Genesis 26:1. 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) Gen 26:26 is mentioned as in ch. Genesis 21:22. it is not unlikely that it was the same king. read more
Genesis 26:2. 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 not permit him to go to AEgypt, is fruitless and absurd. read more
1. And there was a famine in the land . . . And Isaac went unto . . . Gerar—The pressure of famine in Canaan forced Isaac with his family and flocks to migrate into the land of the Philistines, where he was exposed to personal danger, as his father had been on account of his wife's beauty; but through the seasonable interposition of Providence, he was preserved (Psalms 105:14; Psalms 105:15). read more
Isaac was evidently considering going to Egypt to escape the famine. He was in Gerar when God spoke to him. This was God’s first revelation to Isaac (cf. Genesis 25:23). Therefore, it appears that Isaac may have previously moved north from Beer-lahai-roi. Of course, constant relocating was common for the nomadic patriarchs, and these places were not far from one another.The major migration of the Philistines into Canaan took place in the twelveth century B.C. However, there were some... read more
3. Isaac and Abimelech 26:1-11God prevented Isaac from leaving the Promised Land and renewed the covenant with him, but then He had to protect Rebekah when Isaac lied about his relationship with her to Abimelech."In the short span of one chapter, the writer shows how the whole of the life of Isaac was a rehearsal of that which happened to Abraham. Thus the lesson that is conveyed is that God’s faithfulness in the past can be counted on in the present and the future. What he has done for the... read more
Isaac at GerarMany of the notes on Genesis 20, 21 are applicable to this chapter It is thought probable that the present narrative is in the main a repetition from another source of events already recorded.2. Go not down into Egypt] to get food as Abraham did. The covenant blessing is renewed and the possession of Canaan assured to Isaac. He is encouraged to stay in Canaan in dependence on God. 7. My sister] The expression might mean cousins.12. An hundredfold] Though very large, such a crop is... read more
XXVI.ADVENTURES OF ISAAC AT GERAR.(1) Isaac went . . . unto Gerar.—Following the stream of Semitic migration (Genesis 12:15), Isaac had originally purposed going to Egypt, but is commanded by God to abide in the land, and upon so doing he receives the assurance that he will be confirmed in the inheritance of the promises made to his father. Isaac was now dwelling at the well Lahai-Roi, and though the exact site of this place is unknown, yet it lay too far to the south for Isaac to have gone to... read more
THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS.Abraham begat Isaac—The Tôldôth in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his descent to Shem, and showing thereby that the right of primogeniture belonged to him; but the inspired historian uses only so much of this as is necessary for tracing the development of the Divine plan of human redemption.The Syrian.—Really, the Aramean, or descendant of Aram. (See Genesis 10:22-23.) The... read more
(2) The Lord appeared unto him.—Only once besides does Jehovah manifest himself to Isaac (Genesis 26:24), and sixty years had now passed since the revelations recorded in Genesis 22:0. Excepting to Abraham, it was only at rare and distant intervals that God spake to the patriarchs. The greater part of their lives was spent under the control of the same ordinary Providence as that which governs our actions now; but on special occasions God was pleased to confirm their faith in Him in a way not... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 26:1-5
"And there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech the king of the Philistines, unto Gerar. And Jehovah appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, will I give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; and I will multiply thy seed as the stars... read more