_ISAAC, BY GOD'S COMMAND, SOJOURNS IN GERAR. HE CONCEALS HIS MARRIAGE THERE. THE PHILISTINES CONTEND WITH HIM ABOUT THE WELLS HE HAD DIGGED. ABIMELECH MAKES A COVENANT WITH HIM. ESAU MARRIES WIVES OF THE CANAANITES._ _Before Christ 1805._... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAAC WENT UNTO ABIMELECH— The _Abimelech_ here mentioned, is thought by some to have been the son of him to whom Abraham went, _Abimelech_ being, as we have observed, a common name of the kings of Palestine; but as the same friend (viz. Phichol the chief captain) Genesis 26:26 is mentioned as in ch... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD, &C.— I should be for rendering the _vau_ here, _for_, instead of _and,_ as the French version has it, _car;_ because this second verse gives the reason why Isaac went to Gerar, and not to AEgypt, FOR _the Lord_ HAD _appeared to him,_ &c. To pretend to assign reasons why the Lord would... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THY SEED, &C.— The temporal and the spiritual covenant, respecting the land of Canaan, and the Messiah, were thus established and confirmed with Isaac. The Rabbins have assigned various senses to the words used in Genesis 26:5 to express Abraham's obedience; but it is most reasonable to believe,... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE IS MY SISTER, &C.— The same remarks are to be made on this transaction, as on the similar one upon which we have commented, ch. Genesis 20:2, &c. It was wrong, it was very wrong. But it deserves notice again, from what is said by Abimelech, Genesis 26:10 in how great detestation the crime of adu... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT TOUCHETH— i.e.. _defiles._ See Genesis 20:6. Proverbs 6:29. REFLECTIONS.—We have here, 1. A famine, which obliges Isaac to remove from Canaan into the land of the Philistines. He must, like his father before him, learn to suffer, ere he receive the promise. 2. God's appearing to him. He f... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ISAAC SOWED, &C.— Continuing a long time in the land, Genesis 26:8 he applied himself to husbandry, for his own and his family's support; and _that God,_ whose _blessing maketh rich the hand of the diligent,_ crowned his labours with very great increase, in proof of his regard to his promise, a... [ Continue Reading ]
GO—FOR THOU ART MUCH, &C.— In consequence of the envy arising from Isaac's prosperity, Abimelech desired him to leave his country. That this envy was joined with fear, is evident as well from the expression, _for thou art much mightier than we,_ as from _Genesis 26:28_. See Exodus 1:9. We are to rem... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAAC DIGGED AGAIN, &C.— Many reasons might induce Isaac to open these wells again: 1st, Because he was sure to find water there: 2nd, Because he could open them more easily than dig new ones: 3rdly, Because thus he would give less umbrage to his neighbours: 4thly, Because he had the right of ancien... [ Continue Reading ]
SPRINGING WATER— In the Hebrew, _living,_ an expression for _spring_ or _fountain_ water, when applied to water in the Old or New Testament; which is opposed to the cisterns of rain-water, often used by the Arabians. See Jeremiah 2:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD APPEARED, &C.— It is pleasing to observe the propriety and goodness of this gracious appearance of the Lord to Isaac, when he returned to Beer-sheba, where his father had dwelt, after the envy and insults which he had met with from Abimelech and his people. REFLECTIONS.—Isaac, under Go... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THERE BE NOW AN OATH, &C.— An oath confirming the covenant and alliance, as was the case between Abraham and Abimelech: this covenant was made in due form; and, as was always usual, by the due ceremonies of a _feast_, most probably upon the sacrifice, Genesis 26:30.... [ Continue Reading ]
DONE UNTO THEE NOTHING BUT GOOD, &C.— It does not appear that Abimelech had done any real injury towards Isaac, while he was within his dominions; nor can the contentions of their herdsmen be reasonably urged as a contradiction to what the king here advances.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CALLED IT SHEBA, &C.— As the wells which Abraham dug had been stopped up, most probably the names of them also had been forgotten. Isaac, therefore, in similar circumstances, and from a similar event, revives that name of the well, _Sheba,_ which his father had given it many years before. See ch.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ESAU, &C.— There are numberless places in which it is easy to point out the impropriety of the divisions in our Chapter s, &c. It is palpable that this chapter should end at Genesis 26:33. In the rendering of particles, much of the perspicuity of a translation, and more of its elegance, consist:... [ Continue Reading ]