Isaac and Abimelech

Posted 2026-06-21 11:12:13

A Famine in the Land

“And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.”

Genesis 26:1 (KJV)

The text records that there was a famine in the land besides the famine that occurred in the days of Abraham and that Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar.

The LORD Appears to Isaac

“And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:”

Genesis 26:2 (KJV)

The text records that the LORD appeared unto Isaac and instructed him not to go down into Egypt but to dwell in the land that He would tell him of.

The Promise Confirmed

“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 countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; 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 26:3–5 (KJV)

The text records that the LORD told Isaac to sojourn in the land and promised to be with him and bless him. The LORD said He would give all these countries unto Isaac and his seed, perform the oath sworn unto Abraham, multiply his seed as the stars of heaven, give his seed all these countries, and that in his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed. The text records that this was because Abraham obeyed the LORD's voice and kept His charge, commandments, statutes, and laws.

Isaac Dwells in Gerar

“And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:”

Genesis 26:6 (KJV)

The text records that Isaac dwelt in Gerar.

Isaac Says Rebekah Is His Sister

“And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.”

Genesis 26:7 (KJV)

The text records that when the men of the place asked Isaac concerning Rebekah, he said that she was his sister because he feared to say that she was his wife.

Abimelech Sees Isaac and Rebekah

“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.”

Genesis 26:8 (KJV)

The text records that Abimelech looked out of a window and saw Isaac sporting with Rebekah his wife.

Abimelech Questions Isaac

“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 for her.”

Genesis 26:9 (KJV)

The text records that Abimelech called Isaac and said that Rebekah was surely his wife. Isaac told Abimelech that he had said she was his sister because he feared he might die because of her.

Abimelech Speaks to Isaac

“And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.”

Genesis 26:10 (KJV)

The text records that Abimelech told Isaac that one of the people might have lain with Rebekah and that guilt could have been brought upon them.

Abimelech Commands the People

“And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

Genesis 26:11 (KJV)

The text records that Abimelech commanded all the people that whoever touched Isaac or Rebekah would surely be put to death.

Isaac Sows and Reaps

“Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.”

Genesis 26:12 (KJV)

The text records that Isaac sowed in the land and received in the same year a hundredfold and that the LORD blessed him.

Isaac Becomes Great

“And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.”

Genesis 26:13–14 (KJV)

The text records that Isaac became very great and possessed flocks, herds, and a great store of servants. The Philistines envied him.

The Wells Stopped

“For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.”

Genesis 26:15 (KJV)

The text records that the Philistines stopped the wells dug in Abraham's days and filled them with earth.

Isaac Departs from Gerar

“And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.”

Genesis 26:16 (KJV)

The text records that Abimelech told Isaac to depart because he had become much mightier than they.

Isaac Dwells in the Valley of Gerar

“And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.”

Genesis 26:17 (KJV)

The text records that Isaac departed and dwelt in the valley of Gerar.

Isaac Digs the Wells Again

“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.”

Genesis 26:18 (KJV)

The text records that Isaac dug again the wells that had been dug in Abraham's days and called them by the same names his father had called them.

The Well of Esek

“And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.

And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.”

Genesis 26:19–20 (KJV)

The text records that Isaac's servants found a well of springing water and that the herdmen of Gerar contended for it. Isaac called the well Esek.

The Well of Sitnah

“And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.”

Genesis 26:21 (KJV)

The text records that another well was dug and that there was also strife over it. Isaac called it Sitnah.

The Well of Rehoboth

“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 the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

Genesis 26:22 (KJV)

The text records that Isaac moved and dug another well. There was no strife over it, and he called it Rehoboth.

The LORD Appears Again

“And he went up from thence to Beersheba.

And the LORD 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.”

Genesis 26:23–24 (KJV)

The text records that Isaac went to Beersheba and that the LORD appeared to him the same night. The LORD identified Himself as the God of Abraham and told Isaac not to fear, for He was with him and would bless him and multiply his seed for Abraham's sake.

Isaac Builds an Altar

“And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.”

Genesis 26:25 (KJV)

The text records that Isaac built an altar, called upon the name of the LORD, pitched his tent there, and that his servants dug a well.

Abimelech Comes to Isaac

“Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.”

Genesis 26:26 (KJV)

The text records that Abimelech came from Gerar with Ahuzzath his friend and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

Isaac Questions Them

“And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?”

Genesis 26:27 (KJV)

The text records that Isaac asked why they had come to him since they hated him and had sent him away.

A Covenant Between Isaac and Abimelech

“And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now 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 the LORD.

“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.”

Genesis 26:28–31 (KJV)

The text records that they said they had seen that the LORD was with Isaac and desired an oath between them. They requested that Isaac do them no hurt. Isaac made them a feast, they ate and drank, rose early, swore one to another, and Isaac sent them away in peace.

The Well Called Shebah

“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 Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day.”

Genesis 26:32–33 (KJV)

The text records that Isaac's servants told him concerning the well they had dug and said they had found water. Isaac called it Shebah, and the name of the city was called Beersheba unto that day.

Esau's Wives

“And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

“Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.”

Genesis 26:34–35 (KJV)

The text records that Esau was forty years old when he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. The text records that they were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.