“And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:”
God’s providence always watcheth to direct the ways of his children.
“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;”
Cross references: : Gen. 13:15 ; Gen. 15:18
“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;”
Gen. 12:3 ; Gen. 15:18 ; Gen. 18:18 ; Gen. 22:18 ; Gen. 28:14
“Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”
Hebrew, my keeping . He commendeth Abraham’s obedience, because Isaac should be the more ready to follow the like: for as God made this promise of his free mercy, so doth the confirmation thereof proceed of the same fountain.
“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.”
Whereby we see that fear and distrust is found in the most faithful.
“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.”
Or showing some familiar sign of love, whereby it might be known that she was his wife.
“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.”
In all ages men were persuaded that God’s vengeance should light upon wedlock breakers.
“And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: went: Heb. went going”
Hebrew, he went forth going and increasing .
“For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. servants: or, husbandry”
The malicious envy always the graces of God in others.
“And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.”
The Hebrew word signifieth a flood, or valley, where water at any time runneth.
“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.”
God assureth Isaac against all fear by rehearsing the promise made to Abraham.
“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.”
To signify that he would serve none other God, but the God of his father Abraham.
“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. That: Heb. If thou shalt”
The Hebrews in swearing begin commonly with If, and understand the rest, that is, that God shall punish him that breaketh the oath: here the wicked show that they are afraid lest that come to them which they would do to others.
“And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day. Shebah: That is, an oath Beersheba: that is, the well of the oath”
Or, the well of the oath. Or, oath.
“Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah. a grief: Heb. bitterness of spirit”
Or, disobedient and rebellious. Gen. 27:46