Genesis 26:1-33

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• Famine during the days of Isaac. Contention over "water rights."

• Even so, Isaac is constantly blessed, because of God's promises to Abraham.

• Important Concept: God's covenant promise to Abraham is the basis for the blessings Isaac receives. It does not depend on Isaac deserving to be blessed!

Details and Comments

Blessings While Living in Philistine Country (because of a famine)

• God promises Isaac blessings on account of his father, Abraham.

• God protects Isaac (and others) when Isaac lies about his wife (claiming she is his sister).

• God blesses Isaac with crops and herds; others are jealous and make him leave.

Blessings While Living in a Dry Land

• Isaac leaves and re-digs the wells his father had dug, but which the Philistines had filled-in.

• The local herdsmen quarrel over the wells and Isaac moves on (twice)... eventually digging a well they don't argue over.

• God reaffirms the covenant promise, the Philisines acknowledge that God has blessed him... and he digs yet another well and finds water.

Scripture

Genesis 26:1-33

God uses events and circumstances to result in these blessings. See: Providence.

Section 1 - Isaac is blessed with flocks and herds (because of Abraham) even when he doesn't deserve it. Others acknowledge it.

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Gen 26:1 There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, to Gerar. Gen 26:2 Yahweh appeared to him, and said, "Don't go down into Egypt. Live in the land I will tell you about. Gen 26:3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you. For to you, and to your seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. Gen 26:4 I will multiply your seed as the stars of the sky, and will give to your seed all these lands. In your seed will all the nations of the earth be blessed, Gen 26:5 because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my requirements, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."	The previous famine is mentioned in Genesis 12:10. Famine Ecological Problems The covenant promise is confirmed to Isaac. God will bless him (and his offspring) because of the promise he made to Abraham. Abraham obeyed unquestioningly and God promised by oath to bless his offspring. It does not depend on his offspring's worthiness of the blessings! Abrahamic Covenant At least part of this blessing goes beyond biological offspring. At least parts of this blessing (especially those parts that refer to "all the nations") belong to followers of Jesus, under the New Covenant.
Gen 26:6 Isaac lived in Gerar. Gen 26:7 The men of the place asked him about his wife. He said, "She is my sister," for he was afraid to say, "My wife," lest, he thought, "the men of the place might kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to look at." Gen 26:8 It happened, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was caressing Rebekah, his wife. Gen 26:9 Abimelech called Isaac, and said, "Behold, surely she is your wife. Why did you say, 'She is my sister?' " Isaac said to him, "Because I said, 'Lest I die because of her.' " Gen 26:10 Abimelech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us!" Gen 26:11 Abimelech commanded all the people, saying, "He who touches this man or his wife will surely be put to death."	Isaac lies about his wife (claiming she was his sister); God protects him from the potential consequences of his lie. He also protects the others who might have attempted to marry her! When Abraham said something similar (Genesis 12:18-19; 20:12), it was true - since Sarah was both wife and half-sister. Marriage Within the Line of Terah (Abraham's and Sarah's father).
Gen 26:12 Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year one hundred times what he planted. Yahweh blessed him. Gen 26:13 The man grew great, and grew more and more until he became very great. Gen 26:14 He had possessions of flocks, possessions of herds, and a great household. ...	Blessed by God (as God promised).
... The Philistines envied him. Gen 26:15 Now all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped, and filled with earth. Gen 26:16 Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go from us, for you are much mightier than we."	Envy in those who observe the blessings Isaac received.

Section 2 - Isaac is blessed with water sources in a dry land. He keeps getting blessed... and others acknowledge it.

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Gen 26:17 Isaac departed from there, encamped in the valley of Gerar, and lived there. Gen 26:18 Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father. For the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. He called their names after the names by which his father had called them. Gen 26:19 Isaac's servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. Gen 26:20 The herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours." He called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. Gen 26:21 They dug another well, and they argued over that, also. He called its name Sitnah. Gen 26:22 He left that place, and dug another well. They didn't argue over that one. He called it Rehoboth. He said, "For now Yahweh has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land."	Wells dug & taken over by others - twice, before they quit arguing over them. Water Sources Ecological Problems
Gen 26:23 He went up from there to Beersheba. Gen 26:24 Yahweh appeared to him the same night, and said, "I am the God of Abraham your father. Don't be afraid, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your seed for my servant Abraham's sake." Gen 26:25 He built an altar there, and called on the name of Yahweh, and pitched his tent there. ...	God reaffirms the covenant/promise.
... There Isaac's servants dug a well. Gen 26:26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his army. Gen 26:27 Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, since you hate me, and have sent me away from you?" Gen 26:28 They said, "We saw plainly that Yahweh was with you. We said, 'Let there now be an oath between us, even between us and you, and let us make a covenant with you, Gen 26:29 that you will do us no harm, as we have not touched you, and as we have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you away in peace.' You are now the blessed of Yahweh." Gen 26:30 He made them a feast, and they ate and drank. Gen 26:31 They rose up some time in the morning, and swore one to another. Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. Gen 26:32 It happened the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said to him, "We have found water." Gen 26:33 He called it Shibah. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.	Abimelech acknowledges God's blessing on Isaac, and wants to make a covenant/treaty with him. Abimelech's claim that they didn't harm or touch him (etc.) may have reference to what Abimelech commanded in v. 11 (to keep others away from Isaac's wife). God provides more water.

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—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.