Genesis 26:5

_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

5._Because that Abraham obeyed my voice_. Moses does not mean that Abraham’s obedience was the reason why the promise of God was confirmed and ratified to him; but from what has been said before, (Genesis 22:18,) where we have a similar expression, we learn, that what God freely bestows upon the faithful is sometimes, beyond their desert, ascribed to themselves; that they, knowing their intention to be approved by the Lord, may the more ardently addict and devote themselves entirely to his service: so he now commends the obedience of Abraham, in order that Isaac may be stimulated to an imitation of his example. And although laws, statutes, rites, precepts, and ceremonies, had not yet been written, Moses used these terms, that he might the more clearly show how sedulously Abraham regulated his life according to the will of God alone — how carefully he abstained from all the impurities

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 26:5. _ABRAHAM OBEYED MY VOICE_] מימרי _meimeri_, my WORD. See Genesis 15:1. _MY CHARGE_] משמרתי _misitmarti_, from שמר _shamar_, he kept, observed, c., the _ordinances_ or _appointments_ of God. These were always of two kinds: 1. Such as tended to promote _moral_ _improvement_, the increase of piety, the improvement of the age, c. And 2. Such as were _typical_ of the promised seed, and the salvation which was to come by him. For _commandments, statutes_, c., the reader is particularly desired to refer to Leviticus 16:15, c., where these things are all explained in the alphabetical order of the Hebrew words....

- 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;...

BECAUSE THAT ABRAHAM OBEYED MY VOICE,.... In all things, and particularly in offering up his son at his command: AND KEPT MY CHARGE; whatever was given him in charge to observe; this, as Aben Ezra thinks, is the general, of which the particulars follow: MY COMMANDMENTS, MY STATUTES, AND MY LAWS; whether moral, ceremonial, or civil and judicial; all and everyone which God enjoined him, he was careful to observe. Here seems to be something wanting, for the words are not to be joined with the preceding, as if Abraham's obedience was the cause of the above promises made to Isaac, or to himself: but this is mentioned rather as an example to Isaac, and to stir him up to do the like, as if it was said, because or seeing that Abraham thy father did so and so, do thou likewise....

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.

MY. Repeated. times for emphasis. The No. of Grace. See App-10 VOICE, to be heard and believed (Romans 10:17). CHARGE, to be observed. COMMANDMENTS, to he obeyed. STATUTES, i.e. decrees, to be acknowledged. LAWS, i.e. instructions to be followed....