Gen. 26 A famine in the land; Isaac goes to Gerar, Gen. 26:1. God directs him to abide there, and promises to be with him: the covenant with Abraham also made with Isaac, Gen. 26:2–5. Through fear he denies Rebekah, Gen. 26:7.

Abimelech is not he mentioned Gen. 20:2, but most probably his son and successor, called by his father’s name.

To Egypt it seems Isaac intended to go, it being a very fruitful place, and being encouraged to do so by his father’s example upon the same occasion. But God saw good reasons to forbid Isaac to go thither, which it is needless to inquire, and not difficult to conjecture.

Unto thee, and unto thy seed; to thee to enjoy for thy present comfort, and to them to possess as an inheritance. See Poole on “Gen. 13:15”, see Poole on “Gen. 15:18”. I will perform the oath, i.e. the promises confirmed by oath, Gen. 22:16;c.

Here was a covenant made between God and Abraham; and as, if Abraham had broken the condition of walking before God required on his part, God had been discharged from the promise made on his part; so contrarily, because Abraham performed his condition, God engageth himself to perform his promise to…

Using more free and familiar carriage than became a brother and sister, but such as was allowable between husband and wife. See Deut. 24:5, Prov. 5:18–19.

The heathens esteemed fornication either no sin, or a very little one; but adultery was heinous and formidable even among the heathens, and especially here, because it was fresh in memory how sorely God had punished Abimelech, and all his family, only for an intention of adultery, Gen. 20.

He that hurteth or injureth. So that word is used, Gen. 26:29, Josh. 9:19, Ps. 105:15, Zech. 2:8; and being applied to a woman, it is used for the defiling or humbling of her, as Gen. 20:6, Prov. 6:29.

Isaac sowed in that land; either in the grounds which he had hired of the right owners, or in some grounds which lay neglected, and therefore were free to the first occupier; which was not strange in that age of the world, when the inhabitants of countries were not so numerous as afterward.

Great store of servants; or rather, of husbandry, as this word is elsewhere used; of corn-fields, vineyards, &c. for he is describing his riches, which then consisted in the two things here expressed, cattle and lands, which he diligently and successfully managed, Gen. 26:12.

Which breeds envy, and jealousy, and fear among my subjects, and may occasion greater mischiefs; and therefore it is better that we should part friends, than by continuing together be turned into enemies.

Though there might be a brook there, probably it was but little, and soon dried up. And Isaac digged those rather than new ones, partly to keep up his father’s memory, and partly because he had most right to them, and others less cause of quarrel with him about them.

The water is ours, because digged in our soil; which was no good argument, because he digged it by their consent or permission at his own charge, and for his own use.

Where he lived before the famine drove him thence.

Phichol may be either, 1. The title of an office; for the word signifies, the mouth of all, or he by whom all the people were to present their addresses to the king, and receive the king’s commands. Or, 2. The name of a man; and then this might be the son of him mentioned Gen.

We have not touched thee, to wit, so as to injure or hurt thee, as above, Gen. 26:11. Thou art now the blessed of the Lord; or, O thou who art now the with blessed of the Lord, whom God hath enriched great and manifold blessings, which we did not take away from thee, as we could easily have done,…

They rose up betimes; partly for the despatch of their journey and business, and partly because then their minds were most vigorous, and sober, and fit to perform so sacred an action as an oath was.

This name had been given before, either to this or a neighbouring place, by Abraham, Gen. 21:31; but was now buried in oblivion, as his wells were; and the wells being revived, he revives and renews the name, which proved now a lasting name, unto this day, as here follows, which is not added Gen.

Both Hittites, the worst of the Canaanites, Ezek. 16:3; which, from his grandfather Abraham’s severe charge, Gen. 24:3, he must needs know would be highly displeasing both to God and to his parents.

Because to their idolatry and other wickedness they added obstinacy and incorrigibleness, despising their persons and godly counsels, whereby they invited them to repentance.