CHAPTER XXVI. for himself. Dwell in the land which I will tell thee of (i. e. Philistia, as appears from Ver. 1.-And there was a famine in the the preceding verse). la.nd (of Canaan), beside the first (i. e. first Ver. 3.-Sojoum in this land,-ru., Pbi- recorded) famine that wa.s in the days of listia (Murphy, Alford), though othomise Abraham-at least a century previous (vide regarded as Canaan (Lange, Keil, Calvin)- eh. xii. 10). And Isaac-who, since his and I will be with thee, and will bless thee. father's death, had been residing at Hegar's Of this comprehensive promise, the first part well in the wilderness of Beersheba (eh. was enjoyed by, while the second was dis- xxv. ll)-went unto Abimelech king of the tinctly stated to, Abraham (cf. eh. xii. 2). :Philistines 11I1to Gere.r (cf. eh. xx. 1, 2; xxi. God's presence with Isaac of higher signifi- 22). Seventy or eighty years having elapsed cance than his presence with lshm11el (eh. since Abraham's sojourn in Gerar, it is xxi. 20). For unto thee, and unto thy seed, sc.'trcely probable that this ,vas the monarch will I give all these-':>~y, an archaism for who then reigned. Ver. 2.-And the Lord (Jehovah, i. e. l"l~~y (cf. eh. xi.x. 8, 25)-countries (i. e. the God of the covenant and of the promise) Canaan end the surroundi~1g lands), .~nd I appeared 11I1to him,-only two Divine mani- will perform the oath (vide eh. XXII. 16) festations are mentioned as having been which I aware unto Abraham thy father. granted to the patriarch_ Either the peaceful Ver. 4.-And I will make thy seed to tenor of Isaac's life rendered more theophanies mnltiply as the stars of heaven (vide eh. in his case =necessary ; or, if others were xv. 1-6), and will give unto thy seed all enjoyed by him, the brief space allotted by these conutries (i. e. the territories occupied the historian to the record of his life may by the Canaanitish tribes); and in thy seed account for their omission from the narrative. shall all the nations of the earth be bleBBed Though commonly understood as having (cf. eh. xii. 3; xxii. 18). occurred in Gerar (Keil, Lange, Murphy), Ver. 5.-Jlecanse that Abraham obeyed this appearance is perhaps better regarded (literally, liearkened to) my voice (a gcueral as having taken place at Lahai-roi, and as description of the patriarch's obediem:e, which having been the cause of Isaac's turning the next clause further particularises), and aside into the land of the Philistines (Calvin) kept my charge, - custodierit c11stodiarn -and said, Go not down into EffYPt-whitber (Calvin); observed my observances (Kalisch); manifestly he bad been purposing to migrate, the rho.rge being that which is in~nded to 0.B his father bad done on the occasion of the be kept-my commandments, - i. e. par- earlier dearth (eh. xii 10). Jacob in the ticular injunctions, specific enactments, ox- later famine was instructed to go down to press or occasional orders (cf. 2 Chron. xxxv. Egypt (eh. :xlvi. 3, 4); Abraham in the first 16)-my atatutea,-or permanent ordinances, 1carcity was left at liberty to think f\D.d act such as the passover; literally, that whkh ia CH. XltVI. 1-6.] THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 325
graven on table, or '17W11,Uments (compare Exod. xiL 14)-and my laws-which refer I the Divino observances which Abraham ob- served. to the grent doctrines of moral obligation. Ver. 6.-And I1aac dwelt in Oerar-as The three terms express tho contents of God had shown and enjoined him.