DaySpring Hope & Encouragement Bible - Flipbook - Page 53
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G enesis 26
“How could you do this to us?” Abimelech exclaimed. “One of my people
might easily have taken your wife and slept with her, and you would have
made us guilty of great sin.”
11 Then Abimelech issued a public proclamation: “Anyone who touches
this man or his wife will be put to death!”
10
Conflict over Water Rights
12 When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more
grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. 13 He became a very rich man,
and his wealth continued to grow. 14 He acquired so many flocks of sheep and
goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him.
15 So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells
that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham.
16 Finally, Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave the country. “Go somewhere
else,” he said, “for you have become too powerful for us.”
17 So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley, where he set up their tents and
settled down. 18 He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Phi
listines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names
Abraham had given them.
19 Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh
water. 20 But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring.
“This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen.
So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”). 21 Isaac’s men then
dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sit
nah (which means “hostility”). 22 Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and
dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the
place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the Lord
has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”
23 From there Isaac moved to Beersheba, 24 where the Lord appeared to
him on the night of his arrival. “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he
said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you. I will multiply
your descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will do this because
of my promise to Abraham, my servant.” 25 Then Isaac built an altar there
and worshiped the Lord. He set up his camp at that place, and his servants
dug another well.
Isaac’s Covenant with Abimelech
26 One day King Abimelech came from Gerar with his adviser, Ahuzzath, and
also Phicol, his army commander. 27 “Why have you come here?” Isaac asked.
“You obviously hate me, since you kicked me off your land.”
28 They replied, “We can plainly see that the Lord is with you. So we want
to enter into a sworn treaty with you. Let’s make a covenant. 29 Swear that
you will not harm us, just as we have never troubled you. We have always
treated you well, and we sent you away from us in peace. And now look how
the Lord has blessed you!”
30 So Isaac prepared a covenant feast to celebrate the treaty, and they ate
and drank together. 31 Early the next morning, they each took a solemn oath
not to interfere with each other. Then Isaac sent them home again, and they
left him in peace.
32 That very day Isaac’s servants came and told him about a new well they
