laws. 6 ¶ And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. t commandments, my statutes, and my and received in the same year an hun dred-fold, and the LORD "blessed him. 13 And the man waxed great, and twent forward, and grew until he became very great. 7 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. 8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at Pa window, and saw, and behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. 9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety, she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. 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 shouldst have brought guiltiness 14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants. And the Philistines envied him. 15 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. 16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us: for thou art much mightier than we. 17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. 18 ¶ And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them, after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19 And Isaac's servants digged in the *Heb. found. t Ps. 72:16. Ec. 11:6. Zech. 8: u 29. 30:30. Job 42:12. Prov. Heb. went going. x Job 1:3. Ps. 112:3. y 37:11. Job 5:2. Ps. 112:10. a Ex. 1:9. them, but as given for the sake of the divine Savior. V. 7. (Notes, 12:10-20. 20:) The questions of the men of Gerar excited Isaac's apprehensions: his answer contained a more direct falsehood than that used by Abraham; and his unbelief was the more inexcusable, because he lived in Gerar by God's express command, and under his immediate protection. V. 2-5. Abraham had gone down into Egypt during a famine, and we may suppose that Isaac was purposing to do the same; but God commanded him to dwell in some part of the land of Canaan, according to such intimations as should from time to time be given him. For the present he was directed to sojourn in the country of the Philistines: and the Lord promised to be with him, to supply his wants, and to protect and comfort him; and he renew- V. 8. A long time.] Without interruption, ed the promises, which had been repeatedly which shewed that Isaac's suspicions were injuratified to Abraham. God thus testified his ap-rious to the Philistines. probation of Abraham's remarkable obedience, V. 11. Probably Abimelech recollected the for the honor of his own name, and the encour-reproof and correction, which had been incuragement of Isaac, and of others in every age red on Abraham's account, in similar circumand nation. This obedience likewise conduced stances. to the fulfilment of the promises. It was the V. 12. An hundred-fold.] If this be the meanevidence of that faith, by which Abraham was ing of the passage, (for it is not without diffijustified; and, in consequence of his prompt culty,) it was an extraordinary increase, and obedience, the covenant respecting his seed an evident effect of the divine blessing. In was confirmed to him by an oath.-The several many parts of this land, with all our improve expressions made use of seem to refer to Abra-ments in agriculture, an ordinary crop of grain ham's unreserved obedience, in leaving his native country, sojourning in Canaan, offering sacrifices, being circumcised, and circumcising his sons and servants, and at length intentionally sacrificing Isaac, at God's command; as well as to his general course of piety, righteousness, and holiness.-As "Abraham was jus- V. 13-16. The conduct of the Philistines tified by faith," which referred to the righteous- was a direct infringement of the covenant, ness of Christ; so the Lord's blessing Isaac for which Abimelech had made with Abraham; but Abraham's sake, was virtually blessing him Isaac's prosperity excited their envy and jeal through the Redeemer. The principle of bless-ousy, which induced forgetfulness of all moral ing some for the sake of others, seems to have obligations. been intended to prepare men's minds for re is very seldom known to exceed twenty-fold; ceiving the blessings of salvation, not as due toll of Abimelech's kingdom. V. 17. Valley of Gerar.] Upon the borders 108] valley, and found there a well of * spring-||fore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me ing water. and have sent me away from you? 20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well + Esek, because they strove with him. 21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: And he called the name of it Sitnah. 22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. b 23 And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. e 24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I um with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed, for my servant Abraham's sake. 25 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. 26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army. 27 And Isaac said unto them, Where Heb. living. Cant. 4:15. John | d 15:1. 17:7. 24:12. 28:13. Ex. 4:10,11. †That is, Contention. That is, Hatred. That is, Room. b Ps. 4:1. 13:19. 118:5. e 21:31. 45:1. 3:6. Matt. 22:32. Acts 7:32. e Ps. 27:1. 46:1,2. Is. 12:2. 41: f 3:20. 12:7. 35:1. Ex. 17:15. 28 And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee; and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; 29 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. 1 30 And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. 31 And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. 32 And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water. 33 And he called it ** Shebah: therefore the name of the city is ++ Beer-sheba unto this day. 34 And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith," the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: 0 35 Which were a #grief of mind unto Isaac and Rebekah. V. 21. Sitnah.] Hatred, (marg.) or opposi-ence, and assured of an interest in his everlasttion. Ezra 4:6. Heb. The name Satan, an adversary, is derived from the same root. V. 22. The piety of the language, here used in the ordinary concerns of life, is worth no- || ticing and imitating. V. 24. Fear not.] 'Be not afraid of the envy or enmity of the Philistines.' (Marg. Ref.) V. 26. Phichol.] This seems to have been the name of some dignity among the Philistines; for probably Phichol, who came with Abimelech to Abraham on a similar occasion, was dead before this time. (21:22,32.) V. 29-31. The Philistines attempted to jus tify their conduct, though indeed they had acted deceitfully and unjustly, and in a manner wholly inexcusable; but Isaac, loving peace, admitted their plea without altercation. V. 35. And they were quarrelling with Isaac and Rebekah.' Sept. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1-11. Repeated famines in "the land of promise" taught the patriarchs, and uneasiness in the most eligible situations should teach us, to look to the heavenly inheritance for unalloyed felicity. Yet they are happy, even on earth, who are guided by JEHOVAH'S counsel, upheld and protected by his power, encouraged by his pres || ing love. If he engage to be with us, and if we abide in our proper place, nothing but unbelief and distrust can prevent our comfort.-The blessing which descends upon posterity in answer to prayer, as the effect of wholesome instructions and a good example, and as a gracious recompense of the obedience of faith, is unspeakably preferable to any other riches which can be left them. "The righteous LORD loveth righteousness," and will shew his love of it by abundantly rewarding the good works of his believing people.-But alas! it is far more natural and easy to imitate the faults of eminent characters, than their faith and holiness; and too many conclude, that they may venture on improper conduct, because pious persons have been betrayed into it. How careful therefore should we be, not to sanction transgression, or give force to temptation, by our example! The falls of them who have gone before us are as so 'many rocks, on which others have split; and 'the recording of them, is like placing buoys over them, for the security of future mariners. Fuller. Such examples also shew, that righteousness cometh not by the law, but by the faith of Christ.-Let us, however, imitate the conduct of Abimelech, in seriously reproving Isaac, and in returning good for evil. It may also be proper to inquire whether his abhorrence of (109 The Lord detects and reproves his offending servants; but he also pardons and blesses them. His blessing maketh rich, and the increase of the earth is his gift but riches generally excite envy, suspicion, and jealousy; and we may very often call our worldly acquisitions, (as Isaac did his wells,) contention and enmity. "The spirit that is in us lusteth to envy;" and, while we watch and pray against it in ourselves, we shall avoid whatever may needlessly excite it in others; for when once it is kindled, none can tell, what inalice and mischief it may occasion. As Isaac constantly chose to reside near a well, so we should give up many other advantages, in order to be near the ordinances of God. Many will try to deprive us of these "wells of salvation:" but we must contend for them earnestly, yet meekly; and endeavor to preserve for our children, the religious privileges which we have received from our fathers.-In other things, "the wisdom which is from above" will teach us to recede from our right, and retire from the contentious; and if we are injuriously driven from one place, the Lord will make room for us in another, and recompense us with the assurance and consolations of his love. Yea, he will "make our enemies to be at peace with us," and to court our friendship, acknowledging that he loveth us: and we should always shew ourselves disposed to reconciliation and hospitality.-We must, however, have some trial to counterbalance each comfort: yet children are highly culpable, who by their sins grieve the hearts of their pious and affectionate parents: nor has any thing been more generally the bane of domestic happiness, as well as of piety, than unhallowed marriages, and the practice of polygamy. NOTES. CHAP. XXVII. V. 1. The subsequent narrative shews, that Joseph was born about fourteen years after the events recorded in this from thence & two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savory meat for thy father, such as he loveth. 9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me that he may eat, and that he may bless 10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, thee before his death. 11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his e Josh. 6:26. 1 Sam. 26:19. 15 Judg. Joseph was chapter. (29:20,30. 30:24-26.) thirty years of age when he stood before Pharaoh; (41:46.) and after the seven years of plenty, and two or three years of famine, Jacob told Pharaoh that he was a hundred and thirty. (47:9.) Jacob must have been about ninety when Joseph was born, and about seventy-five at this time; and as Isaac was sixty when Esau and Jacob were born, he must have been about a hundred and thirty-five or six years of age. Since Esau married his two wives, thirty-five or six years had elapsed, concerning which nothing is recorded. V. 2. Isaac deemed it best to settle his domestic concerns, that he might not have encumbrances of that kind to discompose him at the solemn season of death, which his infirmi ties led him continually to expect. Yet he lived almost forty-four years longer. V. 3, 4. As this preparation was not intended for a public feast, but merely for a private, self-indulgent meal, it must be considered as, in some degree, a carnal introduction to the spiritual blessing, which Isaac purposed to pronounce: a solemn sacrifice would have been much more consistent with his character, and more suitable to the occasion. (7.)-Isaac's partiality for Esau, and the custom of regarding the elder brother as the heir, led him to forget, misunderstand, or disregard, the answer which the Lord had formerly given Rebekah on this subject. (25:23.) V. 6-10. Rebekah was sensible that Isaac was about to act improperly; for she knew that the blessing was intended for Jacob, and ex pected that he would have it. But she ought either calmly to have argued the case and expostulated with Isaac; or, if that appeared inexpedient, to have committed the matter to the Lord by prayer, and by no means to have used any artifice on such an occasion. She indeed did no wrong to Esau in regard to the birth-right, as both the purpose of God, and his own agree ment, ratified with an oath, deprived him of all claim to it: (Noles, 25:22,33. 31-34.) but she injured Isaac, by practising an imposition upon him; and Jacob, by using her authority and * 15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son. 16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck. 17 And she gave the savory meat, and the bread which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 18 And he came unto his father, and said, My father: And he said, Here am I: who art thou, my son? 19 And Jacob said unto his father, "I am Esau thy first-born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy || soul may bless me. 20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my persuasions to tempt him to sin. She also dishonored the power and faithfulness of God, by supposing that he needed such means of effecting his purpose and fulfilling his promise. Nay, by exciting Jacob to act so treacherous a part, she even threw a stumbling block in Esau's way; and furnished him with a plausible pretext for his enmity, not only against his brother, but also against religion. V. 11-14. Jacob objected to the proposed measure as impolitic; and feared that he should be detected, and put to shame, for trying to impose on his father by means of his infirmities; and that he should thus provoke him to pronounce a curse on him instead of a blessing: but he does not seem to have been in any degree properly impressed with the sense of the exceedingly great criminality of the attempt. And Rebekah, (who, from her confidence that Jacob would obtain the blessing, was encouraged to urge him to commit evident sin,) in engaging to take the consequences on herself, acted too much like those persons who are bold in transgression, because "God is rich in mercy." Thus they both contracted deep guilt, for which they were afterwards sharply chastised; yet the purposes of God were accomplished, even by means of their misconduct. son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. 21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau, or not. 22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. 23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him. 24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, P I am. 25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. 27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field, which the LORD hath blessed. 23 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and " plenty of corn and wine. are not covered with so thick a coat of hair, as they are in more northerly regions. V. 19, 20. Jacob not only told the most palpable falsehoods on this occasion, but directly profaned the name of the Lord in his answer to Isaac's inquiry; and thus made religion the cloak of his dissimulation! V. 21-23. Isaac no doubt would have rejoiced to hear Esau use the language of piety, as Jacob had affected to do: yet this circumstance seems to have concurred in exciting his suspicions. But as his eyes failed him, he distrusted his ears also; and thus the plan of Rebekah succeeded.-How wonderful is that dif ference, which there is betwixt the faces and the voices of the several individuals of the hu man species! Scarcely any two of the innu merable millions are exactly alike in either, and yet the difference cannot be defined or described! The power, wisdom, and kindness of our Creator should be admired and adored in this remarkable circumstance; for they are very visible. This description of Jacob is not unaptly accommodated to the character of a hypocrite: his voice, his language, is that of a Christian; his hands, or conduct, that of an ungodly man: but the judgment will proceed from God the Judge of all, at the last day, as in the present case, not by the voice, but by the V. 16. The animals, in those hot climates, || hands. 29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee; be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: Cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. [Practical Observations.] 30 ¶ And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 And he also had made savory meat, and brought it unto his father; and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me. 32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy first-born Esau. * 33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who, where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. x 9:25. 49:8-10. 2 Sam. 8:10. 1 Kings 4:21. Ps. 2:6-9. 72:8. Is. 9:7. Dan. 2:44,45. Rev. 19: 16. y 37. 25:22,23. 2 Sam. 8:14. 1 Kings 11:15,16. 22:47. 2 Chr. 25:11-14. Ps. 60: title, 18. 63: 1-6. Mal. 1:2-5. Rom. 9:12. b 34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. 35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtlety, and hath taken away thy blessing. c 36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birth-right; and behold now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? 37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him. for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? e 38 And Esau said unto his father, © Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. f 39 And Isaac his father answered, and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the z 12:3. Num. 24:9. Zech. 2:8,9. dew of heaven from above. Matt. 25:40,45. Heb. trembled with a great trembling greatly. Job 21:6. 37:1. Ps. 55:5. † Heb. hunted. a 23:3,4. Rom. 11:29. Heb. 11: b 1 Sam. 30:4. Prov. 1:24-28. | d 29. 25:23. Rom. 9:10-12. 19:3. Luke 13:24-28. Heb. 12:|| Or, supported. 17. c 19-23. 2 Kings 10:19. Mal. That is, a Supplanter. 25:31 | -34. 32:28. John 1:47. e 34,36. 49:28. Is. 65:14. Heb f 36:6-8. Josh. 24:4. ically expresses the confusion into which he was thrown, on perceiving in what manner his intention had been counteracted: but he acquiesced in what had been done, as manifestly the will of God: and indeed he seems to have been directed by the Spirit of prophecy, in thus confirming the blessing to Jacob. vexed at being thus circumvented and disapV. 34. Esau was exceedingly grieved and pointed; and at finding that the providence of Perhaps he dreaded some immediate temporal God had ratified his former foolish bargain. calamity in consequence: yet it is plain that he expressed no proper value for the spiritual blessings of the covenant, made with Abraham and Isaac, which were thus transferred to Jacob. V. 27-29. The hand of God is manifest in this transaction; and the blessing pronounced on Jacob was an evident prophecy, which was fulfilled in the history of the two nations descended from Jacob and Esau: and indeed the language of the original implies this; being literally, "God shall give thee, ... the people shall serve thee, &c." It is likewise observable, that no explicit mention is made here, as elsewhere, of the promised Seed and of the promised land. Perhaps Isaac was conscious, that these were intended for Jacob, and confined his interpretation of the answer given Rebekah to these particulars; or he deemed that matter determined by the sale of the birth-right; or he knew that Esau did not set much value on the spiritual meaning of the blessing, and therefore couched it in general terms. Indeed, he seems to have spoken with hesitation; yet he was led Is not he? &c.] an Or, “Is to use such expressions, as assigned the domin- it because one called his name Jacob?"-Does ion to Jacob, and conferred on him the sub-he act in this manner, because the name Jacob stance of the blessings first promised to Abraham. (Note, 12:1-3.) Dew, &c. (28.) Marg. Ref. s.-Thy mother's sons. (29.) The sons not only of the same father, as Ishmael was brother to Isaac; but of the same mother also, as Jacob was brother to Esau. Jacob, with his posterity, was especially intended, whom Isaac desired and hoped would be subject to Esau and his posterity; though their mother Rebekah, as he well knew, favored Jacob. V. 33. By the unexpected entrance of Esau, and his address and answer, Isaac was exceedingly agitated and alarmed. Various reflections now rushed at once into his mind; and he was convinced that he had been rashly attempting to counteract the appointment of God. The language of this verse most emphat V. 36. was given him?-See 2 Sam. 23:19. Heb. Esau spoke, as if Jacob had taken away the birthright by force or fraud; being more disposed to blame his brother than himself.-Jacob.] Note, 25:25,26. V. 38. If Esau might not have that very blessing, which was promised to Abraham, and then limited to Isaac, and now given to Jacob, and which implied and typified the everlasting blessings which believers have in and by Christ, as descended from Jacob; he earnestly entreated, that he might have an assurance of some blessing, though not exactly of the same kind. pierced in his heart, (KaravvxdEvros, Acts 2:37. |