†. Gen 26:21 . . And when they dug another well, they disputed over
that one also; so he named it Sitnah.
The Hebrew word for "Sitnah" is from sitnan (sit-naw') which is the very
same as sitnah (sit-naw') which means: opposition (by letter).
Apparently the herdsmen were filing formal complaints against Isaac like the
enemies of Ezra did when he was attempting to rebuild the temple in
Jerusalem. (Ezr 4:6-7)
Gerar County's Water Board must have ruled in favor of the herdsmen
because Isaac had to keep moving around until they finally left him alone.
†. Gen 26:22 . . He moved from there and dug yet another well, and
they did not quarrel over it; so he called it Rehoboth, saying: Now at
last the Lord has granted us ample space to increase in the land.
The herdsmen had, by this time, probably pushed Isaac way out to land that
nobody wanted. But God was with Isaac. Even the deserts produce when His
hands are in it. (cf. Isa 35:1-4)
With those pesky herdsmen out of the way, the road, or rather, roads ahead
were wide and clear; and Isaac could put the pedal to the metal and go full
speed ahead and not worry about hitting an iceberg; viz: the sky was the
limit.
Isaac was a very patient man, and affable too. But push him too far, and he
might show his teeth. In a bit, Abimelech is coming calling and Isaac is going
to confront the obtuse monarch about the way he was treated by the County
Water Board. Yes, Isaac Enterprises was a huge, going concern that spread
over many acres of land. But he didn't obtain his wealth by dishonest
means. All of Isaac's business was conducted legally and above board. And
he complied with all of the Gerar County rulings concerning disputes over
the water rights even though their rulings were undoubtedly biased in favor
of Gerar citizens. Isaac didn't deserve to be treated so unfairly.
†. Gen 26:23 . . From there he went up to Beer-sheba.
Exactly where the boys Jacob and Esau were during this era in Isaac's life
isn't stated. They may have remained in the highlands to protect Isaac's
interests while he was out of town, but then again, they may have been with
him in Gerar: it's impossible to tell.
Genesis doesn't say exactly how long Isaac and Rebecca lived around Gaza.
Isaac's usual haunts were Beer-lahai-roi, about 50 miles further south. Beer
sheba was Abraham's zone on oath between him and an earlier Abimelech.
The Gerarians could be expected to leave Isaac alone there. The first night,
God showed up.
†. Gen 26:24a . .That night the Lord appeared to him and said: I am
the god of your father Abraham.
In what manner, or by what method, God appeared to Isaac isn't stated. It
could have been in a dream, it could have been as a traveling man, or a
close encounter of a third kind: nobody knows for sure.
†. Gen 26:24b . . Fear not, for I am with you,
It's reasonable to assume it was unnecessary for God to reassure Isaac, but
Abimelech is on the way. He won't come alone either. He was a king; and
kings travel with an armed retinue. So when news of this comes to Isaac, he
would have good cause to become alarmed. I think God is just giving him a
pep talk to prepare him for the meeting. Like they say: one with God is a
majority; and a man who fears God, has no man to fear.
Isn't that what He promised earlier, when Isaac moved down into Gerar?
Yes. And just in case Isaac thought that was a one time deal, and he would
never be blessed again, God reaffirms his commitment to blessing
Abraham's progeny.
Note : the Bible's readers aren't all that privy to what went on in the minds
of the patriarchs. It could be-- and this is only a guess --that Isaac was
feeling a bit guilty about his attempt to deceive Abimelech regarding the
nature of his relationship with Rebecca. Because of that; his humanistic
sense of justice may have suggested that his mistake cost him the previous
blessing: or possibly future ones.
†. Gen 26:24d . . and increase your progeny for the sake of My
servant Abraham.
If I were a Hebrew man-- not a pseudo Jew like Gentiles who become Jews
by conversion --but a real Hebrew man by blood, I would make a point of
remembering that God will honor His commitment to Abraham. He hasn't
preserved the people of Israel because they are Jews nor because they are
so faithful to God. No, far from it. It's solely because of His personal
commitment to Abraham-- period. (cf. Ex 32:9-14)
†. Gen 25:25 . . So he built an altar there and invoked the Lord by
name. Isaac pitched his tent there and his servants started digging a
well.
Speaking to God by name is different than addressing Him as a deity or a
monarch. Not that there's anything wrong with addressing the Bible's God as
a deity or a monarch; but speaking to Him by name implies familiarity;
which is a lots cozier than official protocol. In other words: If I were to meet
with America's President Obama, I would address him as Sir or Mr.
President. It would be very presumptuous and disrespectful of me to address
him by his name Barry because we have never associated on that level; nor
do I expect to.
Cont.
/
that one also; so he named it Sitnah.
The Hebrew word for "Sitnah" is from sitnan (sit-naw') which is the very
same as sitnah (sit-naw') which means: opposition (by letter).
Apparently the herdsmen were filing formal complaints against Isaac like the
enemies of Ezra did when he was attempting to rebuild the temple in
Jerusalem. (Ezr 4:6-7)
Gerar County's Water Board must have ruled in favor of the herdsmen
because Isaac had to keep moving around until they finally left him alone.
†. Gen 26:22 . . He moved from there and dug yet another well, and
they did not quarrel over it; so he called it Rehoboth, saying: Now at
last the Lord has granted us ample space to increase in the land.
The herdsmen had, by this time, probably pushed Isaac way out to land that
nobody wanted. But God was with Isaac. Even the deserts produce when His
hands are in it. (cf. Isa 35:1-4)
With those pesky herdsmen out of the way, the road, or rather, roads ahead
were wide and clear; and Isaac could put the pedal to the metal and go full
speed ahead and not worry about hitting an iceberg; viz: the sky was the
limit.
Isaac was a very patient man, and affable too. But push him too far, and he
might show his teeth. In a bit, Abimelech is coming calling and Isaac is going
to confront the obtuse monarch about the way he was treated by the County
Water Board. Yes, Isaac Enterprises was a huge, going concern that spread
over many acres of land. But he didn't obtain his wealth by dishonest
means. All of Isaac's business was conducted legally and above board. And
he complied with all of the Gerar County rulings concerning disputes over
the water rights even though their rulings were undoubtedly biased in favor
of Gerar citizens. Isaac didn't deserve to be treated so unfairly.
†. Gen 26:23 . . From there he went up to Beer-sheba.
Exactly where the boys Jacob and Esau were during this era in Isaac's life
isn't stated. They may have remained in the highlands to protect Isaac's
interests while he was out of town, but then again, they may have been with
him in Gerar: it's impossible to tell.
Genesis doesn't say exactly how long Isaac and Rebecca lived around Gaza.
Isaac's usual haunts were Beer-lahai-roi, about 50 miles further south. Beer
sheba was Abraham's zone on oath between him and an earlier Abimelech.
The Gerarians could be expected to leave Isaac alone there. The first night,
God showed up.
†. Gen 26:24a . .That night the Lord appeared to him and said: I am
the god of your father Abraham.
In what manner, or by what method, God appeared to Isaac isn't stated. It
could have been in a dream, it could have been as a traveling man, or a
close encounter of a third kind: nobody knows for sure.
†. Gen 26:24b . . Fear not, for I am with you,
It's reasonable to assume it was unnecessary for God to reassure Isaac, but
Abimelech is on the way. He won't come alone either. He was a king; and
kings travel with an armed retinue. So when news of this comes to Isaac, he
would have good cause to become alarmed. I think God is just giving him a
pep talk to prepare him for the meeting. Like they say: one with God is a
majority; and a man who fears God, has no man to fear.
Isn't that what He promised earlier, when Isaac moved down into Gerar?
Yes. And just in case Isaac thought that was a one time deal, and he would
never be blessed again, God reaffirms his commitment to blessing
Abraham's progeny.
Note : the Bible's readers aren't all that privy to what went on in the minds
of the patriarchs. It could be-- and this is only a guess --that Isaac was
feeling a bit guilty about his attempt to deceive Abimelech regarding the
nature of his relationship with Rebecca. Because of that; his humanistic
sense of justice may have suggested that his mistake cost him the previous
blessing: or possibly future ones.
†. Gen 26:24d . . and increase your progeny for the sake of My
servant Abraham.
If I were a Hebrew man-- not a pseudo Jew like Gentiles who become Jews
by conversion --but a real Hebrew man by blood, I would make a point of
remembering that God will honor His commitment to Abraham. He hasn't
preserved the people of Israel because they are Jews nor because they are
so faithful to God. No, far from it. It's solely because of His personal
commitment to Abraham-- period. (cf. Ex 32:9-14)
†. Gen 25:25 . . So he built an altar there and invoked the Lord by
name. Isaac pitched his tent there and his servants started digging a
well.
Speaking to God by name is different than addressing Him as a deity or a
monarch. Not that there's anything wrong with addressing the Bible's God as
a deity or a monarch; but speaking to Him by name implies familiarity;
which is a lots cozier than official protocol. In other words: If I were to meet
with America's President Obama, I would address him as Sir or Mr.
President. It would be very presumptuous and disrespectful of me to address
him by his name Barry because we have never associated on that level; nor
do I expect to.
Cont.
/
