Genesis 26:29

29 that we maintain friendly relations. We haven't bothered you in the past; we treated you kindly and let you leave us in peace. So - God's blessing be with you!"

Genesis 26:29 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 26:29

That thou wilt do us no hurt
Neither to our persons nor properties, to our kingdom and subjects, by invading our land, and seizing on our kingdom, all which was feared from Isaac's growing wealth and power: as we have not touched thee;
not done the least injury to him, to his person, family, and substance, but suffered him to go away with all he had untouched: and as we have done unto thee, nothing but good;
by royal authority, or by the command and direction of the king and his nobles; for as for the stopping up the wells his father's servants had dug, and the controversy that was about those in the vale, and the trouble Isaac had on that account, these things were not by the order of the king and council, and perhaps without their knowledge: and have sent thee away in peace;
no one being suffered to do any injury to him, or molest him in carrying off everything that belonged unto him: thou [art] now blessed of the Lord;
so it appeared by the prosperity he was attended with, and by the Lord's protection of him, and the constant and continual favours he was bestowing on him; and this induced Abimelech and his nobles to seek to cultivate friendship, and be on good terms with him. De Dieu gives a different sense of these words, and considers them in the form of an oath or imprecation,

``if thou shouldest do us any hurt, seeing we have not touched thee be thou now accursed of the Lord,''
taking the word used in a contrary sense, as in ( Job 1:5 Job 1:10 ) ( Job 2:5 Job 2:9 ) ( 1 Kings 21:10 1 Kings 21:13 ) .

Genesis 26:29 In-Context

27 Isaac asked them, "Why did you come to me? You hate me; you threw me out of your country."
28 They said, "We've realized that God is on your side. We'd like to make a deal between us - a covenant
29 that we maintain friendly relations. We haven't bothered you in the past; we treated you kindly and let you leave us in peace. So - God's blessing be with you!"
30 Isaac laid out a feast and they ate and drank together.
31 Early in the morning they exchanged oaths. Then Isaac said good-bye and they parted as friends.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.