Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 26
Matthew Henry Commentary
Genesis 26
Matthew Henry Commentary
Genesis 26
"And there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines, unto Gerar. And Jehovah appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt. Dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee. For unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father. And I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these lands. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." — Genesis 26:1-5 (ASV)
Isaac had been trained in a believing dependence on the Divine grant of the land of Canaan to him and his heirs; and now that there is a famine in the land, Isaac still holds fast to the covenant. The real worth of God's promises cannot be lessened for a believer by any adverse providences that may befall him.
If God engages to be with us, and we are where He wants us to be, nothing but our own unbelief and distrust can prevent our comfort.
The obedience of Abraham to the Divine command was evidence of that faith by which, as a sinner, he was justified before God, and the effect of that love by which true faith works. God testifies that He approved this obedience to encourage others, especially Isaac.
"And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. And the men of the place asked him of his wife. And he said, She is my sister. For he feared to say, My wife. Lest, [said he], the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah. Because she was fair to look upon. And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife. And how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die because of her. And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? One of the people might easily have lain with thy wife, and thou wouldest have brought guiltiness upon us. And Abimelech charged all the people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death." — Genesis 26:6-11 (ASV)
There is nothing in Isaac's denial of his wife to be imitated, nor even excused. The temptation of Isaac is the same as that which overcame his father, and that in two instances. This rendered his conduct the greater sin.
The falls of those who are gone before us are so many rocks on which others have split; and the recording of them is like placing buoys to save future mariners.
This Abimelech was not the same who lived in Abraham's days, but both acted rightly. The sins of professors shame them before those who are not themselves religious.
"And Isaac sowed in that land, and found in the same year a hundredfold. And Jehovah blessed him. And the man waxed great, and grew more and more until he became very great. And he had possessions of flocks, and possessions of herds, and a great household. And the Philistines envied him. Now all the wells which his father`s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped, and filled with earth. And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us. For thou art much mightier than we. And Isaac departed thence, and encamped in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there." — Genesis 26:12-17 (ASV)
God blessed Isaac. It should be observed, for the encouragement of poor tenants who occupy other people's lands and are honest and industrious, that God blessed him with a great increase.
The Philistines envied Isaac. This is an example of the vanity of the world, for the more people have of it, the more they are envied and exposed to censure and injury. It is also an example of the corruption of nature, for that is an evil principle indeed which makes people grieve at the good of others.
They made Isaac leave their country. The wisdom that comes from above will teach us to give up our right and to withdraw from conflicts. If we are wrongfully driven from one place, the Lord will make room for us in another.
"And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father. For the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. And he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. And Isaac`s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. And the herdsmen of Gerar strove with Isaac`s herdsmen, 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 for that also. And he called the name of it Sitnah. And he removed from thence, and digged another well. And for that they strove not. And he called the name of it Rehoboth. And he said, For now Jehovah hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. And Jehovah appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father. Fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham`s sake. And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of Jehovah, and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac`s servants digged a well." — Genesis 26:18-25 (ASV)
Isaac met with much opposition in digging wells. Two were called Contention and Hatred. See the nature of worldly things: they cause quarrels and are occasions of strife. This is often the lot of the most quiet and peaceable people; those who avoid striving, yet cannot avoid being contended with.
And what a mercy it is to have plenty of water; to have it without striving for it! The more common this mercy is, the more reason to be thankful for it.
At length, Isaac dug a well for which they did not strive. Those who endeavor to be quiet seldom fail to be so.
When men are false and unkind, God is still faithful and gracious; and His time to show Himself so is when we are most disappointed by men.
The same night that Isaac came weary and uneasy to Beer-sheba, God brought comforts to his soul. Those may move with comfort who are sure of God's presence.
"Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his host. And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore are ye come unto me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? And they said, We saw plainly that Jehovah was with thee. And we said, Let there now be an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee, that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace. Thou art now the blessed of Jehovah. And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another. And Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac`s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water. And he called it Shibah. Therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this day." — Genesis 26:26-33 (ASV)
When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7). Kings' hearts are in his hands, and when he pleases, he can turn them to favour his people. It is not wrong to stand upon our guard in dealing with those who have acted unfairly. But Isaac did not insist on the unkindnesses they had done him; he freely entered into friendship with them. Religion teaches us to be neighbourly and, as far as it depends on us, to live peaceably with all people. Providence smiled upon what Isaac did; God blessed his labours.
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