Genesis 26:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?"

NIV: Isaac asked them, "Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?"

NASB: Isaac said to them, 'Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?'

CSB: Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me? You hated me and sent me away from you."

NLT: Why have you come here?' Isaac asked. 'You obviously hate me, since you kicked me off your land.'

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

NKJV: And Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?”

King Abimelech, along with an advisor and the commander of his army, has traveled from Gerar to Beersheba to visit Isaac. Isaac's response to seeing them is defensive and suspicious. This makes sense. Earlier in this chapter, Abimelech effectively deported Isaac from the immediate area around Gerar because Isaac's great wealth had made him too powerful (Genesis 26:12–17). In short, Isaac had become something of a threat to Abimelech simply because of his massive number of herds, flocks, servants, and need for water resources.

We were told nothing of Isaac's emotional response to being sent away at the time. Now we see it clearly hurt him. He assumed, apparently, that Abimelech hated him. Abimelech had been angry with Isaac for lying about his marriage to Rebekah (Genesis 26:6–11), so there are multiple reasons for Isaac to think this way. The visitors will clarify their intentions in the next verses: they want to establish peace and friendship with this man of God (Genesis 26:28).

Genesis 26:6–35 describes Isaac's interactions with the Philistines while living in and around the land of Gerar. After Isaac is caught in a lie about Rebekah being his sister, king Abimelech is angry. However, he protects Isaac and Rebekah. God blesses Isaac abundantly, and his wealth grows to the point where his power provokes the king to send him away. Following a series of disputes over water rights, the king and Isaac eventually make a treaty of peace. God appears to Isaac for a second time, telling him not to fear, and renewing His promises.

Genesis 26 focuses on God's assurances to Isaac to be with him and to bless him, mostly while Isaac and his household are settled in the land of the Philistines. Just as Abraham did, Isaac fearfully lies about his wife being his sister, nearly bringing disaster on Abimelech and his kingdom. Still, God blesses Isaac with greater and greater abundance to the point that Abimelech sends Isaac away because he has become too powerful. After continued disputes over water rights, Abimelech and Isaac eventually make a covenant of peace.

Genesis 26 seems to jump back in time to the season before Jacob and Esau were born, as described in the previous chapter. This is common in ancient literature. The Lord establishes and renews His covenant promises to Isaac, blessing him abundantly in the land of Philistines during a time of famine. Eventually, Abimelech sends Isaac away due to his growing power and disputes over water rights, but they end up forming a peace treaty. Esau's marriage to foreign women creates strife, adding more fuel to the controversy which is soon to occur. In the next chapter, Jacob will steal his older brother's rightful blessing.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 11/21/2024 11:18:52 PM