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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 26:12-25

Here we have, I. The tokens of God's good-will to Isaac. He blessed him, and prospered him, and made all that he had to thrive under his hands. 1. His corn multiplied strangely, Gen. 26:12. He had no land of his own, but took land of the Philistines, and sowed it; and (be it observed for the encouragement of poor tenants, that occupy other people's lands, and are honest and industrious) God blessed him with a great increase. He reaped a hundred fold; and there seems to be an emphasis laid upon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 26:18

And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father ,.... This seems to refer to the same wells made mention of in Genesis 26:15 , since it follows: for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham ; these were what Abraham's servants had dug, when he lived at Gerar, and which the Philistines durst not stop during his life; but when he was dead and particularly out of envy to Isaac his son, whom they observed to prosper... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 26:19

And Isaac's servants digged in the valley ,.... In the valley of Gerar, as the Septuagint version expresses it: and found there a well of springing water ; or "living water" F12 מים חיים "aquarum viventium", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius. , which continually flows, as Aben Ezra rightly interprets it: hence this phrase is used of the perpetual and ever living graces of the Spirit of God, John 4:10 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 26:20

And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen ,.... About the well which was dug in the valley; and this shows it was near Gerar or at least was upon the border of the country, and so it was a disputable point to whom it belonged: saying, the water is ours ; though the well was dug by Isaac's servants, yet they laid claim to the water, pretending it was their ground, being on their borders: and he called the name of the well Esek : which signifies "contention": the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 26:21

And they digged another well ,.... That is, Isaac's servants: and strove for that also ; the herdsmen of Gerar disputed their right to that also, and strove to get it from them: and he called the name of it Sitnah ; which signifies "hatred", it being out of hatred and malice to him that they gave him so much trouble; from this word Satan has his name, and these men were of a diabolical spirit, envious, spiteful, and malicious. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 26:22

And he removed from thence ,.... A little further from their border, to cut off all pretence, and put a stop to all dispute and controversy for the future: and digged another well ; in the place he removed to: and for that they strove not ; it being at such a distance from their border, they could not have the face to claim any right to it: and he called the name of it Rehoboth ; which signifies broad and spacious, places, enlargements: for now hath the Lord made room for us ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 26:18

In the days of Abraham - Instead of בימי bimey , in the days, Houbigant contends we should read עבדי abdey , servants. Isaac dug again the wells which the servants of Abraham his father had dug. This reading is supported by the Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate; and it is probably the true one. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 26:19

A well of springing water - חיים מים באר beer mayim chaiyim , A well of living waters. This is the oriental phrase for a spring, and this is its meaning both in the Old and New Testaments: Leviticus 14:5 , Leviticus 14:50 ; Leviticus 15:30 ; Numbers 19:17 ; Song of Solomon 4:15 . See also John 4:10-14 ; John 7:38 ; Revelation 21:6 ; Revelation 22:1 . And by these scriptures we find that an unfailing spring was an emblem of the graces and influences of the Spirit of God. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 26:21

They dug another well - Never did any man more implicitly follow the Divine command, Resist not evil, than Isaac; whenever he found that his work was likely to be a subject of strife and contention, he gave place, and rather chose to suffer wrong than to have his own peace of mind disturbed. Thus he overcame evil with good. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 26:18

Verse 18 18.And Isaac digged again the wells of water. First, we see that the holy man was so hated by his neighbors, as to be under the necessity of seeking a retreat for himself which was destitute of water; and no habitation is so troublesome and inconvenient for the ordinary purposes of life as that which suffers from scarcity of water. Besides, the abundance of his cattle and the multitude of his servants — who were like a little army — rendered a supply of water very necessary; whence we... read more

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