Genesis 26:27

_THEN ABIMELECH WENT TO HIM FROM GERAR, AND AHUZZATH ONE OF HIS FRIENDS, AND PHICHOL THE CHIEF CAPTAIN OF HIS ARMY._ Then Abimelech went to him. Since there was a lapse of 70 years between the visit of Abraham and of Isaac, the Abimelech and Phichol spoken of must have been different persons' official titles. Kurtz and Tuch think that there is no chronological difficulty in the way of supposing the same Abimelech who covenanted with Abraham entered into a similar compact with Isaac; because as the patriarchs attained to a great age, their contemporaries might be equally distinguished for longevity. And their conjecture, that Abimelech was an aged king, appears to be confirmed by the fact that he did not himself take Rebekah to his harem, but only expressed a fear lest one of the people might have taken liberties with her. AHUZZATH ONE OF THIS FRIENDS. The 'king's friend' is frequently...

27._And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me? _Isaac not only expostulates concerning injuries received, but protests that in future he can have no confidence in them, since he had found in them a disposition so hostile to himself. This passage teaches us, that it is lawful for the faithful to complain of their enemies, in order, if possible, to recall them from their purpose of doing injury, and to restrain their force, frauds, and acts of injustice. For liberty is not inconsistent with patience: nor does God require of his own people, that they should silently digest every injury which may be inflicted upon them, but only that they should restrain their minds and hands from revenge. (41) Now, if their minds are pure and well regulated, their tongues will not be virulent in reproaching the faults of others; but their sole purpose will be to restrain the wicked by a sense of sha...

26-33 When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him, Proverbs 16:7. Kings' hearts are in his hands, and when he pleases, he can turn them to favour his people. It is not wrong to stand upon our guard in dealing with those who have acted unfairly. But Isaac did not insist on the unkindnesses they had done him; he freely entered into friendship with them. Religion teaches us to be neighbourly, and, as much as in us lies, to live peaceable with all men. Providence smiled upon what Isaac did; God blessed his labours....

Verse Genesis 26:27. _SEEING YE HATE ME_] He was justified in thinking thus, because if _they_ did not injure him, they had connived at their servants doing it....

- The Events of Isaac’s Life 5. משׁמרת _mı̂shmeret_, “charge, ordinance.” מציה _mı̂tsvâh_, “command,” special order. חק _choq_, “decree, statute,” engraven on stone or metal. תירה _tôrâh_, “law,” doctrine, system of moral truth. 10. עשׂק _‛__êśeq_, ‘Eseq, “strife.” 21. שׂטנה _śı̂ṭnâh_, Sitnah, “opposition.” 22. רחבית _r__e__chobôt_, Rechoboth, “room.” 26. אחזת...

EXPOSITION GENESIS 26:23 AND HE (viz; Isaac) WENT UP FROM THENCE (Rehoboth, where latterly he had been encamped) TO BEER-SHEBA—a former residence of Abraham (Genesis 21:33), situated "near the water-shed between the Mediterranean and the Salt Sea" (Murphy), hence approached from the low-lying wady by an ascent. GENESIS 26:24 AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM THE SAME NIGHT (_i_._e_. the night of his arrival at Beersheba), AND SAID (in a dream or vision), I (the pronoun is emphatic) AM THE GOD (the Elohim) of Abraham t

AND ISAAC SAID UNTO THEM, WHEREFORE COME YE TO ME,.... What is the meaning of this visit? what has brought you hither? it cannot be from affection and friendship to me: SEEING YE HATE ME, AND HAVE SENT ME AWAY FROM YOU? the latter he mentions as a proof of the former; they envied his prosperity, and hated him on that account, and therefore expelled him their country, or at least would not suffer him to dwell among them; and still more glaring proofs were given of the hatred of the men of Gerar to him, not only by stopping up his father's wells, but by striving and contending with him about those he dug in the valley after he was gone from them; one of which he called "Sitnah", from their hatred of him....

CHAPTER 26 ISAAC IN GERAR _ 1. The famine (Genesis 26:1)_ 2. Jehovah appears unto Isaac (Genesis 26:2) 3. Isaac in Gerar where he denies Rebekah (Genesis 26:6) 4. Isaac's prosperity and the digging of wells (Genesis 26:12) 5. Jehovah appears at Beersheba (Genesis 26:23) 6. Isaac and Abimelech (Genesis 26:26) 7. The wives of Esau ...

GENESIS 26. ISAAC AND THE PHILISTINES. Apart from Genesis 26:34 f. this chapter belongs to J. The original has been expanded in Genesis 26:1, and Genesis 26:15; Genesis 26:18 are harmonistic insertions. Apart from Genesis 26:12 the incidents are parallel to incidents recorded of Abraham. On the relation to the earlier adventures of Sarah in Egypt and Gerar, see Genesis 26:20 *. The incident is misplaced; obviously it is earlier than the birth of Esau and Jacob.

8. _The Covenant with Abimelech_ (Genesis 26:26-33). As Abimelech was the standing title of the Philistine kings, so Phicol seems to have been the standing title of the captain (or general) of the army. (Cf. Genesis 21:22 f.) As there was a lapse of seventy years between the visit of Abraham and of Isaac, the Abimelech and Phicol spoken of must have been different persons-' official titles (CECG, 193). It is fair to conclude that Abimelech was the royal title, just as Pharaoh was in Egypt, and Caesar in Rome. _Phicol_ may also have been a name of office, as _mudir_ or _mushir_ now is in this country. If one of these officers is spoken of, his _name_ is rarely mentioned. I, indeed, never know any but the official title of these Turkish officers (LB, 560). Abimelech brought with h