Genesis 26

Isaac and Abimelek

1 A famine hit the land, just like back in Abraham’s day. Isaac moved to Gerar, where King Abimelek of the Philistines was running things.

2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, ‘Do not go to Egypt. Stay in the land I tell you about.’

3 ‘Stay here, and I will bless you. I will give this land to you and your descendants, keeping the promise I made to your father Abraham.’

4 ‘Your descendants will be like the stars in the sky, and through them, all nations on earth will be blessed.’

5 ‘Because Abraham obeyed Me, kept My commands, and followed My instructions.’

Isaac Lies About Rebekah

6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.

7 When the men in the area asked about Rebekah, Isaac said, ‘She is my sister.’ He was scared to say she was his wife, thinking they would kill him to take her because she was so fine.

8 One day, King Abimelek looked out the window and saw Isaac hugging up on Rebekah. He was like, ‘Listen, that is not your sister!’

9 Abimelek called Isaac and said, ‘Man, why did you lie, She is clearly your wife!’ Isaac said, ‘I was scared you all would kill me because of her.’

10 Abimelek said, ‘That is messed up! What if someone had slept with her, You would have brought guilt on all of us!’

11 Then Abimelek warned his people, ‘Anyone who touches this man or his wife is dead.’

Isaac Prospers

12 Isaac planted crops in that land, and in the same year, he reaped a hundredfold because the Lord blessed him.

13 He became super rich. His wealth kept stacking up.

14 He had so many flocks, herds, and servants that the Philistines got jealous.

15 So, they filled up all the wells that Abraham’s servants had dug, blocking them with dirt.

16 Abimelek told Isaac, ‘Listen, you have gotten too powerful. You must leave.’

Isaac Moves Around

17 Isaac packed up and moved to the Valley of Gerar, where he set up shop.

18 He reopened the wells his father Abraham had dug, which the Philistines had blocked after Abraham died. He gave them the same names Abraham had given them.

19 Isaac’s servants dug a well in the valley and found fresh water.

20 But the local herders argued with Isaac’s crew, saying, ‘This water’s ours!’ So Isaac named the well Esek (‘Argument’).

21 They dug another well, but there was more beef over that one too. He named it Sitnah (‘Opposition’).

22 Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time, no one argued. He named it Rehoboth (‘Room’) and said, ‘Now the Lord has given us space to flourish in this land.’

The Lord Appears to Isaac

23 Isaac went to Beersheba.

24 That night, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants because of Abraham.’

25 Isaac built an altar there, called on the Lord’s name, and pitched his tent. His servants dug a well.

Isaac Makes a Treaty with Abimelek

26 Abimelek came to Isaac from Gerar, bringing his advisor Ahuzzath and his army commander Phicol.

27 Isaac said, ‘Why are y’all here? Y’all kicked me out.’

28 Abimelek said, ‘We can see the Lord is with you. Let us make a treaty so we are all good.’

29 ‘Promise you will not harm us, just like we did not harm you. We let you leave in peace, and now the Lord’s blessing you.’

30 So Isaac made a feast for them, and they ate and drank.

31 Early the next morning, they made their treaty official. Then Abimelek and his crew bounced.

32 That same day, Isaac’s servants came to him and said, ‘We found water!’

33 He named the well Shibah (‘Oath’), and that is why the town is called Beersheba to this day.

Esau’s Marriage

34 When Esau was 40 years old, he married two Hittite women: Judith and Basemath.

35 But they brought mad drama to Isaac and Rebekah’s household.