Bible Commentaries
Genesis 26

Verse 1

famine. Accounts for Esau's despair of living, and hence selling his birthright. Genesis 25:29-34 .

first. One of the thirteen famines. See note on Genesis 12:10 .

Abimelech = official name. Not the same as Genesis 20:2 .

Verse 2

Go not down (as Abraham did, Genesis 12:10 ).

Verse 3

Unto thee. So to each Patriarch: Abraham (Genesis 13:15 ), Jacob (Genesis 28:13 , &c), involving resurrection. See note on Genesis 50:24 , and Matthew 22:23-33 .

Verse 4

stars. Figure of speech Paroemia. App-6 .

Verse 5

My. Repeated 5 times for emphasis. The No. of Grace. See App-10

voice, to be heard and believed (Romans 10:17 ).

charge, to be observed.

commandments, to he obeyed.

statutes, i.e. decrees, to be acknowledged.

laws, i.e. instructions to be followed.

Verse 7

he said. As Abraham had said (Genesis 12:13 ; Genesis 20:2 , Genesis 20:12 ).

sister. See note on Genesis 20:12 .

Verse 8

sporting with, or caressing

Verse 10

What . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

guiltiness. See App-15 and App-44 .

Verse 11

saying. One of the Laws given and observed before Moses.

Verse 12

received. Hebrew found. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Species). Compare Genesis 6:8 . Romans 4:1 .

Verse 14

store = body.

Verse 18

in the days of Abraham his father. Isaac a placid character; shown by his obedience (Genesis 22:6 , Genesis 22:8 ), his meekness in betrothal (24), his mourning for his mother (Genesis 24:63-67 ; compare note on Gen 26:63 ), his following in his father's steps to Gerar (Genesis 20:1 ) in denying his wife there (20), his finding an Abimelech and Phichol there, and digging wells there, renewing the oath and renaming the well.

their names. Compare the four names below and their special meaning.

Verse 19

well. Hebrew. 'ayin. See note on Genesis 21:19 .

springing. Hebrew living. See note on Genesis 21:19 .

Verse 20

Esek. Hebrew strife or contention.

Verse 21

Sitnah. Hebrew opposition.

Verse 22

Rehoboth. Hebrew roominess.

Verse 23

Beer-sheba. Hebrew the well of the oath.

Verse 24

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 26

Phichol Probably an official military title. Compare Genesis 21:22 .

Verse 28

saw certainly. Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Hebrew "seeing we saw". Compare Genesis 2:16 " freely eat"; Genesis 27:30 " scarce gone out"; Genesis 43:3 " solemnly protest"; Genesis 43:7 "asked us straitly ", "could we certainly know"; Genesis 43:20 "came indeed down"; Exodus 5:23 "not delivered us at all "; Genesis 18:18 "wilt surely wear away"; Genesis 21:5 "shall plainly say"; Job 37:2 "hear attentively "; Numbers 22:17 , Numbers 22:37 "promote thee to very great honour" = honouring I will honour thee; Genesis 24:10 " altogether blessed", Hebrew "blessing thou hast blessed". Numbers 26:65 ; Numbers 30:12 " utterly destroyed"; Genesis 23:11 ; Genesis 24:10 " altogether blessed".

Verse 29

touched. Figure of speech Tapeinosis. App-6 . Emphasizing the fact that so far from injuring him in any way they had shown him favour.

Verse 33

Shebah. Hebrew an oath.

therefore. Same name given by Abraham (Genesis 21:31 ). Names were sometimes reimposed for a new reason. Compare Bethel (Genesis 28:18 , Genesis 28:19 with Genesis 35:6 , Genesis 35:7 ) and Israel (Genesis 32:28 with Genesis 35:10 ).

Verse 34

These names exhibit the Figure of speech. Polynyrmia. App-6 .

Judith, She had a second name, Aholibamah (Genesis 36:5 , Genesis 36:14 , Genesis 36:25 ).

Beeri. His name was also Anah, but he had acquired the name "Beeri" (or the spring-man) from his having discovered the hot springs. See on Genesis 36:24 .

Hittite = the general name. See note on 1 Kings 10:29 .

Bashematti had a second name, Adah. The name Bashemath dropped in Genesis 36:2 to avoid confusion with the daughter of Ishmael. In Genesis 26:0 : we have general history, but in Genesis 36:0 precise genealogy.

Verse 35

grief. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), grief put for that which caused it. No wonder it caused "bitterness of spirit" when we remember who the Canaanites were.

mind = spirit. Hebrew. ruach. See App-9 .