Genesis 26:20-22

20 But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek,[a] because they disputed with him.
21 Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah.[b]
22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth,[c] saying, “Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”

Genesis 26:20-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 26

This chapter treats of Isaac's removal to Gerar, occasioned by a famine, Ge 26:1; of the Lord's appearance to him there, advising him to sojourn in that place, and not go down to Egypt; renewing the covenant he had made with Abraham, concerning giving that country to him and his seed, Ge 26:2-6; of what happened unto him at Gerar on account of his wife, Ge 26:7-11; of Isaac's great prosperity and success, which drew the envy of the Philistines upon him, Ge 26:12-15; of his departure from hence to the valley of Gerar, at the instance of Abimelech; and of the contentions between his herdsmen, and those of Gerar, about wells of water, which caused him to remove to Beersheba, Ge 26:16-23; of the Lord's appearance to him there, renewing the above promise to him, where he built an altar, pitched his tent, and his servants dug a well, Ge 26:24,25; of Abimelech's coming to him thither, and making a covenant with him, Ge 26:26-31; which place had its name from the oath then made, and the well there dug, Ge 26:32,33; and lastly, of the marriage of Esau, which was a great grief to Isaac and Rebekah, Ge 26:34,35.

Cross References 6

  • 1. S Genesis 13:7
  • 2. Genesis 21:25
  • 3. S Genesis 13:7
  • 4. Genesis 36:37
  • 5. Psalms 18:19; Isaiah 33:20; Isaiah 54:2; Amos 9:11
  • 6. S Genesis 17:6; Exodus 1:7

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. "Esek" means "dispute."
  • [b]. "Sitnah" means "opposition."
  • [c]. "Rehoboth" means "room."
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