Genesis 26

PLUS
Chapter 26

26:1 And there was a famine in the a land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

(a) In the land of Canaan.
26:2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, b Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
(b) Gods providence always watches to direct the ways of his children.
26:5 Because that Abraham c obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
(c) He commends Abrahams obedience, because Isaac should be even more ready to follow the same: for as God made this promise of his free mercy, so does the confirmation of it proceed from the same fountain.
26:7 And the men of the place asked [him] of his wife; and he said, She [is] my sister: d for he feared to say, [She is] my wife; lest, [said he], the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she [was] fair to look upon.
(d) By which we see that fear and distrust is found in the most faithful.
26:8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac [was] e sporting with Rebekah his wife.
(e) Or showing some familiar sign of love, by which it might be known that she was his wife.
26:10 And Abimelech said, What [is] this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought f guiltiness upon us.
(f) In all ages men were persuaded that Gods vengeance would come on adulterers.
26:14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines g envied him.
(g) The malicious always envy the graces of God in others.
26:17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the k valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
(k) The Hebrew word signifies a flood, or valley, where water at any time runs.
26:24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I [am] the God i of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I [am] with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abrahams sake.
(i) God assures Isaac against all fear by rehearsing the promise made to Abraham.
26:25 And he builded an x altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaacs servants digged a well.
(x) To signify that he would serve no other God, but the God of his father Abraham.
26:29 l That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou [art] now the blessed of the LORD.
(l) The Hebrews in swearing begin commonly with "If" and understand the rest, that is, that God will punish him who breaks the oath: here the wicked show that they are afraid lest that happen to them which they would do to others.