Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI.
Verse 1. BEsides the first famine] Ch 12. 10.
Unto Gerar] From the Well Lahai-roi, ch. 25. 11. near Beersheba, ch 21▪ 14. 33. 34.
V. 2. Into Egypt] As thy father did, and by his example thou mindest to do.
V. 3. I will give] To thee as a sojourner, to thy posterity as owners, by way of propriety, possession and hereditary right.
all these countreyes] Possessed by so many Nations, ch 15. 18, 19, 20, 21.
to Abraham thy father] Thy self being present, ch. 22. 17, 18.
V. 4. Stars] See Annot. on ch 15.
Seed] Meaning Christ, Gal. 3. 6, 18.
V. 5. Because that Abraham obeyed] On mans part there are conditions required, and by the assistance of Gods grace performed and graciously accepted, and mentioned as if there were some causality in them, for Gods acceptance and performance of his part ch. 22. 16. See the Annotat.
V. 6. And Isaac dwelt in Gerar] Where he was borne, ch. 20. 1. 21. 2.
V. 7. She is my sister] As his father did through frailty, ch. 12. 13, 19. 20. 2, 5, 12, 13. This true in a sense, as, Jer. 3. 7, 9. Ezech. 16. 46. Mat. 12. 50. Rom. 16 1. 1 Cor. 7. 15. Jam. 2 15. But untrue in their intent.
V. 8. Looked out] As David saw Bathsheba, 2 Sam. 11. 2.
sporting] Deut. 24. 5. Prov 5. 18, 19.
V. 9. Of a surety she is thy wife] So holy and unblameable was Isaacs life, that worse then this Abimelech never suspected.
V. 10. What is this] By this passionate expostulation he sheweth, how greatly adultery, if not, dissimulation too, were condemned by heathen morality, ch. 20. 9.
guiltinesse] Both sin and punishment, Lev. 5. 5, 6.
V. 11. Toucheth] So, v. 29. ch. 20. 6. Josh 9. 19. Ruth 2. 9. Ps. 105. 15. Prov. 6. 29. Zech. 2. 8.
V. 12. An hundred fold] Mat. 3 8, 23.
V. 14. Envied him] Eccl. 4 4. Ps… 2 10 Job 5. 2.
V. 15. The Philistines had stopped] Contrary to Covenant and Oath, ch. 21. 30, 31.
V. 17. Valley of Gerar] V. 6.
V. 18. After the names by which his father] Renewing the ancient good names, and altering idolatrous names, Numb 32. 38. The names of idols are not to be heard out of our mouthes, Ex. 23. 13. Ps. 16. 4. Deut. 12. 3. Hos. 2. 17.
V. 21. Sitnah] Hatred or spight. Hence Satan hath his name.
V. 23. To Beersheba] The famine being ended, he returned to the place whence the famine had driven him, the place of his fathers dwelling. See, Annot. on v. 1. and on ch. 21. 31.
V. 24. And the Lord appeared.] As it seems to comfort him against the envious dealings of the Philistines. So, ch. 15. 1.
the God of Abraham] Therefore Abraham lives in soul, Mat. 22. 32.
V. 25. An Altar] Ch. 12. 7, 8. 13. 4, 18.
V. 26, Then Abimelech] As, ch. 21. v. 22. &c. These may be those same men. This history is to be compared with that.
Ahuzzath] More then in ch. 21. v. 22.
V. 27. Seeing ye hate me] Prov. 16 7.
V. 28. And they said] See Annotat. on chap. 21. 22, 23.
an oath] And execration▪ as, ch. 24. 41.
V. 29. That thou wilt] With a curse if thou shalt, so, ch. 21. 23. in the margin.
the blessed] Ch. 24. 31. This is spoken to further the Peace▪ and Covenant desired.
V. 30 Feast] Used at Covenants, ch. 31 54.
V. 32. Concerning the Well] V. 25.
V. 33, S…ebah] Oath.
Beersheba] Ch. 21. 31 Here the name of the City. This Well was formerly so called by Abraham, ch. 21. 31. But having been stopped by the Philistines, and now opened again by Isaacs servants, the old name is again imposed upon the same occasion.
V. 34. Fourty years old] He married thirty six yeares before Jacob. At fourty years old also Isaac married, chap. 25. 20.
Judith] Esaus wives and their fathers had several names, Gen. 36. 2. Both Hittites the worst sort of Canaanites, Ezech. 16. 3. contrary to the cares and commands of his father, mother and grandfather, ch. 24. 3. and v. 35. of this chapter, and ch 27 46. and ch. 28. 1, 6, 8.