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
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
Line upon line, in God's teaching. Isaac, like his father, has his time of sojourn among the Philistines. The events of his intercourse with the Abimelech of his day resemble those of the former patriarch, though there are differences which show that the recurrence is historical . I. GOD REPEATS HIS LESSONS that they may make the deeper impression. The intention of the record is to preserve a certain line of Divine guidance . Isaac trod in the footsteps of Abraham. We have... read more
A good man's prosperity. I. WHENCE IT PROCEEDED . 1. The industry of Isaac . "Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold." An intimate connection subsists between diligence and prosperity. 2. The blessing of God . "And the Lord blessed him. As without Divine assistance the best contrived and most laboriously applied means may fail in the accumulation of material goods, so with heavenly succor the least likely instruments can achieve... read more
And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water . Literally, living water (cf. Le Genesis 14:5 , Genesis 14:6 ; Zechariah 14:8 ; Revelation 21:6 ). read more
- The Events of Isaac’s Life5. משׁמרת mı̂shmeret, “charge, ordinance.” מציה mı̂tsvâh, “command,” special order. חק choq, “decree, statute,” engraven on stone or metal. תירה tôrâh, “law,” doctrine, system of moral truth.10. עשׂק ‛êśeq, ‘Eseq, “strife.”21. שׂטנה śı̂ṭnâh, Sitnah, “opposition.”22. רחבית rechobôt, Rechoboth, “room.”26. אחזת 'ǎchuzat, Achuzzath, “possession.”33. שׁבעה shı̂b‛âh, Shib’ah, “seven; oath.”34. יהוּדית yehûdı̂yt, Jehudith, “praised.” בארי be'ērı̂y, Beeri, “of a... read more
Isaac and Abimelech (26:1-33)When a famine created hardship in Canaan, Isaac proved his faith and obedience by refusing to leave the land. He remained in the Palestine region on the south coast of Canaan, believing that God would provide for him and his household in the land God promised him. But he lacked the faith to trust God to protect him from violence and, like his father, he lied to protect himself (26:1-11; cf. 12:10-20, 20:1-18).God blessed Isaac as he had promised, but Isaac’s farming... read more
well. Hebrew. 'ayin. See note on Genesis 21:19 . springing. Hebrew living. See note on Genesis 21:19 . read more
"And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham; and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. And the herdsmen of Gerar strove with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. And they... read more
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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