New American Standard Bible 1995

Genesis 26

Isaac Settles in Gerar

1Now there wasa famineרָעָב֙ra.'AvH7458in the landבָּאָ֔רֶץba.'A.retzH776,besidesמִלְּבַד֙mi.le.VadH4480 H905the previousהָרִאשׁ֔וֹןha.ri.ShonH7223famineהָרָעָ֣בha.ra.'AvH7458that had occurredH1961in the daysבִּימֵ֣יbi.MeiH3117of Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85.So Isaacיִצְחָ֛קyitz.ChakH3327wentוַיֵּ֧לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980to Gerarגְּרָֽרָה׃ge.Ra.rahH1642, toAbimelechאֲבִימֶּ֥לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםpe.lish.TimH6430.

2The Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068appearedוַיֵּרָ֤אvai.ye.Ra'H7200to him and saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Do not goתֵּרֵ֣דte.RedH3381downH3381to Egyptמִצְרָ֑יְמָהmitz.Ra.ye.mahH4714;stayשְׁכֹ֣ןshe.KhonH7931in the landבָּאָ֔רֶץba.'A.retzH776of whichאֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834I shall tellאֹמַ֥ר'o.MarH559you.

3Sojournגּ֚וּרgurH1481in thisH2088landבָּאָ֣רֶץba.'A.retzH776and I will be with you andblessוַאֲבָרְכֶ֑ךָּva.'a.va.re.Khe.kaH1288you, for to you and to yourdescendantsוּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֗u.le.zar.'a.KhaH2233I will giveאֶתֵּן֙'e.TenH5414allכָּל־kol-H3605theseהָאֵ֔לha.'ElH411landsהָֽאֲרָצֹ֣תha.'a.ra.TzotH776,and I will establishוַהֲקִֽמֹתִי֙va.ha.ki.mo.TiH6965the oathהַשְּׁבֻעָ֔הha.she.vu.'AhH7621whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834I sworeנִשְׁבַּ֖עְתִּיnish.Ba'.tiH7650to your fatherאָבִֽיךָ׃'a.Vi.khaH1Abrahamלְאַבְרָהָ֥םle.'av.ra.HamH85.

4I will multiplyוְהִרְבֵּיתִ֤יve.hir.bei.TiH7235yourdescendantsזַרְעֲךָ֙zar.'a.KhaH2233as the starsכְּכוֹכְבֵ֣יke.chokh.VeiH3556of heavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064,and will giveוְנָתַתִּ֣יve.na.ta.TiH5414yourdescendantsלְזַרְעֲךָ֔le.zar.'a.KhaH2233allכָּל־kol-H3605theseהָאֵ֑לha.'ElH411landsהָאֲרָצֹ֖תha.'a.ra.TzotH776; and by yourdescendantsבְזַרְעֲךָ֔ve.zar.'a.KhaH2233allכֹּ֖לkolH3605the nationsגּוֹיֵ֥יgo.YeiH1471of the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776shall be blessedוְהִתְבָּרֲכ֣וּve.hit.ba.ra.KhuH1288;

5becauseעֵ֕קֶב אֲשֶׁר־'E.kev 'a.Sher-H6118 H834Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֖ם'av.ra.HamH85obeyedשָׁמַ֥ע בְּקֹלִ֑יsha.Ma' be.ko.LiH8085 H6963Me and keptוַיִּשְׁמֹר֙vai.yish.MorH8104My chargeמִשְׁמַרְתִּ֔יmish.mar.TiH4931,My commandmentsמִצְוֹתַ֖יmitz.vo.TaiH4687,My statutesחֻקּוֹתַ֥יchu.ko.TaiH2708and My lawsוְתוֹרֹתָֽי׃ve.to.ro.TaiH8451.”

6So Isaacיִצְחָ֖קyitz.ChakH3327livedוַיֵּ֥שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427in Gerarבִּגְרָֽר׃big.RarH1642.

7When the menH376of the placeהַמָּקוֹם֙ha.ma.kOmH4725askedוַֽיִּשְׁאֲל֞וּvai.yish.'a.LuH7592about his wifeלְאִשְׁתּ֔וֹle.'ish.ToH802,he saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “She is my sisterאֲחֹ֣תִי'a.Cho.tiH269,” for he wasafraidיָרֵא֙ya.Re'H3372to sayלֵאמֹ֣רle.MorH559, “my wifeאִשְׁתִּ֔י'ish.TiH802,” thinking, “the menH376of the placeהַמָּקוֹם֙ha.ma.kOmH4725might killיַֽהַרְגֻ֜נִיya.har.Gu.niH2026me on accountעַל־'al-H5921of Rebekahרִבְקָ֔הriv.KahH7259, for she isbeautifulטוֹבַ֥תto.VatH2896.”

8It cameוַיְהִ֗יvay.HiH1961about, whenכִּ֣יkiH3588he had been thereשָׁם֙shamH8033a longאָֽרְכוּ־'a.re.khu-H748timeהַיָּמִ֔יםhai.ya.MimH3117,that Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙'a.vi.Me.lekhH40kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםpe.lish.TimH6430lookedוַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ףvai.yash.KefH8259out throughבְּעַ֖דbe.'AdH1157a windowהַֽחַלּ֑וֹןha.cha.LonH2474,and sawוַיַּ֗רְאvai.Yar'H7200,and beholdוְהִנֵּ֤הve.hi.NehH2009,Isaacיִצְחָק֙yitz.ChakH3327was caressingמְצַחֵ֔קme.tza.ChekH6711his wifeאִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃'ish.ToH802Rebekahרִבְקָ֥הriv.KahH7259.

9Then Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40calledוַיִּקְרָ֨אvai.yik.Ra'H7121Isaacלְיִצְחָ֗קle.yitz.ChakH3327and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “Beholdהִנֵּ֤הhi.NehH2009,certainlyאַ֣ךְ'akhH389she is your wifeאִשְׁתְּךָ֙'ish.te.KhaH802!Howוְאֵ֥יךְve.'EikhH349then did you sayאָמַ֖רְתָּ'a.Mar.taH559, ‘She is my sisterאֲחֹ֣תִי'a.Cho.tiH269’?”And Isaacיִצְחָ֔קyitz.ChakH3327saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “Becauseכִּ֣יkiH3588I saidאָמַ֔רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559, ‘I mightפֶּן־pen-H6435dieאָמ֖וּת'a.MutH4191on accountעָלֶֽיהָ׃'a.Lei.haH5921of her.’”

10Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whatמַה־mah-H4100is thisH2088you have doneעָשִׂ֣יתָ'a.Si.taH6213to us? Oneאַחַ֤ד'a.ChadH259of the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971might easilyכִּ֠מְעַטKim.'atH4592have lainשָׁכַ֞בsha.KhavH7901with your wifeאִשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ'ish.Te.khaH802,and you would have broughtוְהֵבֵאתָ֥ve.he.ve.TaH935guiltאָשָֽׁם׃'a.ShamH817upon us.”

11So Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40chargedוַיְצַ֣וvay.TzavH6680allכָּל־kol-H3605the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, “He whotouchesהַנֹּגֵ֜עַha.no.Ge.a'H5060thisהַזֶּ֛הha.ZehH2088manבָּאִ֥ישׁba.'IshH376or his wifeוּבְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹu.ve.'ish.ToH802shall surelyH4191be putH4191to deathH4191.”

12Now Isaacיִצְחָק֙yitz.ChakH3327sowedוַיִּזְרַ֤עvai.yiz.Ra'H2232in that landבָּאָ֣רֶץba.'A.retzH776andreapedוַיִּמְצָ֛אvai.yim.Tza'H4672in the sameH1931yearבַּשָּׁנָ֥הba.sha.NahH8141a hundredfoldמֵאָ֣ה שְׁעָרִ֑יםme.'Ah she.'a.RimH3967 H8180. Andthe Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068blessedוַֽיְבָרֲכֵ֖הוּvay.va.ra.Khe.huH1288him,

13and the manהָאִ֑ישׁha.'IshH376becameH1431richH1431,and continuedH1980to growH1432richerH1432untilעַ֥ד'adH5704he becameH1431veryמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966wealthyH1431;

14forhe hadוַֽיְהִי־vay.hi-H1961possessionsH4735of flocksצֹאן֙tzoNH6629and herdsבָקָ֔רva.KarH1241and a greatרַבָּ֑הra.BahH7227householdוַעֲבֻדָּ֖הva.'a.vu.DahH5657,so that the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃pe.lish.TimH6430enviedוַיְקַנְא֥וּvay.kan.'UH7065him.

15Nowallוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the wellsהַבְּאֵרֹ֗תha.be.'e.RotH875whichאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834his father’sאָבִ֔יו'a.VivH1servantsעַבְדֵ֣י'av.DeiH5650had dugחָֽפְרוּ֙cha.fe.RuH2658in the daysבִּימֵ֖יbi.MeiH3117of Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֣ם'av.ra.HamH85his fatherאָבִ֑יו'a.VivH1,the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםpe.lish.TimH6430stoppedסִתְּמ֣וּםsi.te.MumH5640upby fillingוַיְמַלְא֖וּםvay.mal.'UmH4390them with earthעָפָֽר׃'a.FarH6083.

16Then Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Isaacיִצְחָ֑קyitz.ChakH3327, “Goלֵ֚ךְlekhH1980away from us, for you aretooמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966powerfulעָצַֽמְתָּ־'a.tzam.ta-H6105for us.”

17And Isaacיִצְחָ֑קyitz.ChakH3327departedוַיֵּ֥לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980from thereמִשָּׁ֖םmi.ShamH8033and campedוַיִּ֥חַןvai.Yi.chanH2583in the valleyבְּנַֽחַל־be.na.chal-H5158of Gerarגְּרָ֖רge.RarH1642, andsettledוַיֵּ֥שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427thereשָֽׁם׃ShamH8033.

Quarrel over the Wells

18Then Isaacיִצְחָ֜קyitz.ChakH3327dugוַיַּחְפֹּ֣ר׀vai.yach.PorH2658againוַיָּ֨שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725the wellsבְּאֵרֹ֣תbe.'e.RotH875of waterהַמַּ֗יִםha.Ma.yimH4325whichאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834had been dugחָֽפְרוּ֙cha.fe.RuH2658in the daysבִּימֵי֙bi.MeiH3117of his fatherאָבִ֔יו'a.VivH1Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֣ם'av.ra.HamH85,for the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםpe.lish.TimH6430had stoppedוַיְסַתְּמ֣וּםvay.sa.te.MumH5640them up afterאַחֲרֵ֖י'a.cha.ReiH310the deathמ֣וֹתMotH4194of Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85; and hegaveוַיִּקְרָ֤אvai.yik.Ra'H7121them the sameשֵׁמ֔וֹתshe.MotH8034namesכַּשֵּׁמֹ֕תka.she.MotH8034whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834his fatherאָבִֽיו׃'a.VivH1hadgivenקָרָ֥אka.Ra'H7121them.

19But when Isaac’sיִצְחָ֖קyitz.ChakH3327servantsעַבְדֵֽי־'av.dei-H5650dugוַיַּחְפְּר֥וּvai.yach.pe.RuH2658in the valleyבַּנָּ֑חַלba.Na.chalH5158and foundוַיִּ֨מְצְאוּ־vai.Yim.tze.'u-H4672thereשָׁ֔םShamH8033a wellבְּאֵ֖רbe.'ErH875offlowingחַיִּֽים׃chai.YimH2416waterמַ֥יִםMa.yimH4325,

20the herdsmenרֹעֵ֣יro.'EiH7462of Gerarגְרָ֗רge.RarH1642quarreledוַיָּרִ֜יבוּvai.ya.Ri.vuH7378with the herdsmenרֹעֵ֥יro.'EiH7462of Isaacיִצְחָ֛קyitz.ChakH3327,sayingלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559, “The waterהַמָּ֑יִםha.Ma.yimH4325is ours!” So he namedוַיִּקְרָ֤א שֵֽׁם־vai.yik.Ra' shem-H7121 H8034the wellהַבְּאֵר֙ha.be.'ErH875Esekעֵ֔שֶׂק'E.sekH6230,becauseכִּ֥יkiH3588they contendedהִֽתְעַשְּׂק֖וּhit.'a.se.KuH6229with him.

21Then they dugוַֽיַּחְפְּרוּ֙vai.yach.pe.RuH2658anotherאַחֶ֔רֶת'a.Che.retH312wellבְּאֵ֣רbe.'ErH875,and they quarreledוַיָּרִ֖יבוּvai.ya.Ri.vuH7378overעָלֶ֑יהָ'a.Lei.haH5921it tooגַּם־gam-H1571,so he namedוַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמָ֖הּvai.yik.Ra' she.MahH7121 H8034itSitnahשִׂטְנָֽה׃sit.NahH7856.

22He movedH6275awayH6275from thereמִשָּׁ֗םmi.ShamH8033and dugוַיַּחְפֹּר֙vai.yach.PorH2658anotherאַחֶ֔רֶת'a.Che.retH312wellבְּאֵ֣רbe.'ErH875,and they did not quarrelרָב֖וּra.VuH7378overעָלֶ֑יהָ'a.Lei.haH5921it; so he namedוַיִּקְרָ֤א שְׁמָהּ֙vai.yik.Ra' she.MahH7121 H8034itRehobothרְחֹב֔וֹתre.cho.VotH7344,for he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “At lastכִּֽי־ עַתָּ֞הki- 'a.TahH3588 H6258the Lordיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068has madeH7337roomH7337for us, and we will befruitfulוּפָרִ֥ינוּu.fa.Ri.nuH6509in the landבָאָֽרֶץ׃va.'A.retzH776.”

23Then he wentוַיַּ֥עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927up from thereמִשָּׁ֖םmi.ShamH8033toBeershebaH884.

24The Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068appearedוַיֵּרָ֨אvai.ye.Ra'H7200to him the sameהַה֔וּאha.Hu'H1931nightבַּלַּ֣יְלָהba.Lay.lahH3915and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “I am the Godאֱלֹהֵ֖י'e.lo.HeiH430of your fatherאָבִ֑יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֣ם'av.ra.HamH85;Do not fearתִּירָא֙ti.Ra'H3372, for I am with you. Iwill blessוּבֵֽרַכְתִּ֙יךָ֙u.ve.rakh.Ti.khaH1288you, and multiplyוְהִרְבֵּיתִ֣יve.hir.bei.TiH7235yourdescendantsזַרְעֲךָ֔zar.'a.KhaH2233,For the sakeבַּעֲב֖וּרba.'a.VurH5668of My servantעַבְדִּֽי׃'av.DiH5650Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֥ם'av.ra.HamH85.”

25So he builtוַיִּ֧בֶןvai.Yi.venH1129analtarמִזְבֵּ֗חַmiz.Be.achH4196thereשָׁ֣םshamH8033and calledוַיִּקְרָא֙vai.yik.Ra'H7121upon the nameבְּשֵׁ֣םbe.ShemH8034of the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,and pitchedוַיֶּט־vai.yet-H5186his tentאָהֳל֑וֹ'o.ho.LoH168thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033;and thereשָׁ֥םshamH8033Isaac’sיִצְחָ֖קyitz.ChakH3327servantsעַבְדֵי־'av.dei-H5650dugוַיִּכְרוּ־vai.yikh.ru-H3738a wellבְּאֵֽר׃be.'ErH875.

Covenant with Abimelech

26ThenAbimelechוַאֲבִימֶ֕לֶךְva.'a.vi.Me.lekhH40cameהָלַ֥ךְha.LakhH1980to him from Gerarמִגְּרָ֑רmi.ge.RarH1642with his adviserמֵֽרֵעֵ֔הוּme.re.'E.huH4828Ahuzzathוַאֲחֻזַּת֙va.'a.chu.ZatH276and Phicolוּפִיכֹ֖לu.fi.KholH6369the commanderשַׂר־sar-H8269of his armyצְבָאֽוֹ׃tze.va.'OH6635.

27Isaacיִצְחָ֔קyitz.ChakH3327saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “Whyמַדּ֖וּעַma.Du.a'H4069have you comeבָּאתֶ֣םba.TemH935to me, since you hateשְׂנֵאתֶ֣םse.ne.TemH8130me and have sentH7971me awayוַתְּשַׁלְּח֖וּנִיva.te.sha.le.Chu.niH7971from you?”

28They saidוַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “We seeרָא֣וֹra.'OH7200plainlyרָאִינוּ֮ra.'i.NuH7200that the Lordיְהוָ֣ה׀Yah.wehH3068has beenH1961with you; so we saidוַנֹּ֗אמֶרva.No.merH559, ‘Let there nowנָ֥אna'H4994be an oathאָלָ֛ה'a.LahH423betweenH996us, evenbetweenH996you and us, and let us makeוְנִכְרְתָ֥הve.nikh.re.TahH3772a covenantבְרִ֖יתve.RitH1285with you,

29that you will doתַּעֲשֵׂ֨הta.'a.SehH6213us noאִם־'im-H518harmH7463,justH3512as we have not touchedנְגַֽעֲנ֔וּךָne.ga.'a.Nu.khaH5060youand have doneעָשִׂ֤ינוּ'a.Si.nuH6213to you nothingH7534but goodט֔וֹבTovH2896and have sentH7971you awayוַנְּשַׁלֵּֽחֲךָ֖va.ne.sha.le.cha.KhaH7971in peaceבְּשָׁל֑וֹםbe.sha.LomH7965.You are nowעַתָּ֖ה'a.TahH6258theblessedבְּר֥וּךְbe.RukhH1288of the Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.’”

30Thenhe madeוַיַּ֤עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213them a feastמִשְׁתֶּ֔הmish.TehH4960,and they ateוַיֹּאכְל֖וּvai.yo.khe.LuH398and drankוַיִּשְׁתּֽוּ׃vai.yish.TuH8354.

31In the morningבַבֹּ֔קֶרva.Bo.kerH1242they aroseH7925earlyוַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּvai.yash.Ki.muH7925andexchangedH7650oathsוַיִּשָּׁבְע֖וּvai.yi.sha.ve.'UH7650;then Isaacיִצְחָ֔קyitz.ChakH3327sentH7971them awayH7971and they departedוַיֵּלְכ֥וּvai.ye.le.KhuH1980from him in peaceבְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃be.sha.LomH7965.

32Now it cameוַיְהִ֣י׀vay.HiH1961about on the sameהַה֗וּאha.Hu'H1931dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117,that Isaac’sיִצְחָ֔קyitz.ChakH3327servantsעַבְדֵ֣י'av.DeiH5650cameוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uH935in and toldוַיַּגִּ֣דוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046him aboutעַל־ אֹד֥וֹת'al- 'o.DotH5921 H182the wellהַבְּאֵ֖רha.be.'ErH875whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834they had dugחָפָ֑רוּcha.Fa.ruH2658,and saidוַיֹּ֥אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559to him, “We have foundמָצָ֥אנוּma.Tza.nuH4672waterמָֽיִם׃Ma.yimH4325.”

33So he calledוַיִּקְרָ֥אvai.yik.Ra'H7121it Shibahשִׁבְעָ֑הshiv.'AhH7656;thereforeעַל־ כֵּ֤ן'al- kenH5921 H3651the nameשֵׁם־shem-H8034of the cityהָעִיר֙ha.'IrH5892isBeershebaH884to thisהַזֶּֽה׃ סha.ZehH2088dayהַיּ֥וֹםhai.YomH3117.

34When Esauעֵשָׂו֙'e.SavH6215was fortyאַרְבָּעִ֣ים'ar.ba.'ImH705yearsשָׁנָ֔הsha.NahH8141oldבֶּן־ben-H1121hemarriedוַיִּקַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙vai.yi.Kach 'i.ShahH3947 H802Judithיְהוּדִ֔יתye.hu.DitH3067the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Beeriבְּאֵרִ֖יbe.'e.RiH882the Hittiteהַֽחִתִּ֑יha.chi.TiH2850,and Basemathבָּ֣שְׂמַ֔תba.se.MatH1315the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Elonאֵילֹ֖ן'ei.LonH356the Hittiteהַֽחִתִּֽי׃Ha.chi.TiH2850;

35and theybroughtוַתִּהְיֶ֖יןָva.tih.Yei.naH1961griefמֹ֣רַת ר֑וּחַMo.rat Ru.achH4786 H7307to Isaacלְיִצְחָ֖קle.yitz.ChakH3327and Rebekahוּלְרִבְקָֽה׃ סu.le.riv.KahH7259.

Isaac Settles in Gerar

Quarrel over the Wells

Covenant with Abimelech

Commentaries on Genesis 26