Genesis 26:3

_AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM, AND SAID, GO NOT DOWN INTO EGYPT; DWELL IN THE LAND WHICH I SHALL TELL THEE OF:_ And the Lord appeared unto him. This was the first divine communication made to Isaac personally. It had been previously announced to Abraham that Isaac was to be his sole heir; and now that, on the death of his father, he had succeeded to the patrimonial inheritance, he was to receive also a renewal of the divine promise which guaranteed special blessings of inestimable value to him and his posterity. The covenant securing these blessings originated entirely in divine grace; but it was suspended on the condition that Abraham should walk before God and be perfect (Genesis 17:1): and since he had, through the grace which had enabled him to attain an extraordinary strength of faith, fully met that condition by an obedience honoured with the strongest expression of

1-5 Isaac had been trained up in a believing dependence upon the Divine grant of the land of Canaan to him and his heirs; and now that there is a famine in the land, Isaac still cleaves to the covenant. The real worth of God's promises cannot be lessened to a believer by any cross providences that may befall him. If God engage to be with us, and we are where he would have us to be, nothing but our own unbelief and distrust can prevent our comfort. The obedience of Abraham to the Divine command, was evidence of that faith, whereby, as a sinner, he was justified before God, and the effect of that love whereby true faith works. God testifies that he approved this obedience, to encourage others, especially Isaac....

Verse Genesis 26:3. _SOJOURN IN THIS LAND_] In Gerar, whither he had gone, Genesis 26:1, and where we find he settled, Genesis 26:6, though the _land of Canaan_ in general might be here intended. That there were serious and important reasons why Isaac should not go to Egypt, we may be fully assured, though they be not assigned here; it is probable that even Isaac himself was not informed why he should not go down to Egypt. I have already supposed that God saw trials in his way which he might not have been able to bear. While a man acknowledges God in all his ways, he will direct all his steps, though he may not choose to give him the reasons of the workings of his providence. Abraham might go safely to Egypt, Isaac...

- 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 26:1 AND THERE WAS A FAMINE IN THE LAND (of Canaan), BESIDE THE FIRST (_i_._e_. first recorded) FAMINE THAT WAS IN THE DAYS OF ABRAHAM—at least a century previous (_vide _Genesis 12:10). AND ISAAC—who, since his father's death, had been residing at Hagar's well in the wilderness of Beersheba (Genesis 25:11)—WENT UNTO ABIMELECH KING OF THE PHILISTINES UNTO GERAR (cf. Genesis 20:1, Genesis 20:2;...

SOJOURN IN THIS LAND,.... The land of Canaan, where he now was; either in Gerar, which though in the land of the Philistines was a part of Canaan, the place of his present residence; or in any other part of it he should be directed to: however, by this it appears it was the pleasure of God that he should not go out of that land, and which Abraham his father was careful of, that he should not while he lived; see Genesis 24:6: AND I WILL BE WITH THEE, AND I WILL BLESS THEE; with his presence; with protection from all enemies; with a supply of all the necessaries of life; and with all spiritual blessings, and with eternal life and happiness: FOR UNTO THEE, AND TO THY SEED, WILL I GIVE THESE COUNTRIES; inhabited at that time by the Philistines, Canaanites, and the several tribes of them: and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham

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.

UNTO THEE. So to each Patriarch: Abraham (Genesis 13:15), Jacob (Genesis 28:13, &c), involving resurrection. See note on Genesis 50:24, and Matthew 22:23....

_sojourn … land_ The temporary dwelling of one who as a stranger had none of the rights of a native inhabitant; so LXX παροίκει; Lat. _peregrinare_. See note on Genesis 23:4, and cf. Hebrews 11:9. _I will be with thee_ See Genesis 26:24; Genesis 21:20; Genesis 28:15. God's Presence is the pledge of man's blessing. _unto thee_, &c. The promises made to Abraham are here renewed to Isaac; see note on Genesis 13:14-17. these l