Genesis 26:6 Study Bible: Isaac lived in Gerar.

◄ Genesis 26:6 ►

So Isaac settled in Gerar.

So Isaac settled in Gerar.
Isaac: Isaac is the son of Abraham and Sarah, and the father of Jacob and Esau. He is a patriarch in the lineage of the Israelites and is often seen as a type of Christ, representing obedience and submission to God's will. His life is marked by God's promises and blessings, which are passed down from Abraham.

Settled: The act of settling indicates a temporary or semi-permanent residence. In the context of the nomadic lifestyle of the patriarchs, settling in a place often involved establishing a camp or community. This decision reflects obedience to God's guidance, as Isaac was instructed to stay in the land rather than go to Egypt during a famine.

Gerar: Gerar is a Philistine city located in the Negev region, south of Canaan. It is significant in the biblical narrative as a place where both Abraham and Isaac interacted with the Philistine king, Abimelech. Archaeological evidence suggests that Gerar was a well-established city during the time of the patriarchs, with a strategic location for trade and agriculture. The presence of Isaac in Gerar highlights the ongoing interactions and tensions between the Israelites and the Philistines, which are a recurring theme in the Old Testament. This setting also foreshadows future conflicts and alliances between these groups.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Isaac
The son of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac is a patriarch of the Israelites. In this chapter, he is following God's guidance during a time of famine.

2. Gerar
A Philistine city where Isaac settles. It is significant as a place where both Abraham and Isaac interacted with the Philistine king, Abimelech.

3. Abimelech
The king of the Philistines in Gerar. He plays a role in the events surrounding Isaac's stay in Gerar, similar to his interactions with Abraham.

4. Famine
A severe famine prompts Isaac to move, echoing the experiences of his father, Abraham, who also faced famine and traveled to Egypt.

5. God's Promise
The backdrop of this event is God's promise to Isaac, reaffirming the covenant made with Abraham, promising land and descendants.

Teaching Points

Obedience in Uncertainty
Isaac's decision to settle in Gerar demonstrates obedience to God's direction despite uncertain circumstances. Believers are encouraged to trust and obey God even when the future is unclear.

God's Faithfulness
The account underscores God's faithfulness to His promises. Just as God was faithful to Abraham, He is faithful to Isaac, reminding us of His unchanging nature.

Generational Blessings
Isaac's life illustrates the impact of generational blessings and the importance of passing down faith and obedience to future generations.

Courage in Foreign Lands
Isaac's experience in Gerar teaches the importance of maintaining integrity and faith when living in a foreign or challenging environment.

Divine Guidance
The account highlights the importance of seeking and following divine guidance, especially during times of crisis or decision-making.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Isaac's decision to settle in Gerar reflect his faith and obedience to God, and how can we apply this in our own lives when facing uncertainty?

2. In what ways does the account of Isaac in Gerar parallel the experiences of Abraham, and what does this teach us about God's consistency and faithfulness?

3. How can we identify and rely on God's promises in our lives, as Isaac did, especially during challenging times?

4. What lessons can we learn from Isaac's interactions with Abimelech about living faithfully in a non-believing culture?

5. How does the concept of generational blessings and faithfulness play out in your own family, and what steps can you take to ensure a legacy of faith?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 12
Abraham's journey to Egypt during a famine parallels Isaac's journey to Gerar, highlighting the recurring theme of God's provision and guidance during times of scarcity.

Genesis 20
Abraham's earlier encounter with Abimelech in Gerar sets a precedent for Isaac's experiences, showing a pattern of God's protection over the patriarchs.

Hebrews 11
Isaac is mentioned in the "faith hall of fame," emphasizing his role in the lineage of faith and God's covenant promises.

Sermons

Isaac's Deceit	J. H. Smith.	Genesis 26:6-11
Isaac's False Expedient	T. H. Leale.	Genesis 26:6-11
Isaac's Temptation and Sin	A. Fuller.	Genesis 26:6-11
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

Dwelleth, Dwelt, Gerar, Isaac, Stayed

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Genesis 26:1-10

Genesis 26:1-11

Genesis 26:1-14

Genesis 26:6-7

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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