Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI.
1. Isaak because of famine goeth to Gerar; 2, God biddeth him, not goe into Aegypt, but dwell in the land; and promiseth him the blessings of Abraham. 7, Isaak denyeth his wife, 9, Abimelech therefore reproveth him. 12, He groweth rich. 18, Hee diggeth three wels, Esek, Sitnah, and Rechoboth. 23, Abimelech maketh a covenant with him at Beersheba. 34, Esaus wives.
ANd there was a famine, in the land; besides the first famine, which was in the dayes of Abraham: and Isaak went unto Abimelech King of the Philistims unto Gerar. And Iehovah, appeared unto him; and said, Goe not downe into Aegypt: dwell in the land which I shall say unto thee. Sojourne in this land; and I will bee with thee, and will blesse thee: for to thee and to thy seed, will I give all these lands; and I will stablish the oath, which I sware unto Abraham thy father. And I will multiply thy seed, as the starres of the heavens: and will give unto thy seed, all these lands: and in thy seed, all nations of the earth shall blesse themselves. Because that Abraham obeyed my voyce: and kept my charge, my commandements, my statutes and my lawes. And Isaak dwelt, in Gerar. And the men of the place, asked of his wife; and he said, she is my sister: for he feared to say my wife, left the men of the place should kill mee for Rebekah, because shee was of a good countenance. And it was, when the dayes had been prolonged by him there; that Abimelech King of the Philistims, looked out through a window: and saw, and behold Isaak was sporting, with Rebekah his wife. And Abimelech called Isaak, and said, Behold surely she is thy wife; and how saydest thou, she is my sister? And Isaak said unto him; Because I said, lest I dye for her. And Abimelech said; what is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lyen with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought upon us guiltinesse. And Abimelech commanded all the people, saying: he that toucheth this man, or his wife, dying he shall be put to death. And Isaak sowed, in that land; and found in that yeere, an hundred measures: and Iehovah blessed him. And the man waxed-great; and went going-on, and waxing-great; untill hee was waxed-great, exceedingly. And he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and much husbandry: and the Philistims envied him. And all the wells which his fathers servants had digged, in the dayes of Abraham his father: the Philistims stopped them, and filled them with dust. And Abimelech said, unto Isaak: Goe from us, for thou art very-much mightier then we. And Isaak went from thence: and pitched in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. And Isaak returned, and digged the wels of water; which they had digged, in the dayes of Abraham his father, and the Philistims had stopped them, after the death of Abraham: and hee called their names, according to the names that his father had called them. And Isaaks servants digged in the valley: and found there a well of living waters. And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with the herdmen of Isaak, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well, Esek; because they contended with him. And they digged another well; and they strove also for it: and hee called the name of it, Sitnah. And hee removed from thence, and digged another well; and they strove not for it: and he called the name of it, Rechoboth; and hee said, for now Iehovah hath made-roome for us, and we shall be fruitfull in the land. And he went-up from thence, to Beersheba. And Iehovah appeared unto him, the same night; and sayd, I am the God of Abraham thy father: feare not, for I am with thee; and will blesse thee, and multiply thy seed, for my servant Abrahams sake. And hee builded there an altar, and called on the name of Iehovah; and stretched-out there, his tent: and there Isaaks servants digged a well. And Abimelech went unto him, from Gerar: and Achuzzath his friend, and Phicol, the Prince of his army. And Isaak sayd unto them; wherefore come ye unto me: and ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? And they said, Seeing we have seen, that Iehovah is with thee; and we said, Let there now be an oath-of-execration betwixt us, betwixt us and thee; and let us strike a covenant with thee. If thou shalt doe unto vsus evill, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee, but-onelyonly good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou now, the blessed of Iehovah. And he made unto them a banquet; and they did eate and drinke. And they rose early in the morning, and sware ech-man to his brother: and Isaak sent them away, and they went from him, in peace. And it was, the same day; that Isaaks servants came, and shewed unto him, concerning the well which they had digged: & they said unto him, we have found water. And he called it, Shibeah: therfore the name of the Citie, is Beer-sheba, unto this day.
And Esau was fourty yeeres old; and he tooke a wife, Iudith; the daughter of Beeri, a Chethite: and Basemath, the daughter of Elon, a Chethite. And they were, a bitternesse of spirit: to Isaak, and to Rebekah.
Annotations.
FIrst famine] whereof see Gen. 12. 10. Abimelech] of whom see Gen. 20. 1. 2. &c. which history is to be compared with this.
Vers. 2. Aegypt] as Abraham did, Gen. 12. 10. and whither it seemeth Isaak was purposing to go.
Vers. 3. this land] of Canaan, the land of promise, and figure of the place of heavenly rest; see the notes on Gen. 12. 5. So by David hee exhorteth, Dwell in the land, and feed on faith, Psalm. 37. 3. See Gen. 37. 1. I will be] the Chaldee expoundeth it, my word shall be an helpe unto thee: so in vers. 24. and 28. these lands] or countries, possessed by so many nations, Gen. 15. 19. 20. 21. so Psalm. 105. 44. The Greeke translateth singularly, land; and so was the promise made to Abraham, Gen. 13. 15. and 15. 18. and 17. 8. see the notes there. stablish the oath] that is, performe the promises: sworne, Gen. 22. 16. 17.
Vers. 4. starres] that is, innumerable: see Genes. 15. 5. seed] meaning Christ: Gal. 3. 16. 8. blesse themselves] or as the Greeke translateth, shall be blessed, see Gen. 22. 18.
Vers. 5. charge] Hebr. keeping, or observation: that is, ordinances to be kept. So in Lev. 8. 35. and 22. 9. Deut. 11. 1. lawes] for this word, elsewhere the Scripture saith, judgements, Deut. 11. 1. and 5. 1. 31. and 6. 1. 20. and 7. 11. and 8. 11. &c. and under these three particulars, the whole charge or custody forespoken of, is comprehended; as afterward by Moses God gave the ten commandements, or morall precepts, Exod. 20. Iudgements, or judiciall lawes for punishing transgressors, Exod. 21. &c. and Statutes, or rules, ordinances and decrees for the service of God, Lev. 3. 17. and 6. 18. 22. Exod. 12. 24. & 27. 31. & 29. 9. & 30. 21. Al which Abraham observed, and is commended of God therefore.
Vers. 7. my sister] He imitateth his father Abrahams practice, Gen. 12. 11. 12. 13. and 20. 2. kill me] Moses expresseth this as Isaaks owne words of himselfe. The Greeke translateth it, should kill him: so elsewhere that version changeth the person, for more easie order of speech, and understanding to the reader. See Psal. 144. 12. good countenance] elsewhere it is faire of countenance, (or visage) Gen. 12. 11. so the Greek turneth it here: and before, good is used for faire, or goodly, Gen. 24. 16.
V. 8. by him] or to him: that is, when he had beene, a long time there. sporting] or laughing, playing, rejoycing: it is the word whereof Isaak himselfe had his name, Gen. 17. 17. 19. and 21. 6. Solomon saith, Rejoyce with the wife of thy youth, &c. Prov. 5. 18. 19
Vers. 10. might lightly] or, had almost lyen. guiltinesse] a sinne making us guiltie of punishment, a shamefull crime: named in Hebrew Asham: the Greeke translateth it Ignorance: and so Paul calleth the sinnes of the people Ignorances, or ignorant trespasses, Heb. 9. 7. rightly so gathered from Levit. 4. 22. See the further explication of this word, there. Abimelech by this word Asham, meaneth both the sin and the punishment for the same; as in the law, Asham, is both the Guilty-sin, and the Sacrifice for the same, Lev. 5. 5. 6.
Vers. 11. toucheth] that is, hurteth, or injureth: so in vers. 29. and in Ios. 9. 19. Ruth 2. 9. Iob 1. 11. Psal. 105. 15. Zach. 2. 8. or] Hebr. and: which is often used for or, as is observed on Gen. 13. 8. dying] that is, he shall surely be put to death: as Gē. 2. 17
Vers. 12. 100 measures] that is, as the Chaldee explaineth it, a hundred for one when he measured it: or an hundred, may meane many: as an hundred fold, Matth. 19. 29. is elsewhere called manifold more, Luke 18. 23. The word Shegnarim, signifieth publicke measures, such as were used at the gates of cities, which were full and large. And this increase, (which is the most that our Saviour speaketh of in Matth. 13. 23.) sheweth the fruitfulnesse of the land of Canaan when God blessed it; and figured the bountifull reward which the godly sha l find of their labours, in the heavenly country, which we seeke, Gal. 6. 7. 8. 9. Heb. 11. 14. 16. The fruitfulnesse of Canaan, signified also the graces of the Gospel, Ezek. 34. 27. Zac. 8. 12. Ps. 67. 7. blessed him] & his blessing maketh rich, Pro. 10. 22. Iob 42. 12. This the next words of Isaak do also confirm.
Vers. 14. possession] or cattell: so Gen. 47. 17. husbandry] so also the Greeke turneth it georgia. It implieth all manner worke and service belonging to a family; and so servants, and tillage of all sorts. The like is said of Iob, Iob 1. 3. envied] had an envious zeale and emulation. So Solomon saw how all labour and rightnesse of worke, brought envy to a man from his neighbour, Eccles. 4. 4.
Vers. 15. with dust] or earth, as the Greeke translateth. This also they enviously did against their oath before, Gen. 21. 30. 31. And this injury was great, because of scarcity of waters there, Gen. 21. 25. It figured out the corrupting of the cleare doctrines of the gospell, by earthly glosses and traditions of Antichristians. Psal. 65. 10. and 84. 7. Song 4. 15. Num. 21. 16. 18. Iohn 4. 10. 14.
Vers. 17. pitched] to weer, his tents: or, encamped. A word used for pitching of camps or armies, Exod. 14. 9. and 15. 27. &c. applyed first here to Isaaks family, afterwards to Iakobs, Gen. 33. 18. and so to his posterity. And betokeneth a residing, or quiet sitting: opposed to removing, or journying, Num. 1. 50. 51. 52. and 9. 17. 18. The Chaldee translateth it dwelled.
Vers. 18. returned and digged] that is, as the Greek explaineth it, againe digged. Figuring the restoring of the ancient truth, out of corruption: as v. 15. their names] so renewing the ancient good names (that caried, as seemeth, the memoriall of Gods graces) which the wicked had defaced: as on the contrary, the idolatrous names of places, on which the heathens had set the memoriall of false gods and superstition, were by the Israelites changed, when they came into their possession, Num. 32. 38. for the very names of idols, are not to be heard out of our mouthes, Exod. 23. 13. Psal. 16. 4.
Vers. 19. the valley] of Gerar, as the Greeke yersion doth expresse. living] that is, as the Chaldee here translateth, springing waters. Waters that spring or runne, are for their continuall motion, called living, Levit. 14. 5. 50. and 15. 13. Num. 19. 17. Song 4. 15. For life consisteth in continuall motion. The Greeke keepeth the Hebrew phrase: and so in the New Testament, where living waters, signifie heavenly graces, Iohn 4. 10. 11. 14. and 7. 38. Rev. 21. 6. and 22 1.
Vers. 20. ours] or (belonging) to us: the Greeke changeth the person, saying that the water was theirs. So ver. 7. Ezek] that is, Contention, or wrongfull strife: Wrangling, the Greeke translateth, Injurie, because they injuried him.
Vers. 21. Sitnah] that is, Hatred, or Spitefulnesse. Of this the devill hath his name, Satan.
Vers. 22. Rechoboth] that is, Roomths; or large spaces. Compare Psalm. 4. 2. in distresse thou hast made roomth for me.
Vers. 24. feare not] for the opposition of the Philistims, and other afflictions that are incident unto thee. So God comforted Abraham, Gen. 15 1.
Vers. 25. called on] the Chaldee saith, prayed: so did Abraham his father, Gen. 12. 7. 8. and 13. 4. 18. … stretched out] that is, set up, or pitched his tent, as the Greeke explaineth it, which was with spreading and stretching out the curtaines and cords unto stakes, Esa. 33. 20.
Vers. 26. Achuzzath his friend] or, aretinue of his friends: and so the Chaldee translateth it, a company of his friends: but the Greeke takes it for a proper name, Ochozath; and his friend, the Greek calleth nymphagogos, which is the companion (or leader) of the bridegroome; like that in Iudg. 14. 20. which the Greek there translateth as this here. Prince] that is, Chiefe captaine: in Greeke, the Chiefe leader of the army, as in Gen. 21. 22. with which this history is to bee compared. Isaaks wayes pleasing the Lord; he made his enemies to be at peace with him: as Prov. 16. 7.
Vers. 28. Seeing &c.] that is, wee have evidently seene. Iehovah] the Chaldee expounds it, the word of the Lord is thine helpe. an oath-of-execration] in Greeke, a curse? that is, an oath wishing a curse to the breaker of it: as Gen. 24. 41. The Chaldee paraphraseth thus, Let the oath now be confirmed, which was betweene our fathers; and betweene us and thee. strike] Hebr. … foe Gen. 15. 18.
Vers. 29. If thou shalt] understand, Taking a curse upon thee, if thou shalt: meaning, that thou shalt not (or wi…) doe evill, as the Greeke explaineth it. See Gen 21. 23. touched] that is, hurt, as v. 11. blessed] see Gen. 24. 31. An imperfect speech, as if he should say, O thou blessed of the Lord, doe thou likewise deale with us: or, as thou art now blessed of the Lord, so sweare unto us by him. The Greeke translateth, and now thou art the blessed of the Lord.
Vers. 30. a banquet] used when men made covenants together, Gen. 31. 54.
Vers. 31. man to his brother] that is, one to another: the Greeke saith, man to his neighbour.
Vers. 33. Shibeah] in Greeke Horkos; in English, Oath. Beersheba] that is, the well of the oath: as the Greeke also interprets it. This name was given before, Gen. 21. 31. It seemeth in tract of time the name was forgotten, the rather because the well then digged by Abraham, (vers. 30.) was by the Philistims stopped, Gen. 26. 15. and they would therefore have no such monument: but Isaak now reneweth the name. Or here the citie is named Beersheba; there the place, Gen. 21. 3. that is, the whole region.
Vers. 34. old] Hebr. sonne. This also was the age of his father Isaak when he maried, Gen. 25. 20. Iudith] one of the daughters of the Canaanites, called by another name, Gen. 36. 2. see the annotations there. This fact was contrary to Abrahams charge, Gen. 24. 3. and his father Isaaks, as is likely by vers. 35. and Gen. 28. 2. 6. 8. a Chethite] in Greeke, an Evite: see Gen. 36. 2. These were of the worst sort of people in the land, Ezek. 16. 3.
Vers. 35. a bitternesse of spirit] that is, a griefe of mind, through their bitter provocation and rebellious cariage: so that they were yrked of their life by reason of them, Gen. 27. 46. Or, of a rebellious spirit, resisting their parents. This latter the Greeke followeth, calling them Contentious with Isaak and Rebekah: and the Chaldee saith, they were rebellious and stubborne against the word of Isaak and Rebekah: unto which the Ierusalemy Thargum addeth, that they served (God) with strange service (that is, idolatry) and received not the instruction either of Isaak or of Rebekah. See Gen. 27. 46.