Genesis 26:17

And Isaac departed thence ,.... At once, peaceably and quietly, though to his loss and disadvantage, without taking himself either to argument or arms, in favour of himself; he departed immediately, as soon as he perceived his abode was disagreeable to the king and his people; which gives us a very agree, able idea of the calm and peaceable disposition of Isaac:

and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there ; at some distance from the city of Gerar, as Jarchi observes. Josephus F7 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 18. sect. 2. says it was not far from it; but how far is not certain; very probably it was not out of the country, though on the borders of it. Some render it, "the brook of Gerar" F8 בנחל גרר "ad torrentem Gerarae", V. L. , and interpret it, that he pitched his tent, and dwelt by it; and the word used does signify a brook as well as a valley; and there was a brook of Gerar, which Sozomen F9 Eccl. Hist. l. 6. c. 32. makes mention of.