Genesis 26:26 Commentary and Bible Study

Abimelech’s visit to Isaac is remarkable. It is motivated to come by his recognition of the significance of Isaac and his household as a result of God’s blessing, which made Isaac a significant power in the area. Abimelech was aware that they had parted under a cloud and that their relationship was strained, and after Isaac’s departure, this began to alarm him. He saw how Isaac had grown in wealth and influence, and was afraid that he would continue to increase, becoming a threat. It was therefore worth putting himself out to make peace with the man.Isaac who was certainly the innocent party in all this, as the Lord’s blessing on him indicates, pointed out the inconsistency of Abimelech’s behaviour. On the supposition that he had come on a peaceful mission, he ought to remember that he and his people had just driven Isaac out of their area. Isaac uses strong language and accuses them of hating him. What were they now doing making overtures of friendship towards Isaac? Was this sincere? Their behaviour demanded an explanation. Isaac did not trust him and wondered what scheme he was plotting.Christians are not forbidden to protest about the evils done to them by the world, but are to actively stimulate men’s consciences with a reminder of their faults. Isaac’s example here shows us that turning the other cheek does not mean that we deny evil when it is done. At the same time, Isaac had patiently suffered wrong up to this point without retaliating and indeed had retreated in the face of injustice without being provoked to violence. He had sought to live peaceably with all men. But now it was the right time to remind Abimelech of his deeds. Isaac’s reproof was made all the more forceful by the modesty of his earlier response.Abimelech’s answer shows that he is nervous about Isaac. He acknowledges the reality of Isaac’s God, for he admits what God has done for his servant. Isaac has obviously spoken openly about his faith to the Philistines and attributed his blessing to his God. They for their part are convinced that the Lord has blessed him and that will make him still greater. Abimelech is very uncomfortable with Isaac’s reproof. He therefore bends the truth and makes out that his treatment of Isaac had been very much better than it really was. They want to claim that they have only ever acted peacefully towards him, even though this is not true. Isaac has stated his complaint, but he is careful not to be quarrelsome, and does not continue to rake over their past differences, and he accepts the request to make a truce between them with an oath. The peacemaker will often choose to accept wrong without complaint in an effort to settle matters amicably. He prepares a feast for Abimelech and those with him and they eat together as friends. They arise early the next morning and make formal oaths to one another. Though it is not stated, it is certain that Isaac would not swear in the name of any other than the Lord. Such oaths are appropriate at times of great significance, as when we enter into formal treaties or vouch for our integrity in a court of law. The Lord Jesus Christ’s instruction on this subject, ‘do not swear at all’ should not be understood to find fault with what Isaac did. The Lord is addressing the subject of everyday speech not of solemn oaths on special occasions. In our everyday language, we should be careful to avoid any dishonesty, exaggeration or rash oath which amounts to profanity (Calvin). That very day Isaac’s servant came to him and told him that they had found water. The Lord had again provided for Isaac and this was a token that God was with him. Because of the well and the oath that was struck between them, the place was called Beersheba, that is ‘well of oath’. This was the name given to the place by Abraham (Genesis 21:31). Isaac had a reason of his own for assigning this name to the place, and it is probably the case that the name had fallen out of use since the time of Abraham, so that it was necessary to reassign it. Isaac actually called it Shebah (‘oath’), but because of the well it came to be known by the longer name Beersheba.