Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 26

1 AND there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham: and Isaac went unto Abimelech King of the Philistines unto Gerar.

Not he mentioned Gen. 20. 2. but most probably his son and successour called by his Fathers name.

Marginal references: Chap. 12. 10.; Chap. 26. 1.

2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt , dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of.

Whither it seems Isaac intended to go, it being a very fruitful place, and being incouraged to do so by his Fathers example upon the same occasion. But God saw good reasons to forbid Isaac to go thither, which it is needless to enquire, and not difficult to conjecture.

3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee: for unto thee, and unto thy seed I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father.

To thee, to enjoy for thy present comfort, and to them to possess as an inheritance. See the notes on Gen. 13. 15. and 15. 18.

(i. e.) The promises confirmed by Oath. Gen. 22. 16, &c.

Marginal references: Chap. 13. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. and 15. 1[illegible: 1+ letters].; Chap. 22. 16.

5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice , and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my Laws.

Here was a covenant made between God and Abraham: and as if Abraham had broken the condition of walking before God required on his part, God had been discharged from the promise made on his part; so contrarily, because Abraham performed his condition, God engageth himself to perform his promise to him and to his seed. But as that promise and covenant was made by God of meer grace, as is evident and confessed, so the mercies promised and performed to him and his, are so great and vast that it is an idle thing to think they could be merited, by so mean a compensation as Abrahams obedience, which was a debt that he owed to God, had there been no such covenant or promise made by God, and which also was an effect of Gods graces to him and in him.

8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech King of the Philistines looked out of a window, and saw, and behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife .

Using more free and familiar carriage then became a Brother and Sister, but such as was allowable between Husband and Wife: See Deut. 24. 5. Prov. 5. 18, 19. But that this was not the conjugal act may easily be gathered from the circumstances of the time, and place, which was open to Abimelechs view, and therefore that was not consistent either with Isaacs modesty, or with his prudence, because he would not have her thought to be his Wife.

10 And Abimelech said, what is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife , and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us .

Because the Heathens esteemed Fornication either no sin or a very little one.

The guilt of Adultery, which was heinous and formidable even amongst the Heathens, and especially here, because it was fresh in memory how forely God had punished Abimelech and all his Family onely for an intention of Adultery, Gen. 20. Note here, they take it for granted, that their ignorance had not been a sufficient excuse for their sin.

Marginal references: Chap. 20. [illegible: 1+ letters].; Heb. sin.

11 And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man, or his wife, shall surely be put to death.

(i. e.) Hurteth or injureth. So that word is used ver. 29. and Ios. 9. 19. Psal. 105. 15. Zech. 2. 8. and being applied to a woman it is used for the defiling or humbling of her, as Gen. 20. 6. Prov. 6. 29.

12 Then Isaac sowed in that land , and received in the same year an hundred fold : and the LORD blessed him.

Either in the grounds which he had hired of the right owners; or in some grounds which lay neglected and therefore were free to the first occupier; which was not strange in that age of the World, when the Inhabitants of Countreys were not so numerous as afterward.

(i. e.) An hundred times as much as he sowed. The same degree of increase is intimated, Mitth. 13. 8. and affirmed sometimes of other places by Heathen Writers, but then it was in a better soil and season then this was; for this was a time of Famine or scarcity.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word].

14 For he had possession of slocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants , and the Philistines envied him.

Or rather, of husbandry, as this word is elsewhere used, of Corn fields, Vineyards, &c. for he is describing his Riches, which then consisted in the two things here expressed, Cattle and lands, which he diligently and successefully managed, ver. 12.

Marginal references: Or, Husbandry.

16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us, for thou art much mightier then we .

Which breeds Envy, and Jealousie, and Fear, among my Subjects, and may occasion greater mischiefs, and therefore it is better that we should part Friends, than by continuing together be turned into Enemies.

Marginal references: Exod. 1. 9.

18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father : for the Philistines had stopped them, after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

For though there might be a brook there, probably it was but little and soon dried up.

He digged those rather than new ones, partly to keep up his Fathers memory, and partly because he had most right to them, and others less cause of quarrel with him about them.

20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaacs herdmen, saying, The water is ours : and he called the name of the well Esek, because they strove with him.

Because▪ digged in our soil: Which was no good argument, because he digged it by their consent or permission at his own charge and for his own use.

Marginal references: That is, contention.

23 And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba .

Where he lived before the famine drave him thence.

26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and A huzzath one of his friends, and Phicol the chief captain of his army.

This may be either 1. The title of an office; for the word signifies, the mouth of all; or he by whom all the people were to present their addresses to the King, and receive the Kings commands. Or 2. The name of a man: and then this might be the Son of him mentioned, G[illegible: 1+ letters]. 21. 32. called by his Fathers name, as Abimelech also was.

29 That thou wilt do us no hurt; as we have not touched thee , and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD .

To wit, so as to injure or hurt thee, as above ver. 11.

Or, O thou who art now the blessed of the Lord, whom God hath inriched with great and manifold blessings, which we did not take away from thee, as we could easily have done, but thou doest still enjoy them; and now art, as thou wert amongst us, the blessed of the Lord. Or, Seeing God hath blessed thee, it will not become thee to curse us, or to bear any grudge against us for that little unkindness which we expressed to thee. Or it may be a wish, if thou makest this covenant with us, be thou now the blessed of the Lord, we heartily wish thy blessings and prosperity may increase.

Marginal references: Heb if [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word], &c.

31 And they arose up betimes in the morning , and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

Partly for the dispatch of their journey and business, and partly because then their minds were most vigorous and sober and fit to perform so sacred an action as an oath was.

33 And he called it Sheba: therefore the name of the City is Beer-sheba unto this day.

This name had been given before either to this or a neighbouring place by Abraham, Gen. 21. 31. But was now buried in oblivion, as his wells were, and the wells being revived, he revives and renews the name, which proved now a lasting name, unto this day, as here follows, which is not added Gen. 21. 31. because then the name though given by Abraham was soon forgotten and neglected by others.

Marginal references: That is, an oath.; That is, the well of the oath.

34. And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite .

Both Hittites, the worst of the Canaanites, Ezek. 16. 3. Which from his Grand-father Abrahams severe charge, Gen. 24. 3. he must needs know would be highly displeasing both to God and to his Parents. And as Esau had several names, being called also Edom and Seir, so it seems these women and their Parents had, by comparing this with Gen. 36. 2. which was usual in those times and places. Or Esau had more Wives then these.

35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac, and to Rebekah .

Because to their Idolatry and other wickedness, they added obstinacy and incorrigibleness, despising their persons and godly counsels whereby they invited them to Repentance.

Marginal references: chap. 27. 46.; Heb. bitterness of spirit.