Genesis 26:4

_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 26:4. _I WILL MAKE THY SEED - AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN_] A promise often repeated to Abraham, and which has been most amply fulfilled both in its _literal_ and _spiritual_ sense....

- 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;...

AND I WILL MAKE THY SEED TO MULTIPLY AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN,.... Meaning in the line of Jacob especially, if not only; from whom sprung twelve patriarchs, the heads of so many tribes, which in process of time became very numerous, even as the stars of heaven: AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THY SEED ALL THESE COUNTRIES; which is repeated from Genesis 26:3 for the greater confirmation of it: AND IN THY SEED SHALL ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED; meaning in the Messiah that should spring from him, see Genesis 22:18....

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.

STARS. Figure of speech _Paroemia._ App-6....

_as the stars of heaven_ See note on Genesis 13:1-6; cf. Genesis 15:5; Genesis 22:17. _be blessed_ R.V. marg. rightly, _bless themselves_. See Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18....