26:1 And there was a famine in the {a} land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

(a) In the land of Canaan.

26:2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, {b} Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

(b) God's providence always watches to direct the ways of his children.

26:5 Because that Abraham {c} obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

(c) He commends Abraham's obedience, because Isaac should be even more ready to follow the same: for as God made this promise of his free mercy, so does the confirmation of it proceed from the same fountain.

26:7 And the men of the place asked [him] of his wife; and he said, She [is] my sister: {d} 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.

(d) By which we see that fear and distrust is found in the most faithful.

26:8 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] {e} sporting with Rebekah his wife.

(e) Or showing some familiar sign of love, by which it might be known that she was his wife.

26:10 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 {f} guiltiness upon us.

(f) In all ages men were persuaded that God's vengeance would come on adulterers.

26:14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines {g} envied him.

(g) The malicious always envy the graces of God in others.

26:17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the {k} valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

(k) The Hebrew word signifies a flood, or valley, where water at any time runs.

26:24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I [am] the God {i} 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.

(i) God assures Isaac against all fear by rehearsing the promise made to Abraham.

26:25 And he builded an {x} altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

(x) To signify that he would serve no other God, but the God of his father Abraham.

26:29 {l} 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.

(l) The Hebrews in swearing begin commonly with If and understand the rest, that is, that God will punish him who breaks the oath: here the wicked show that they are afraid lest that happen to them which they would do to others.