Genesis 26:14 Study Bible: He had possessions of flocks, possessions of herds, and a great household. The Philistines envied him.

◄ Genesis 26:14 ►

He owned so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.

He owned so many flocks and herds and servants
This phrase highlights the wealth and prosperity of Isaac, which was a sign of God's blessing. In the ancient Near East, wealth was often measured by the size of one's livestock and the number of servants. This abundance reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac's father, that his descendants would be blessed (Genesis 12:2). The accumulation of flocks and herds indicates not only material wealth but also social status and influence. In a pastoral society, such resources were essential for survival and prosperity.

that the Philistines envied him.
The Philistines were a significant group in the region, often in conflict with the Israelites. Their envy of Isaac's prosperity suggests a tension between the two groups. This envy can be seen as a precursor to the later conflicts between the Philistines and the Israelites, as seen in the stories of Samson and David. Envy is a recurring theme in the Bible, often leading to strife and conflict, as seen in the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:5) and Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 37:11). The Philistines' envy also underscores the idea that God's blessings upon His chosen people can provoke jealousy among others, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Isaac
The son of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac is the central figure in this passage. He is blessed by God with prosperity, which leads to envy from others.

2. Philistines
A group of people living in the region of Canaan. They are significant in this passage as they become envious of Isaac's wealth and success.

3. Gerar
The region where Isaac is residing during this time. It is ruled by Abimelech, the king of the Philistines.

Teaching Points

God's Blessing and Human Envy
God's blessings can sometimes lead to envy from others. As believers, we should be prepared for this and respond with grace and humility.

Prosperity as a Testimony
Isaac's wealth was a testament to God's faithfulness. Our own prosperity, whether material or spiritual, should point others to God's goodness.

Handling Envy
When faced with envy from others, we should seek to maintain peace and trust in God's protection, as Isaac did.

Stewardship of Blessings
Isaac's management of his wealth and resources can inspire us to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Isaac's experience with the Philistines reflect the challenges of living out God's blessings in a world that may not understand or appreciate them?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our prosperity serves as a testimony to God's faithfulness rather than a source of envy?

3. How can we apply the principles of stewardship seen in Isaac's life to our own management of resources?

4. What are some practical ways to respond to envy from others in a manner that reflects Christ's love and humility?

5. How do the experiences of Isaac in Genesis 26:14 connect with the broader account of God's promises to Abraham and his descendants?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 12:2-3
God's promise to Abraham about making his descendants a great nation and blessing them. Isaac, as Abraham's son, is a recipient of this promise, which is evident in his prosperity.

Exodus 1:7-12
The Israelites in Egypt grew in number and strength, leading to the Egyptians' envy and fear. This parallels the Philistines' envy of Isaac's prosperity.

Proverbs 14:30
Discusses the destructive nature of envy, which is relevant to the Philistines' reaction to Isaac's wealth.

Sermons

Lessons	G. Hughes, B. D.	Genesis 26:14-16
No Worldly Blessing is Unalloyed	F. W. Robertson, M. A.	Genesis 26:14-16
The Prosperous are Subject to Envy	G. Hughes, B. D.	Genesis 26:14-16
Line Upon Line, in God's Teaching	R.A. Redford	Genesis 26

People

Abimelech, Ahuzzath, Bashemath, Basmath, Beeri, Elon, Esau, Isaac, Judith, Phichol, Rebekah

Places

Beersheba, Egypt, Esek, Gerar, Rehoboth, Shibah, Sitnah, Valley of Gerar

Topics

Abundant, Envied, Envy, Flock, Flocks, Full, Herd, Herds, Household, Numbers, Philistines, Possession, Possessions, Servants, Service, Store, Wealth

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Genesis 26:14

5414 money, stewardship
5476 property

Genesis 26:1-14

8796 persecution, forms of

Library

The First Apostle of Peace at any Price
'Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold, and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. 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. And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

"Thou Art Now the Blessed of the Lord. "
"Thou art now the blessed of the Lord."--Genesis 26:29. THESE words truly describe the position of many whom I address at this time. There are hundreds here upon whom my eye can rest, and to any one of whom I might point with this finger, or rather, to whom I might extend this hand, to give a hearty shake, and say, "Thou art now the blessed of the Lord." I need not say it in the same spirit, nor for the same reason, that the Philistines did. They had behaved basely towards Isaac, and now that he …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892

Tithing
There are few subjects on which the Lord's own people are more astray than on the subject of giving. They profess to take the Bible as their own rule of faith and practice, and yet in the matter of Christian finance, the vast majority have utterly ignored its plain teachings and have tried every substitute the carnal mind could devise; therefore it is no wonder that the majority of Christian enterprises in the world today are handicapped and crippled through the lack of funds. Is our giving to be …
Arthur W. Pink—Tithing

Whether Every Lie is a Sin?
Objection 1: It seems that not every lie is a sin. For it is evident that the evangelists did not sin in the writing of the Gospel. Yet they seem to have told something false: since their accounts of the words of Christ and of others often differ from one another: wherefore seemingly one of them must have given an untrue account. Therefore not every lie is a sin. Objection 2: Further, no one is rewarded by God for sin. But the midwives of Egypt were rewarded by God for a lie, for it is stated that …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Elucidation.
The conduct of Father Abraham, although not approved of by Inspiration, but simply recorded (Gen. xxvi. 7), gave early Christians an opinion that the wicked may be justly foiled, by equivocation and deception, for the preservation of innocence or the life of the innocent. In such case the person deceived, they might argue, is not injured, but benefited (Gen. xxvi. 10), being saved from committing violence and murder. The Corinthian maiden was accustomed to be veiled (as Tertullian intimates), and …
Hippolytus—The Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus

An Obscured vision
(Preached at the opening of the Winona Lake Bible Conference.) TEXT: "Where there is no vision, the people perish."--Proverbs 29:18. It is not altogether an easy matter to secure a text for such an occasion as this; not because the texts are so few in number but rather because they are so many, for one has only to turn over the pages of the Bible in the most casual way to find them facing him at every reading. Feeling the need of advice for such a time as this, I asked a number of my friends who …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot

The Plan for the Coming of Jesus.
God's Darling, Psalms 8:5-8.--the plan for the new man--the Hebrew picture by itself--difference between God's plan and actual events--one purpose through breaking plans--the original plan--a starting point--getting inside. Fastening a Tether inside: the longest way around--the pedigree--the start. First Touches on the Canvas: the first touch, Genesis 3:15.--three groups of prediction--first group: to Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3; to Isaac, Genesis 26:1-5; to Jacob, Genesis 28:10-15; through Jacob, …
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

And to Holy David Indeed it Might More Justly be Said...
22. And to holy David indeed it might more justly be said, that he ought not to have been angry; no, not with one however ungrateful and rendering evil for good; yet if, as man, anger did steal over him, he ought not to have let it so prevail, that he should swear to do a thing which either by giving way to his rage he should do, or by breaking his oath leave undone. But to the other, set as he was amid the libidinous frenzy of the Sodomites, who would dare to say, "Although thy guests in thine own …
St. Augustine—Against Lying

Covenanting Performed in Former Ages with Approbation from Above.
That the Lord gave special token of his approbation of the exercise of Covenanting, it belongs to this place to show. His approval of the duty was seen when he unfolded the promises of the Everlasting Covenant to his people, while they endeavoured to perform it; and his approval thereof is continually seen in his fulfilment to them of these promises. The special manifestations of his regard, made to them while attending to the service before him, belonged to one or other, or both, of those exhibitions …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee.
Subdivision B. At Jacob's Well, and at Sychar. ^D John IV. 5-42. ^d 5 So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 and Jacob's well was there. [Commentators long made the mistake of supposing that Shechem, now called Nablous, was the town here called Sychar. Sheckem lies a mile and a half west of Jacob's well, while the real Sychar, now called 'Askar, lies scarcely half a mile north of the well. It was a small town, loosely called …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology.
(Ad. vol. i. p. 42, note 4.) In comparing the allegorical Canons of Philo with those of Jewish traditionalism, we think first of all of the seven exegetical canons which are ascribed to Hillel. These bear chiefly the character of logical deductions, and as such were largely applied in the Halakhah. These seven canons were next expanded by R. Ishmael (in the first century) into thirteen, by the analysis of one of them (the 5th) into six, and the addition of this sound exegetical rule, that where two …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Sundry Sharp Reproofs
This doctrine draws up a charge against several sorts: 1 Those that think themselves good Christians, yet have not learned this art of holy mourning. Luther calls mourning a rare herb'. Men have tears to shed for other things, but have none to spare for their sins. There are many murmurers, but few mourners. Most are like the stony ground which lacked moisture' (Luke 8:6). We have many cry out of hard times, but they are not sensible of hard hearts. Hot and dry is the worst temper of the body. Sure …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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