When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from the window and was surprised to see Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. When Isaac had been there a long timeThis phrase indicates a significant passage of time, suggesting that Isaac and Rebekah had settled into the land of the Philistines, specifically in Gerar. The Hebrew root for "long time" (רַב, rab) implies an extended period, which can denote a sense of comfort or complacency in a foreign land. Historically, this reflects the nomadic lifestyle of the patriarchs, who often sojourned in various territories. The extended stay also sets the stage for the unfolding of God's promises to Isaac, as patience and endurance are often required in the fulfillment of divine plans. Abimelech king of the Philistines
Abimelech is a title rather than a personal name, akin to "Pharaoh" in Egypt. The Philistines were a significant group in the ancient Near East, often in conflict with the Israelites. The mention of Abimelech highlights the political dynamics of the time, where patriarchs like Isaac had to navigate relationships with local rulers. This interaction underscores the theme of God's people living amidst and sometimes under the authority of foreign powers, yet maintaining their distinct identity and faith. looked down from a window
The act of looking down from a window suggests a position of oversight and authority. Windows in ancient architecture were often small openings high up in walls, providing a vantage point for observation. This detail emphasizes Abimelech's role as a watchful ruler, concerned with the activities within his domain. It also foreshadows the revelation of Isaac's true relationship with Rebekah, as God often uses the eyes of others to bring truth to light. and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah
The Hebrew word for "caressing" (מְצַחֵק, metzahek) can also mean "laughing" or "playing," but in this context, it implies a level of intimacy that reveals their true relationship as husband and wife. This moment of vulnerability and affection is pivotal, as it exposes the deception Isaac had employed by claiming Rebekah was his sister. Theologically, this incident reflects the recurring theme of human frailty and the need for integrity. It also serves as a reminder of God's providence, as even in moments of human error, His plans and protection for His people remain steadfast. Persons / Places / Events 1. IsaacThe son of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac is a patriarch of Israel. In this chapter, he is living in Gerar due to a famine in the land. 2. RebekahIsaac's wife, who is involved in the event where Abimelech sees her being caressed by Isaac, revealing their true relationship. 3. AbimelechThe king of the Philistines in Gerar. He observes Isaac and Rebekah and realizes they are husband and wife, not siblings as Isaac had claimed. 4. GerarA Philistine city where Isaac and Rebekah reside during the famine. It is a place of testing and revelation for Isaac. 5. The DeceptionIsaac, fearing for his life, tells the people of Gerar that Rebekah is his sister, echoing a similar event involving his father, Abraham. Teaching Points The Consequences of FearIsaac's fear led him to deceive others, which could have resulted in serious consequences. Fear can lead us away from trusting God and into sin. The Importance of TruthDespite Isaac's deception, the truth eventually came to light. This teaches us the value of honesty and integrity in our relationships. God's Protection and ProvidenceEven in Isaac's failure, God protected him and Rebekah. This reminds us of God's faithfulness and sovereignty, even when we falter. Learning from the PastIsaac repeated a mistake of his father, Abraham. This highlights the importance of learning from past experiences and the experiences of others. The Role of WitnessesAbimelech's observation led to the revelation of the truth. This shows how God can use others to bring about His purposes and correct our paths. Bible Study Questions 1. What motivated Isaac to deceive the people of Gerar, and how can we guard against similar fears in our own lives? 2. How does the account of Isaac and Rebekah in Gerar compare to Abraham and Sarah's experiences in Egypt and Gerar? What lessons can we learn from these repeated patterns? 3. In what ways does God's protection of Isaac and Rebekah encourage us to trust in His providence, even when we make mistakes? 4. How can we apply the principle of truthfulness in our relationships, especially in situations where we might be tempted to deceive? 5. What role do others play in helping us see the truth about our actions, and how can we be open to correction from those around us? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 12 and 20These chapters recount similar events where Abraham, Isaac's father, also deceives others about his relationship with Sarah, his wife, due to fear for his life. Proverbs 29:25This verse speaks to the fear of man being a snare, which is relevant to Isaac's actions in Gerar. Ephesians 5:25-33This passage discusses the relationship between husbands and wives, highlighting the importance of love and truth, contrasting Isaac's initial deception. People Abimelech, Ahuzzath, Bashemath, Basmath, Beeri, Elon, Esau, Isaac, Judith, Phichol, RebekahPlaces Beersheba, Egypt, Esek, Gerar, Rehoboth, Shibah, Sitnah, Valley of GerarTopics Abimelech, Abim'elech, Behold, Caressing, Dallying, Fondling, Isaac, Pass, Philistines, Playing, Prolonged, Rebecca, Rebekah, Sporting, Wife, WindowDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 26:1-10 5737 sisters Genesis 26:1-11 8800 prejudice Genesis 26:1-14 5503 rich, the Genesis 26:7-9 5714 men Library The First Apostle of Peace at any Price
'Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold, and the Lord blessed him. 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. 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. And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture"Thou Art Now the Blessed of the Lord. "
"Thou art now the blessed of the Lord."--Genesis 26:29. THESE words truly describe the position of many whom I address at this time. There are hundreds here upon whom my eye can rest, and to any one of whom I might point with this finger, or rather, to whom I might extend this hand, to give a hearty shake, and say, "Thou art now the blessed of the Lord." I need not say it in the same spirit, nor for the same reason, that the Philistines did. They had behaved basely towards Isaac, and now that he …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892 Tithing
There are few subjects on which the Lord's own people are more astray than on the subject of giving. They profess to take the Bible as their own rule of faith and practice, and yet in the matter of Christian finance, the vast majority have utterly ignored its plain teachings and have tried every substitute the carnal mind could devise; therefore it is no wonder that the majority of Christian enterprises in the world today are handicapped and crippled through the lack of funds. Is our giving to be …
Arthur W. Pink—Tithing Whether Every Lie is a Sin?
Objection 1: It seems that not every lie is a sin. For it is evident that the evangelists did not sin in the writing of the Gospel. Yet they seem to have told something false: since their accounts of the words of Christ and of others often differ from one another: wherefore seemingly one of them must have given an untrue account. Therefore not every lie is a sin. Objection 2: Further, no one is rewarded by God for sin. But the midwives of Egypt were rewarded by God for a lie, for it is stated that …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Elucidation.
The conduct of Father Abraham, although not approved of by Inspiration, but simply recorded (Gen. xxvi. 7), gave early Christians an opinion that the wicked may be justly foiled, by equivocation and deception, for the preservation of innocence or the life of the innocent. In such case the person deceived, they might argue, is not injured, but benefited (Gen. xxvi. 10), being saved from committing violence and murder. The Corinthian maiden was accustomed to be veiled (as Tertullian intimates), and …
Hippolytus—The Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus An Obscured vision
(Preached at the opening of the Winona Lake Bible Conference.) TEXT: "Where there is no vision, the people perish."--Proverbs 29:18. It is not altogether an easy matter to secure a text for such an occasion as this; not because the texts are so few in number but rather because they are so many, for one has only to turn over the pages of the Bible in the most casual way to find them facing him at every reading. Feeling the need of advice for such a time as this, I asked a number of my friends who …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot The Plan for the Coming of Jesus.
God's Darling, Psalms 8:5-8.--the plan for the new man--the Hebrew picture by itself--difference between God's plan and actual events--one purpose through breaking plans--the original plan--a starting point--getting inside. Fastening a Tether inside: the longest way around--the pedigree--the start. First Touches on the Canvas: the first touch, Genesis 3:15.--three groups of prediction--first group: to Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3; to Isaac, Genesis 26:1-5; to Jacob, Genesis 28:10-15; through Jacob, …
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus And to Holy David Indeed it Might More Justly be Said...
22. And to holy David indeed it might more justly be said, that he ought not to have been angry; no, not with one however ungrateful and rendering evil for good; yet if, as man, anger did steal over him, he ought not to have let it so prevail, that he should swear to do a thing which either by giving way to his rage he should do, or by breaking his oath leave undone. But to the other, set as he was amid the libidinous frenzy of the Sodomites, who would dare to say, "Although thy guests in thine own …
St. Augustine—Against Lying Covenanting Performed in Former Ages with Approbation from Above.
That the Lord gave special token of his approbation of the exercise of Covenanting, it belongs to this place to show. His approval of the duty was seen when he unfolded the promises of the Everlasting Covenant to his people, while they endeavoured to perform it; and his approval thereof is continually seen in his fulfilment to them of these promises. The special manifestations of his regard, made to them while attending to the service before him, belonged to one or other, or both, of those exhibitions …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee.
Subdivision B. At Jacob's Well, and at Sychar. ^D John IV. 5-42. ^d 5 So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 and Jacob's well was there. [Commentators long made the mistake of supposing that Shechem, now called Nablous, was the town here called Sychar. Sheckem lies a mile and a half west of Jacob's well, while the real Sychar, now called 'Askar, lies scarcely half a mile north of the well. It was a small town, loosely called …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology.
(Ad. vol. i. p. 42, note 4.) In comparing the allegorical Canons of Philo with those of Jewish traditionalism, we think first of all of the seven exegetical canons which are ascribed to Hillel. These bear chiefly the character of logical deductions, and as such were largely applied in the Halakhah. These seven canons were next expanded by R. Ishmael (in the first century) into thirteen, by the analysis of one of them (the 5th) into six, and the addition of this sound exegetical rule, that where two …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Sundry Sharp Reproofs
This doctrine draws up a charge against several sorts: 1 Those that think themselves good Christians, yet have not learned this art of holy mourning. Luther calls mourning a rare herb'. Men have tears to shed for other things, but have none to spare for their sins. There are many murmurers, but few mourners. Most are like the stony ground which lacked moisture' (Luke 8:6). We have many cry out of hard times, but they are not sensible of hard hearts. Hot and dry is the worst temper of the body. Sure …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 26:8 NIVGenesis 26:8 NLTGenesis 26:8 ESVGenesis 26:8 NASBGenesis 26:8 KJV
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