55

sware.

14:22; 21:23,31,32; 25:33; 31:44; 1Sa 14:24; 20:3,16,17; 30:15

Heb 6:16

We have.

25; Pr 2:4,5; 10:4; 13:4; Mt 7:7

Shebah. i.e., an oath. therefore.

21:31

Beer-sheba. i.e., the well of the oath.

28This may have been the same city which was called Beer-sheba a hundred years before this, in the time of Abraham; but as the well, from which it had its name originally, was closed up by the Philistines, the name of the place might have been abolished with the well; when, therefore, Isaac re-opened it, he restored the ancient name of the place.

A.M. 2208. B.C. 1796. And Esau.

36:2,5,13

the daughter.

24:3; Ex 34:16; 1Co 7:2; Heb 12:16

Bashemath.

36:2

Which.

6:2; 27:46; 28:1,2,8

grief of mind. Heb. bitterness of spirit.