Genesis 26

Genesis 26:1

IN the land] That is, of Canaan; though it were a fruitfull Land, Gods curse for mans sinne made it unable to feed the Inhabitants.

besides the first] Whereof Chap. 21. Deliverance from afflictions is no assurance that they shall not returne; if men renew their sinnes, God may and will recall his plagues, and punish them againe. See Levit. 26. vers. 15, &c. Psal. 78.

Abimelech King] See Annot. on vers. 26.

Genesis 26:2

not downe into Egypt] Gods providence alwaies watcheth to direct the waies of his children, and to see them provided for in the hardest times, Psalms 37:19. Though Egypt were a very fruitfull place, and Isaac might have a mind to sojourne there as did his father before him, yet he is especially forbidden so to doe, because now God had revealed the captivitie of Abrahams posteritie in that Land, which then he had not done; and that he would have him guided rather by his owne word, then by his fathers example, though that in many things was a good patterne for his practise, as it is proposed to him, vers. 5.

Genesis 26:3

I will be with thee] As God made the promise of his free mercy; so doth the confirmation thereof proceed from the same fountaine.

unto thee] To thee as a sojourner, to thy posteritie as owners by way of propriety, possession, and hereditary right.

Genesis 26:5

Abraham obeyed] He commendeth Abrahams obedience, because Isaac should be more ready to follow him in the like.

because] God makes good his promise, and Covenant out of the same goodnesse that moves him to make it, and that is his own pure grace, not mans merit, Romans 4:4. & Chap. 3. 28. yet on mans part there are conditions required, and by the assistance of his grace performed, and graciously accepted, and mentioned as if there were some causalitie in them for Gods acceptance; not to make man confident in himselfe, but diligent in his dutie to his Maker. So Chap. 22. 16.

my voyce] This varietie of expression commends Abrahams promptnesse, in obeying God in what way soever he was pleased to reveale his will unto him.

Genesis 26:7

she is my sister] In this Isaac followeth the example of his father, Genesis 12:13. not unknowne, though unseene, how needfull it is for parents to take heed of setting an ill example before their children, how apt they are to follow them, rather in evill, then in good; for Abrahams obedience is commended vers. 5. and the first imitation of him that is noted, is in that wherein he should have shunned his example: yet by way, not of defence, (for there was untruth in their intent) but of extenuation; the phrase of the time may be alleadged, which called even strangers by the name of brethren. See Genesis 29:4.

feared to say] Whereby we see that feare, and distrust is found in the best, not as a barren sinne which begets not another, but as a parent of lying: so the terrour of the wrack may be the shipwrack of truth, though used to extort a confession of the truth.

faire] See Annot. on Genesis 12:11.

Genesis 26:8

looked out] This was not shortly, but a good while after they came to Gerar; and it was in the day time, haply in some Garden, where the King having high, and free prospect every way might see them, as David did Bathsheba when she was bathing of her selfe, 2 Samuel 11:2.

sporting] Shewing some familiar signe of love, whereby it might be knowne, or probably supposed she was his wife: the word here used for sporting in the Originall, is neere of kinne to the name of Isaac, signifying laughter, Genesis 21:3. and the very same which is used of Ishmaels mocking of him, vers. 9. of the same Chapter; for the same act may (according to the disposition of the mind) be taken in a good or bad sence; and for the carriage of Isaac, it was some signification of pleasing familiaritie, which might be allowed betwixt man and wife, Deuteronomy 24:5. Proverbs 5:18. but not betwixt a brother and a sister, (though it were not such as was proper for the bed, or for the night, for Isaac and Rebekah had both more grace and modesty then so to behave themselves in the day, where the King might see them) which made Abimelech so confident that she was his wife, and not his sister, as is shewed in the next verse.

Genesis 26:10

What is this that] Abimelech passionately expostulateth with Isaac concerning the deniall of his wife; which sheweth how adultery, and dissimulation were condemned even by heathen moralitie; and shameth the wantonnesse, and wickednesse of such as professing true Religion, make no scruple or conscience to commit such sinnes.

guiltinesse upon us] The act of sinne committed by one may bring a guilt upon others; a guilt with the punishment due unto it; see the Annot. on Chap. 20. vers. 9. In all ages men were perswaded that Gods vengeance should light upon wedlockbreakers.

Genesis 26:11

he that toucheth] (Vers. 29. & Joshua 9:19. Ruth. 2. 9.) That is, he that hurteth or wrongeth them, Psalms 105:15. especially that wrongeth either of them by any immodest or unlawfull touching of his wife. See Genesis 20:6. Proverbs 6:29. 1 Corinthians 7:1.

Genesis 26:12

an hundred fold] An hundred graines for one, or an hundred measures for one; the Septuagint specifie the graine, saying, it was an hundred measures of Barley, haply mistaken by reason of the vicinitie of the word Shegnarim, signifying measures, and Segnorim, signifying Barley, which differ little in the Hebrew letters: the greatest measure which our Saviour mentioneth in the Parable of the seed, Matthew 13:8. is an hundred fold, and though in some extraordinary fruitfull soiles the returne be noted to one hundred and fiftie, three hundred, yea foure hundred for one, Plin. lib 18. cap. 10. yet in such a soile as Isaac tilled, especially in a time of famine, it might be accounted a miraculous fruitfulnesse to receive an hundred for one.

the Lord blessed him] See how, vers. 13, 14, 15. and therewithall, that of Solomon fulfilled, The blessing of the Lord maketh rich, Proverbs 10:22.

Genesis 26:14

servants] Or, husbandry; as in the Margine; that is, much ground for tillage, and many servants to manure it.

envied at him] The prosperitie of the godly is an affliction to the wicked, Psalms 112:10. by their envie at it, for envie slayeth the filly one, Job 5:2.

Genesis 26:15

the Philistim stopped] The hatred of the Religious, and breaking covenant with them by the wicked, is very ancient; yet to defend and plead for breach of faith with the faithfull under the name of Hereticks is an hereticall practice, both new, and naught.

Genesis 26:17

the valley of Gerar] The Hebrew word signifieth a Floud, or valley where water at any time runneth; but because by the confluence of waters in such low places, especially after raine, or snow, the waters runne muddy, there was need of Wels whence it might be drawne more cleare, and better for use, both of man and beast.

Genesis 26:18

digged againe] Because he was sure there was water there, and that he had a right unto it, and in renuing that right, he renued the gratefull memory of his gracious father.

Genesis 26:20

ours] Because it was digged in their ground, yet not theirs in right, because it was digged with consent of the owners.

Genesis 26:23

thence to Beersheba] The famine being ended, he returned to the place whence the famine had driven him.

Genesis 26:24

God of Abraham] God assureth Isaac against all feare by rehearsing the promise made to Abraham, to whom with singular favour he entitles his Godhead, as if he were his God more then any ones; and in that he is called the God of Abraham after the buriall of his body, it is an Argument that he liveth in soule, for God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, Matthew 22:32.

Genesis 26:25

Altar there] (Genesis 13:18.) To signifie that he would serve no other God but the God of his father Abraham.

Genesis 26:26

Abimelech and Phicol] The same names we read of, Genesis 21:22. but whether they be the same men, that there made the covenant with Abraham is uncertain, they might be the same supposing them to be about an hundred yeares of age. But then it is somewhat strange that in this entercourse there is no mention of the accord with Abraham in former times, and that a man so well minded as that Abimelech seemed to be (if he were the same) by his good dealing, first with Abraham, Chap. 20. and since with Isaac, ver. 10, 11. of this Chapter, should deale so injustly with him as to withhold the use of those Wels from his heire, which by a solemne Covenant were his; unlesse envie at his prosperitie (which was such that he desired Isaacs departing from him, vers. 16. and which Isaac interprets as a testimonie of hatred, vers. 27.) should make him become injurious to him; and unlesse wrong were done by his servants without his knowledge, as before is noted in the story of Abraham, Genesis 21:26. it may therefore be another; Abimelech (signifying my father the King) might be an hereditary Title of the Kings of Gerar, as the name Pharaoh was of the Kings of Egypt; and the word Phicol compounded of two Hebrew words, Phi, or Phe, a mouth, or face; and Col, all, the mouth of all, might be a name of office, for a man of publique power, and authority, who was as it were the mouth of all by his speaking in the publique affaires, wherein all were concerned and concluded; or the face on whom every one cast his eyes, as expecting from him counsell, command, or conduct.

went to him] Not out of love for they hated him, vers. 27. but in craft to set upon him if they saw him too feeble for them, and if not, to treat with him upon termes of friendship.

Genesis 26:28

with thee] See Annot. on Vers. 3.

Genesis 26:29

that thou wilt] Heb. if thou shalt, &c. The Hebrews in swearing begin commonly with If, and understand the rest, that is, that God shall punish him that breakes the Oath; as if he that sweareth should say, I sweare to doe thus, and thus, and if I falsifie my oath, let the punishment, or judgement of God light upon me. See Annot on Genesis 14:23.

doe us no hurt] Here the wicked shew that they are afraid lest that come upon them which they would do to others.

Genesis 26:31

betimes] Peace is to be embraced with cheerfulnesse and expedition, and oaths of agreement chiefly to be made fresh and fasting with all reverence and sobrietie.

Genesis 26:33

Beersheba] See Annot. on Chap. 21. 31.

Genesis 26:34

Judith] Esaus wives, and their fathers had severall names, Genesis 36:2. (for he had no more wives of the Canaanites but two) as himselfe had; for he was called Esau, Edom, and Seir. See Annot. on Chap. 25. vers. 25. & 30.

Hittite] Esau married, as his father did, at the age of fourty; but he did not like him in following his fathers mind in the choyce of a wife, for he tooke two for one, two Hittites the worst sort of Canaanites, Ezekiel 16:3. whereas his holy grandfather tooke a solemne oath of his servant to provide a wife for his sonne among his owne kindred, without the Land of Canaan, Genesis 24:3. so that his marriage was not onely without his parents consent, but against their mind, which is lesse respect to both then Ishmael shewed to one, and that one of the weaker sexe; and in condition much more unworthy then either of them.

Genesis 26:35

a griefe] See Annot. on Chap. 27. vers. last.