Genesis 26
Read the Text
Summary
There is a famine in the land. Isaac travels to Gerar. The Lord commands him not to go into Egypt, but to stay and dwell in Gerar. When the men of the land ask about his wife, he fears that they will kill him for her, so, much like Abraham, Isaac tells them that Rebekah is his sister. Abimelech, king of the Philistines, sees Isaac with Rebekah and, as was with Abraham, confronts Isaac. He warns the people not to touch Isaac or Rebekah so that no guiltiness will fall upon the people. The Lord blesses Isaac. Once Isaac has become mighty and wealthy, he dwells in the valley of Gerar and digs wells in the land. The Lord visits him and tells him that He will prosper him and his seed. Abimelech and his chief captain go to Isaac and they all covenant to do no harm unto each other. Esau marries Judith and Bashemath. Rebekah and Isaac are concerned by Esau's marital decision.
Commentary
Bible Central Commentary
These free resources were developed for use in the free ScripturePlus app. Many of the contributors are professors of religion and ancient scripture at Brigham Young University.
Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, “Genesis 25–27,” in Genesis, Old Testament Minute Commentary Series, ed. Taylor Halverson (Springville, UT: Book of Mormon Central, 2021).
Historical Commentaries
Many of the commentaries below are in the public domain and were authored over 100 years ago. In many cases, they do not reflect the findings of modern scholarship, but they may be helpful for understanding the history of biblical scholarship.
Videos
Watch selected videos on this chapter of the Bible to enhance your study. Note: Not all videos included come from a Latter-day Saint perspective. Inclusion on this list should not imply endorsement for all content.
Historical Settings
Time
*All Dates Are Approximate, according to the narrative of the Bible. These dates may reflect literary significance as opposed to the precise dates of history.
See Biblical Chronology- 1977 BC*
Further Reading
Gaye Strathearn, “The Wife/Sister Experience: Pharaoh’s Introduction to Jehovah,” in Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament, ed. Paul Y. Hoskisson (Provo and Salt Lake City: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, and Deseret Book 2005), 100–116.
Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible
Matthew Henry (1706)
Commentary on the Bible
Adam Clarke (1831)
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable
Thomas Constable
Rashi’s Commentary
Rashi (Shlomo Yitzchaki)
Notes on the Bible
Albert Barnes (1834)
Exposition of the Entire Bible
John Gill (1746–63)
Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch (1857–78)
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible
John Wesley (1754–65)