Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 26:2

"And Jehovah appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt. Dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of." — Genesis 26:2 (ASV)

The Lord appeared unto him.—Only one other time does Jehovah manifest himself to Isaac (Genesis 26:24), and sixty years had now passed since the revelations recorded in Genesis 22:0. Except for Abraham, it was only at rare and distant intervals that God spoke to the patriarchs. The greater part of their lives was spent under the control of the same ordinary Providence that governs our actions now; but on special occasions, God was pleased to confirm their faith in Him in a way not necessary now that the whole counsel of God has been made known to us.