Genesis 26 tells the story of Isaac, the son of Abraham, and his encounters in the land of Gerar. As a famine struck the land, Isaac sought refuge in Gerar, where he was advised by God not to go to Egypt. In Gerar, he introduced himself as Sarah’s brother, fearing for his life due to the beauty of his wife, Rebekah.
While residing in Gerar, Isaac experienced a familiar situation to his father: a king, Abimelech, also took interest in Rebekah and confronted Isaac about their relationship. Isaac admitted the truth, and Abimelech warned his people not to harm Isaac or Rebekah. Isaac then sowed crops and reaped a hundredfold harvest, prospering greatly in the land.
As Isaac’s possessions and wealth grew, the Philistines became envious and stopped up the wells dug by Abraham, filling them with dirt. Isaac persisted and dug new wells, but the Philistines claimed them as their own. Isaac moved on and dug another well, which was not contested, so he named it Rehoboth, saying, “For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”
Finally, Isaac made a covenant with Abimelech, ensuring peace between them. They held a feast together, and the next morning, Abimelech and his company departed in peace. Isaac continued to prosper, and the chapter concludes with him setting up camp at Beersheba.
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