Genesis 26:2-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 26:1-5

Here, I. God tried Isaac by his providence. Isaac had been trained up in a believing dependence upon the divine grant of the land of Canaan to him and his heirs; yet now there is a famine in the land, Gen. 26:1. What shall he think of the promise when the promised land will not find him bread? Isa. such a grant worth accepting, upon such terms, and after so long a time? Yes, Isaac will still cleave to the covenant; and the less valuable Canaan in itself seems to be the better he is taught to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 26:2

And the Lord appeared unto him ,.... In a vision or dream, when he was at Gerar: and said, go not down into Egypt ; as his father had done in the like case, and where Isaac thought to have gone, and the rather, as that was a fruitful country; and so the Targum of Jonathan,"and it was in the heart of Isaac to go down into Egypt, and the Lord appeared unto him, &c.;'and charged him not to go thither; partly to try his faith in him, and dependence on his providence for support in this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 26:3

Sojourn in this land ,.... The land of Canaan, where he now was; either in Gerar, which though in the land of the Philistines was a part of Canaan, the place of his present residence; or in any other part of it he should be directed to: however, by this it appears it was the pleasure of God that he should not go out of that land, and which Abraham his father was careful of, that he should not while he lived; see Genesis 24:6 , and I will be with thee, and I will bless thee ; with his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 26:4

And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven ,.... Meaning in the line of Jacob especially, if not only; from whom sprung twelve patriarchs, the heads of so many tribes, which in process of time became very numerous, even as the stars of heaven: and I will give unto thy seed all these countries ; which is repeated from Genesis 26:3 for the greater confirmation of it: and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed ; meaning in the Messiah that should... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 26:5

Because that Abraham obeyed my voice ,.... In all things, and particularly in offering up his son at his command: and kept my charge ; whatever was given him in charge to observe; this, as Aben Ezra thinks, is the general, of which the particulars follow: my commandments, my statutes, and my laws ; whether moral, ceremonial, or civil and judicial; all and everyone which God enjoined him, he was careful to observe. Here seems to be something wanting, for the words are not to be joined... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 26:2

Go not down into Egypt - As Abraham had taken refuge in that country, it is probable that Isaac was preparing to go thither also; and God, foreseeing that he would there meet with trials, etc., which might prove fatal to his peace or to his piety, warns him not to fulfill his intention. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 26:3

Sojourn in this land - In Gerar, whither he had gone, Genesis 26:1 , and where we find he settled, Genesis 26:6 , though the land of Canaan in general might be here intended. That there were serious and important reasons why Isaac should not go to Egypt, we may be fully assured, though they be not assigned here; it is probable that even Isaac himself was not informed why he should not go down to Egypt. I have already supposed that God saw trials in his way which he might not have been... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 26:4

I will make thy seed - as the stars of heaven - A promise often repeated to Abraham, and which has been most amply fulfilled both in its literal and spiritual sense. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 26:5

Abraham obeyed my voice - מימרי meimeri , my Word. See Genesis 15:1 . My charge - משמרתי mishmarti , from שמר shamar , he kept, observed, etc., the ordinances or appointments of God. These were always of two kinds: Such as tended to promote moral improvement, the increase of piety, the improvement of the age, etc. And Such as were typical of the promised seed, and the salvation which was to come by him. For commandments, statutes, etc., the reader is particularly... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 26:2

Verse 2 2.And the Lord appeared unto him. I do not doubt but a reason is here given why Isaac rather went to the country of Gerar than to Egypt, which perhaps would have been more convenient for him; but Moses teaches that he was withheld by a heavenly oracle, so that a free choice was not left him. It may here be asked, why does the Lord prohibit Isaac from going to Egypt, whither he had suffered his father to go? Although Moses does not give the reason, yet we may be allowed to conjecture... read more

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