GENESIS CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX OVERVIEW
Overall what is happening in this chapter is that there is a famine in the land and God instructs Isaac not to go to Egypt: Isaac goes to Gerar instead and starts digging wells.
Thomas Coke (1801) – Genesis 26
Isaac, by God's command, sojourns in Gerar. He conceals his marriage there. The Philistines contend with him about the wells he had dug. Abimelech makes a covenant with him. Esau marries wives of the Canaanites.
Keil & Delitzch (1866) – Genesis 26
The incidents of Isaac's life which are collected together in this chapter, from the time of his sojourn in the south country, resemble in many respects certain events in the life of Abraham; but the distinctive peculiarities are such as to form a true picture of the dealings of God, which were in perfect accordance with the character of the patriarch.
Matthew Henry (1708) – Genesis 26
In this chapter we have:
I. Isaac in adversity, by reason of a famine in the land, which,
1. Obliges him to change his quarters (Genesis 26:1).
2. God visits him with direction and comfort (Genesis 26:2-5).
3. He foolishly denies his wife, being in distress and is reproved for it by Abimelech (Genesis 26:6-11).
II. Isaac in prosperity, by the blessing of God upon him (Genesis 26:12-14). And,
1. The Philistines were envious at him (Genesis 26:14-17).
2. He continued industrious in his business (Genesis 26:18-23).
3. God appeared to him, and encouraged him, and he devoutly acknowledged God (Genesis 26:24-25).
4. The Philistines, at length, made court to him, and made a covenant with him (Genesis 26:26-33).
5. The disagreeable marriage of his son Esau was an alloy to the comfort of his prosperity (Genesis 26:34-35).
KEY VERSE
Genesis 26:2 The LORD appeared to him and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you.
KEY PERSON
Isaac meets Abimelech.
KEY EVENT
Isaac digs wells.
KEY CROSS-REFERENCE
Genesis 21:25 But Abraham complained to Abimelech because of the well of water which the servants of Abimelech had seized.
Striving over wells was continuous.
KEY QUOTE
“We should deny ourselves both in our right and in our conveniences, rather than quarrel: a wise and a good man will rather retire into obscurity, like Isaac here into a valley, than sit high to be the butt of envy and ill-will.” Matthew Henry
