Genesis 26:1-5

God's Promise to Isaac

1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides 1the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to 2Abimelech king of the 3Philistines.
2 And the LORD appeared to him and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell 4in the land of which I shall tell you.
3 5Sojourn in this land, and 6I will be with you and will bless you, for 7to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish 8the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.
4 9I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And 10in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,
5 because 11Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."

Genesis 26:1-5 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 11

  • 1. Genesis 12:10
  • 2. Genesis 20:2
  • 3. Genesis 21:34
  • 4. Genesis 12:1
  • 5. Genesis 20:1; Hebrews 11:9
  • 6. Genesis 28:15
  • 7. See Genesis 13:15
  • 8. [Micah 7:20]; See Genesis 22:16-18
  • 9. Cited Exodus 32:13; See Genesis 15:5
  • 10. See Genesis 12:3
  • 11. Genesis 22:18
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.