26:1 a famine in the land The second recorded famine in Genesis. An earlier famine had forced Abraham to travel to Egypt.

Famines in the Bible Table

Abraham See note on 11:26; and note on 17:5.

Isaac See note on 17:19.

Abimelech This name could be a title and is fairly common, thus this is not necessarily the exact same king Abraham earlier encountered (ch. 20), although it could be. See note on 21:32; compare note on 20:2.

26:2 appeared This could indicate that God appeared in visible form to Isaac, as He did with Abraham at times (ch. 18; see note on 12:7). God coming to Isaac confirms his status as the recipient of the covenant promises given to his father (see 12:1–3; 15).

Theophany in the Old Testament

Old Testament Theophanies Table

in the land The covenant promises are tied to the land of Canaan, where Isaac currently lives. Here, God’s words echo Abraham’s earlier concern—that Isaac not leave the land (24:6, 8).

26:3 I will give all these lands God repeats His promise of land—which He gave to Abraham—to Isaac (12:1–3; 15:1–21). This language clearly connects the land with the promises of the Abrahamic covenant.

Covenants in the Old Testament Table

26:4 I will multiply your descendants God repeats the promise of numerous offspring He gave to Abraham (12:1–3; 15:1–21).

the stars of heaven See note on 15:5.

will be blessed Refers to the promise given in 12:3—the first covenantal exchange between God and Abraham (12:1–3).

26:5 Abraham listened to my voice The covenantal relationship with Abraham was, at least in some respect, conditioned on Abraham’s righteousness, specifically his keeping the sign of the covenant (circumcision; see 17:10–14, 23–27; 21:4) and his obedience to the command to sacrifice Isaac (see ch. 22). The covenant relationship described in ch. 15 was formalized and unilateral (one-sided), but this phrase indicates that righteous obedience was also necessary. See note on 12:2.

26:6 Gerar A Canaanite city in the western Negev.

26:7 sister As Abraham had done twice (12:13–19; 20:2–5), Isaac tells foreign men that Rebekah is his sister. Isaac encountered foreigners, since Gerar was on the border.

will kill me Isaac’s motive for falsehood echoes Abraham’s motive: fear for his life. However, Rebekah is not abducted like Sarah was.

26:8 through the window The Philistine king’s ability to look out his window and see Isaac and Rebekah behaving as more than brother and sister indicates that Isaac not only lived in the city, but he lived in close proximity to the king’s residence.

was fondling The Hebrew word used here, metsacheq, is a wordplay on the name Isaac (yitschaq). The king’s reaction, however, suggests that whatever Isaac and Rebekah were doing was not mere laughter (v. 9).

26:14 sheep Abraham was also described as wealthy (13:2, 5–6).

26:17 the valley of Gerar This location was the same region that Abraham formerly occupied (21:34), since Isaac re-digs the wells of his father that the Philistines closed up.

26:20 the herdsmen of Gerar Isaac’s conflict with the herdsmen of Gerar echoes Abraham’s with the Philistine herdsmen (21:19–30).

Esek The Hebrew word eseq means “contention.”

26:21 Sitnah The Hebrew word for “enmity” (sitnah) is also used in Ezra 4:6 in the context of a formal legal accusation.

26:22 Rehoboth Located roughly 20 miles southwest of Beer-sheba.

26:23 to Beersheba Where Isaac went with Abraham after nearly being sacrificed (Gen 22).

26:24 Yahweh appeared to him God appears to Isaac at Beer-sheba—as he did with Abraham—continuing the pattern of divine appearance for covenant approval or commissioning (see 12:7). Years later, Jacob stops at Beer-sheba on his way to Egypt to offer a sacrifice (46:1).

26:26 Phicol The same commander who accompanied Abimelech when the treaty with Abraham was made (21:32).

26:29 blessed by Yahweh God has fulfilled His promise to bless Isaac if Isaac would remain in the land during the famine and not go down to Egypt (v. 3).

26:33 Sheba The name of the well (shiv'ah in Hebrew) sounds like the Hebrew term for “oath” (sheva). Sheva was part of the name Beer-sheba—the place of this covenant and the earlier one between Abimelech and Abraham (v. 23; see 21:31 and note).

Covenants in the Old Testament Table

26:34 forty years old If Esau is 40, Isaac would now be 100 years old (25:20, 26). This indication of age provides context for 27:1, where Isaac is aged and blind.

Judith Nothing else is known of her; she does not appear in the list of Esau’s wives (36:2–3).

the Hittite See note on Ezek 23:3.

Basemath The Hebrew term used here often is used for a spice. It may indicate involvement with the spice trade.

26:35 they made life bitter Marrying outside the clan (and therefore the divinely chosen lineage) reflects Esau’s indifference to the covenant with Yahweh, as did the surrendering of his birthright (Gen 25:29–33).