Genesis 26:16 Study Bible: Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go from us, for you are much mightier than we."

◄ Genesis 26:16 ►

Then Abimelech said to Isaac, "Depart from us, for you are much too powerful for us."

Then Abimelech said to Isaac
Abimelech is a title used for Philistine kings, similar to "Pharaoh" in Egypt. This Abimelech is likely a successor to the one who interacted with Abraham in Genesis 20. The relationship between Isaac and Abimelech reflects the ongoing interactions between the patriarchs and the Philistines, a recurring theme in Genesis. Isaac, like his father Abraham, had settled in Gerar, a Philistine territory, during a time of famine. This setting highlights the tension between the nomadic patriarchs and the established city-states of the region.

“Depart from us
This request for Isaac to leave indicates a growing tension between Isaac and the Philistines. Isaac had become prosperous in the land, which led to envy and fear among the Philistines. The request to depart is reminiscent of similar situations where God's people are asked to leave due to their increasing influence and prosperity, such as the Israelites in Egypt (Exodus 1:9-10). This reflects a pattern where God's blessing on His people often leads to conflict with surrounding nations.

for you are much too powerful for us.”
Isaac's power and wealth had grown significantly, as described earlier in Genesis 26:12-14, where it is noted that he reaped a hundredfold and became very wealthy. This prosperity was a sign of God's blessing, fulfilling the promise made to Abraham regarding his descendants (Genesis 12:2-3). The Philistines' fear of Isaac's power underscores the theme of God's protection and provision for His chosen people. This situation foreshadows later events in Israel's history, where the nation's growth and God's favor lead to both fear and hostility from surrounding nations.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Isaac
The son of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac is a patriarch of Israel. In this chapter, he is living in the land of the Philistines during a famine.

2. Abimelech
The king of the Philistines in Gerar. He interacts with Isaac, recognizing his growing power and influence.

3. Gerar
A Philistine city where Isaac temporarily resides. It is significant as a place of both conflict and blessing for Isaac.

4. Philistines
The people living in the region of Gerar. They become envious of Isaac's prosperity.

5. Famine
A severe shortage of food that prompts Isaac to move to Gerar, following God's guidance.

Teaching Points

God's Provision in Adversity
Just as God provided for Isaac during the famine, He provides for us in our times of need. Trust in God's faithfulness even when circumstances seem dire.

Prosperity and Envy
Isaac's prosperity led to envy from the Philistines. Be mindful of how blessings can affect relationships and strive for peace and humility.

Obedience and Blessing
Isaac's obedience to God's direction resulted in blessing. Our obedience to God's Word can lead to spiritual and sometimes material blessings.

Conflict and Resolution
Isaac's peaceful departure from Gerar demonstrates a godly response to conflict. Seek peaceful resolutions and trust God to handle opposition.

Influence and Witness
Isaac's influence was recognized by Abimelech. Our lives should reflect God's work in us, serving as a witness to those around us.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Isaac's experience in Gerar reflect God's faithfulness during times of scarcity, and how can we apply this to our own lives?

2. In what ways can prosperity lead to envy, and how should Christians handle such situations according to biblical principles?

3. How does Isaac's response to Abimelech's request demonstrate a godly approach to conflict resolution?

4. What lessons can we learn from Isaac's obedience to God, and how can we apply these lessons to our daily walk with Christ?

5. How can we ensure that our influence and witness reflect God's work in our lives, especially in environments where we may face opposition?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 12
Abraham's journey to Egypt during a famine parallels Isaac's move to Gerar, showing a recurring theme of God's provision during times of scarcity.

Genesis 21
Abraham's earlier interactions with Abimelech set a precedent for Isaac's experiences, highlighting themes of covenant and conflict resolution.

Exodus 1
The Israelites' growth in Egypt and the resulting fear of the Egyptians mirrors Isaac's prosperity and the Philistines' reaction.

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

Abimelech, Abim'elech, Hast, Isaac, Mightier, Move, Powerful, Stronger

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Genesis 26:12-22

4296 wells

Genesis 26:15-22

8716 dishonesty, examples

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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