This document outlines a Bible study session led by Harry Morgan, focusing on Genesis 26, which discusses Isaac's life and his relationship with God amidst challenges such as famine. Key themes include God's commandments and promises to Isaac, parallels between Isaac and Abraham, and the consequences of Isaac's decisions. The session encourages participants to engage with these themes through questions and commentary.

1. An expositional study taught by
Harry Morgan

2. For those of you online, post your comments or questions
in the “comment section” on your screen. As time affords,
they may be read to the class.

3. 1) What is your method or approach for studying
the Bible?
2) What are you expecting from studying the
Word of God?
3) What is chapter 26 about?
4) What is the context of this chapter? What are
the themes of Genesis 25 and 27?
5) What Bible study tools do you use?
6) How are commentaries best used?

4. 1:1-2:3 Prolog
2:4-4:26 The Generations of Heaven & Earth
5:1-6:8 The Generations of Adam
6:9-9:29 The Generations of Noah
10:1-11:9 The Generations of the Sons of Noah
11:10-26 The Generations of Shem
11:27-25:11 The Generations of Terah
25:12-18 The Generations of Ishmael
25:19-35:29 The Generations of Isaac
36:1-43 The Generations of Esau
37:1-50:26 The Generations of Jacob
‫ה‬ָ‫ד‬ְ‫ּתֹול‬ (toledoth) = “generations”

5. 1. Who is the principal subject in this chapter?
(yiṣ·ḥāq) mentioned 16x in Genesis 26‫ק‬ָ‫ח‬ ְ‫צ‬ִ‫י‬

6. 2. How would you outline this chapter?
Briscoe, D. S., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1987). Genesis (Vol. 1, pp. 210–211). Nashville, TN:
Thomas Nelson Inc.

7. 3. How is the subject, Isaac, in this chapter
related to the lives of Jacob and Esau in the
previous chapter?

8. Griffith Thomas characterized
him as “the ordinary son of a
great father and the ordinary
father of a great son.”
As a Type of Christ
Most know Isaac as “the beloved
son” Abraham was prepared to
offer on Mount Moriah. (Gen. 22)

9. 2433BC
2300BC
2100BC
1861BC
Jacob & Esau
Born
4. When did Isaac live?

10. 5. Where do the events of this chapter occur?
➢ City of Gerar (26:1)
➢ Valley of Gerar (26:17)
➢ City of Beersheba (26:23)

11. 6. What locations are significant to Isaac?
➢ Born in Gerar.
➢ Moved with Abraham to Beersheba.
➢ Traveled with Abraham to Moriah.
➢ Returned to Beersheba.
➢ Moved briefly to Hebron for Sarah’s death.
➢ Relocated to Beerlahairoi where he met Rebekah.
➢ Visited Hebron to bury Abraham.
➢ Moved to Gerar due to famine.
➢ Relocated to Beersheba because of conflict.
➢ Moved to Hebron where he died & was buried.

12. 7. What happened the previous time there
was “a famine in the land?”
Genesis 26:1 There was a famine in the land,
besides the first famine that was in the days of
Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of
the Philistines, in Gerar.
Genesis 12:10 Now there
was a famine in the land,
and Abram went down to
Egypt to dwell there, for
the famine was severe in
the land.

13. 8. What else does the Bible mention famines?
1) In Canaan in Abraham's day (Gen. 12:10)
2) In Canaan in Isaac's day (Gen. 26:1)
3) In Canaan in Jacob's day (Gen. 41:54-57)
4) In Canaan during the judges (Ruth 1:1)
5) In Canaan in David's day (2 Sam. 21:1)
6) In Canaan in Elijah's day (1 Ki. 17:1)
7) In Canaan in Elisha's day (2 Ki. 4:38)
8) In Samaria in Elisha's day (2 Ki. 6:25)
9) In Canaan in Elisha's day (2 Ki. 8:1)
10) In Jerusalem in Zedekiah's day (2 Ki. 25:3; Jer. 14)
11) In Canaan in Nehemiah's day (Neh. 5:3)
12) In an unknown land (Lk. 15:14)
13) In the Roman Empire in Paul's day (Acts 11:28)
14) In the last days (Mt. 24:7; Lk. 21:11)

14. 9. What does the Bible say about the causes
for famines?
Famines were generally caused by local irregularities
of the rainfall, by destructive hailstorms (Ex. 9:23,
11, 32), by ravages of insects (Ex. 10:15 Joel 1:4) and
by enemies (Deut. 28:51); in a city a famine might be
caused by a siege (2 Kgs. 6:25).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Famines were judgments of God. (2 Sam. 24:13; Ps.
105:16; Isa. 51:19; Jer. 14:15; 15:2; 24:10; 27:8;
Ezek. 5:12; 12:16).
Dake’s Study Bible

16. 10. What did God do?
Genesis 26:2, 3 Then the LORD appeared to him and
said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of
which I shall tell you. 3 Dwell in this land…
➢ Lord appeared to Abraham 8x (Gen. 12:1, 7; 13:14;
15:1; 17:1; 18:1; 21:12; 22:1).
➢ Lord appeared to Isaac 2x (Gen. 26:2, 24).
‫ה‬ ָ‫א‬ ָ‫ר‬“appeared” (rā·ʾāh) = to come into sight or view

17. 11. What did God say to Isaac?
Genesis 26:2, 3 Then the LORD appeared to him and
said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of
which I shall tell you. 3 Dwell in this land…
➢ Abraham permitted to go to Egypt (12:10)
➢ Jacob invited to come to Egypt (45:9)
➢ Isaac prohibited from going to Egypt (26:2)
God’s commands are not the same for everyone.
Isaac was not to take Abraham’s permission or, later,
Jacob’s invitation as direction for himself.

18. 12. Why did the Lord tell Isaac not to go down
to Egypt?
Genesis 26:2 Then the LORD appeared to him and
said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of
which I shall tell you.
Gerar
Genesis 12:10
Now there was a
famine in the land,
and Abram went
down to Egypt to
dwell there…

19. 13. What promise did God give to Isaac for
remaining in the land?
Genesis 26:3-4 Dwell in this land, and I will be with
you and bless you; for to you and your descendants
I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath
which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 And I will
make your descendants multiply as the stars of
heaven; I will give to your descendants all these
lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth
shall be blessed;

20. 14. What is God referring to when He said,
“all these lands”?
Genesis 26:3 Dwell in this land, and I will be with
you and bless you; for to you and your descendants
I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath
which I swore to Abraham your father.
Genesis 15:18 On the same day the LORD made a
covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants
I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the
great river, the River Euphrates—

21. “all these lands”

22. 15. Define “mandate”, “commands”, “statutes”,
“instructions” and explain the difference.
Genesis 26:5 because Abraham obeyed My voice
and kept My charge, My commandments, My
statutes, and My laws.”
“voice” ‫קֹול‬ (qôl) = noise, sound
“charge” ‫ת‬ ֶ‫ר‬ֶ‫מ‬ ְ‫ש‬ ִ‫מ‬ (miš·mě·rěṯ) = requirement, obligation
“commandments” ‫ָה‬‫ו‬ ְ‫צ‬ ִ‫מ‬ (miṣ·wāh) = command, order,
“statutes” ‫ה‬ָ‫ֻק‬‫ח‬ (ḥǔq·qāh) = regulation, decree, statute
“laws” ‫ה‬ ָ‫ּתֹור‬(tô·rāh) = law, regulation, teaching,
instruction, guidance

23. 15. Define “mandate”, “commands”, “statutes”,
“instructions” and explain the difference.
Genesis 26:5 because Abraham obeyed My voice
and kept My charge, My commandments, My
statutes, and My laws.”
Deuteronomy 11:1 “Therefore you shall love the
LORD your God and keep
His charge [mišmartô],
His statutes [ḥuqqōṯāyw],
His judgments [mišpāṭāyw] and
His commandments [miṣwōṯāyw] always.”

24. 16. How did Isaac respond to God’s command?
Genesis 26:6 So Isaac dwelt in Gerar.
“dwelt“ ‫ב‬ ַׁ‫ָש‬‫י‬ (yā·šǎḇ) = sit, sit down, inhabit
“Gerar” ‫ר‬ ָ‫ר‬ְ‫ג‬ (gerār) = circle, region, lodging place, water
pots

25. 17. What did Isaac do in Gerar that was
reminiscent of his father Abraham?
Genesis 26:7-8 And the men of the place asked
about his wife. And he said, “She is my sister”; for
he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” because he
thought, “lest the men of the place kill me for
Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold.” 8
Now it came to pass, when he had been there a
long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines
looked through a window, and saw, and there was
Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah his wife.

26. 18. List as many parallels as you can between
the lives of Abraham and Isaac.
➢ Both dwelt in Gerar (20:1; 26:6).
➢ Both faltered during time of famine (12:10; 26:1).
➢ Both called their wives their “sister” (20:2; 26:7).
➢ Both were rebuked by Abimelech (20:9; 26:10).

27. 19. How was Isaac’s lie different from
Abraham’s?
For Abraham: Sarah was
his half-sister
For Isaac: Terah was Isaac’s
grandfather but Rebekah’s
great grandfather,
therefore, Isaac’s cousin.

28. 20. Who was the king?
Genesis 26:8 Now it came to pass, when he had
been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the
Philistines…
➢ Abimelech means “Father-King” and is the title for
many leaders in the land of Caanan.
➢ Abimelech was his dynastic title while Achish was his
personal name.
Fruchtenbaum, A. G. (2008). Ariel’s Bible commentary:
the book of Genesis (1st ed., p. 406). San Antonio, TX:
Ariel Ministries.
➢ 70 or 80 years having elapsed since Abraham’s sojourn
in Gerar.

29. 21. What did Isaac do that disturbed the king?
Genesis 26:8 Now it came to pass, when he had
been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the
Philistines looked through a window, and saw, and
there was Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah
his wife.
‫ק‬ַׁ‫ח‬ָ‫צ‬“endearment” (ṣā·ḥǎq) = laugh, behave amorously

30. 22. How did he respond to Isaac’s deception?
Genesis 26:9-11 Then Abimelech called Isaac and
said, “Quite obviously she is your wife; so how
could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to him,
“Because I said, ‘Lest I die on account of her.’ ” 10
And Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to
us? One of the people might soon have lain with
your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us.”
11 So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, “He
who touches this man, or his wife, shall surely be
put to death.”
• It’s when believers are caught by non-believers.
• Isaac exhibits no remorse.
• God’s providence through Abimelech protects the Promise.

31. 23. What surprises occur in verse 12? What is
their significance?
Genesis 26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land,
and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and
the LORD blessed him.
‫־‬ְ‫ו‬(w) = and, or, then, when (i.e., a marker of a
coordinate relation)
1. Isaac had just lied about his wife, been rebuked by
Abimelech and spared by God.
2. Isaac’s amazing bumper crop had little to do with his
“sowing” and all because of God’s blessing.

32. 24. How did Isaac become wealthy?
Genesis 26:12-13 Then Isaac sowed in that land,
and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and
the LORD blessed him. 13 The man began to
prosper, and continued prospering until he
became very prosperous;
C. F. Keil explains that this was an unusual blessing, since
the yield even in very fertile regions is not generally
greater than 25- to 50-fold. Isaacs riches continued to
increase, and he became a very wealthy person. Even his
pagan neighbors could realize how much the Lord had
blessed him (Genesis 26:29).

33. 25. Where else does the Bible mention a
100-fold?

34. 26. What were some of the effects of Isaac’s
wealth?
Genesis 26:14-16 for he (Isaac) had possessions of
flocks and possessions of herds and a great
number of servants. So the Philistines envied him.
15 Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells
which his father’s servants had dug in the days of
Abraham his father, and they had filled them with
earth. 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away
from us, for you are much mightier than we.”
• For Isaac:
• For the Philistines:
• For Abimelech:
great possessions & power
envy & vandalism
fear & expulsion

35. 27. What emotional response did the Philistines
express toward Isaac’s prosperity?
Genesis 26:14 for he (Isaac) had possessions of
flocks and possessions of herds and a great number
of servants. So the Philistines envied him.
“envied” (qā·nāʾ) intense jealousy or envy that
leads to hostile action
‫ָא‬‫נ‬ָ‫ק‬

36. 28. What wells did the Philistines vandalize?
Genesis 26:15 Now the Philistines had stopped
up all the wells which his father’s servants had
dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they
had filled them with earth.
Abraham’s
wells

37. ➢ Born in Gerar.
➢ Moved with Abraham to Beersheba.
➢ Traveled with Abraham to Moriah.
➢ Returned to Beersheba.
➢ Moved briefly to Hebron for Sarah’s death.
➢ Relocated to Beerlahairoi where he met Rebekah.
➢ Visited Hebron to bury Abraham.
➢ Moved to Gerar due to famine.
➢ Relocated to Beersheba because of conflict.
➢ Moved to Hebron where he died & was buried.

38. 29. Where was Isaac living at this time?
Genesis 26:17 Then Isaac departed from there
and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and
dwelt there.

39. 30. Where did Isaac relocate?
Genesis 26:17 Then Isaac departed from there
and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and
dwelt there.
‫ר‬ ָ‫ר‬ְ‫ג‬ (gerār)

40. Genesis 26:17 Then Isaac…pitched his tent in the
Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

41. Genesis 26:17 Then Isaac…pitched his tent in the
Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
‫ָה‬‫נ‬ָ‫ח‬ (ḥā·nāh)
Exodus 14:20 So it came
between the camp of the
Egyptians and the camp of
Israel. Thus it was a cloud
and darkness to the one,
and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did
not come near the other all that night.
‫ן‬ֵ‫ח‬ (ḥēn) = grace
(Cf. John 1:14)

42. 31. What did he do as soon as he moved?
Genesis 26:18 And Isaac dug again the wells of
water which they had dug in the days of Abraham
his father, for the Philistines had stopped them
up after the death of Abraham. He called them
by the names which his father had called them.
Isaiah 12:3
Therefore with joy
you will draw water
from the wells of
salvation.

43. 32. Why did he need to redig old wells?
Genesis 26:18 And Isaac dug again the wells of
water which they had dug in the days of Abraham
his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up
after the death of Abraham. He called them by
the names which his father had called them.

44. 33. In addition to clearing old wells what else
did Isaac’s servants do? Why is this
significant?
Genesis 26:19 Also Isaac’s servants dug in the valley,
and found a well of running water there.
“valley” ‫ל‬ַׁ‫ַׁח‬‫נ‬ (nǎ·ḥǎl) = long depression in the surface
of the land,
a wady
“living” (ḥǎy) = living‫י‬ַׁ‫ח‬

45. 34. How did the Philistines respond?
Genesis 26:20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled
with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.”
• Avoiding conflict does not always end conflict
• Adversity in this world never ceases
‫יב‬ ִ‫ר‬ (rîḇ) = quarrel, oppose, contend, bring legal
charges (Hos. 4:4)

46. Water Wars
Genesis 26:19-21

47. 35. Why was there a quarrel over water rights?
Genesis 26:20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled
with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.”

48. Genesis 26:20-22 20b So he called the name of the
well Esek, because they quarreled with him. 21 Then
they dug another well, and they quarreled over that
one also. So he called its name Sitnah. 22 And he
moved from there and dug another well, and they did
not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth,
because he said, “For now the LORD has made room
for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”
36. What did Isaac rename the wells?
Esek (ʿē·śěq) = contention, dispute, argue
Sitnah (śiṭ·nāh) = opposition, state of hostility
Rehoboth (reḥō·ḇôṯ) = open space, room
enough
‫ק‬ ֶ‫ֵש‬‫ע‬
‫ָה‬‫נ‬ ְ‫ט‬ ִ‫ש‬
‫בֹות‬ֹ‫ח‬ ְ‫ר‬

49. How to Resolve Conflict
Esek = contention, dispute, argue
Sitnah = opposition, state of hostility
Rehoboth = open space, room enough
VERBAL
PHYSICAL
SPIRITUAL

50. 37. What godly attributes did Isaac
demonstrate in his handling this dispute?
Genesis 26:21-22 Then they dug another well,
and they quarreled over that one also. So he called
its name Sitnah. 22 And he moved from there and
dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it.
So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said,
“For now the LORD has made room for us, and we
shall be fruitful in the land.”

51. 1. Perseverance despite opposition.
2. Deference rather than defiance.
3. Glorifies the Lord instead of seeking praise
and power for himself.

52. 38. Compare Isaac’s behavior with that of his
father Abraham in a similar circumstance.
Genesis 13:5-8 Lot also, who went with Abram,
had flocks and herds and tents. 6 Now the land
was not able to support them, that they might
dwell together, for their possessions were so great
that they could not dwell together. 7 And there
was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s
livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The
Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the
land. 8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be
no strife between you and me, and between my
herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are
brethren.

53. Genesis 13:9 Is not the whole land before you?
Please separate from me. If you take the left, then
I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then
I will go to the left.”

54. 39. Where is Beersheba?
Genesis 26:23 Then he went up from there to
Beersheba.
Beersheba is the largest
city in the Negev; often
referred to as the
“capital of the Negev”;
the 2nd largest in area;
8th most populated city
Distance: 24 miles

55. “Well” of “seven” or “oath”

56. 40. What did Isaac experience at Beersheba?
Genesis 26:23-24 Then he went up from there to
Beersheba. 24 And the LORD appeared to him the
same night and said, “I am the God of your father
Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless
you and multiply your descendants for My servant
Abraham’s sake.”

57. 41. What did the LORD say to Isaac?
Genesis 26:23-24 Then he went up from there to
Beersheba. 24 And the LORD appeared to him the
same night and said, “I am the God of your father
Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless
you and multiply your descendants for My servant
Abraham’s sake.”
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not
dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My
righteous right hand.”

58. 42. Who also had unusual experiences at
Beersheba?
• "Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and
called there on the name of Yahweh, the Everlasting
God" (Gen. 21:33).
• Theophanies occurred at Beersheba
to Hagar (Gen. 21:17)
to Isaac (Gen. 26:24)
to Jacob (Gen. 46:2)
to Elijah (1 Kgs. 19:5)
• Beersheba was one of three places (shrines) of pure
worship of Yahweh (Amos 5:5). "They shall fall, and
never rise up again," who swear, "As the way (i.e. cult)
of Beersheba lives" (Amos 8:14).
• Sons of Samuel were Judges in Beersheba (1 Sam. 8:2)

59. 43. What 4 things did Isaac do after his
experience at Beersheba?
Genesis 26:25 So he built an altar there and
called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his
tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.
1
2 3
4
Beersheba Altar Reconstruction
biblicalarchaeology.org
Tel Dan Altar
Teldan.wordpress.com/Israelite-temple/

60. 44. Why did Abimelech visit Isaac with
Ahuzzath and Phicol?
Genesis 26:26-29 Then Abimelech came to him from
Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol
the commander of his army. 27 And Isaac said to
them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate
me and have sent me away from you?”

61. 45. Why did Abimelech visit Isaac with
Ahuzzath and Phicol?
Genesis 26:26-29 28 But they said, “We have
certainly seen that the LORD is with you. So we said,
‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you
and us; and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that
you will do us no harm, since we have not touched
you, and since we have done nothing to you but
good and have sent you away in peace. You are now
the blessed of the LORD.’ ”

62. 46. How did Isaac respond to their visit?
Genesis 26:30-31 So he made them a feast, and
they ate and drank. 31 Then they arose early in the
morning and swore an oath with one another; and
Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him
in peace.
biblicalarchaeology.org

63. 47. How did God bless this meeting?
Genesis 26:32 It came to pass the same day that
Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well
which they had dug, and said to him,
“We have found water.”
On September 28, 2015 NASA announced that scientists
have discovered clean water on Mars.

64. 48. What did Isaac call this well? Why?
Genesis 26:33 So he called it Shebah. Therefore
the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.
‫ה‬ָ‫ע‬ ְ‫ב‬ ִ‫ש‬ (šiḇ·ʿāh) = “to swear” or “to make an oath”
“That was the secondary source for the name. The primary
source for the city’s name (21:22–34) was the reference to
the seven lambs in that passage. The emphasis in Genesis
21 was on the number seven; the emphasis in Genesis 26 is
on the oath. Thus the second word play on the name comes
from the Hebrew words for “swearing,” “oath,” and
“seven” all being derived from the same Hebrew root.”
Fruchtenbaum, A. G. (2008). Ariel’s Bible commentary: the book of Genesis (1st ed., p. 416)
San Antonio, TX: Ariel Ministries.

65. 49. What did Esau do when he was 40 years
old?
Genesis 26:34 When Esau was forty years old, he
took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite,
and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite.
Isaac’s was 40 when he married Rebekah (25:20)
Judith = “praise”
Basemath = “perfume”

66. 50. What affect did Esau and his wives have on
Isaac and Rebekah? Why?
Genesis 26:35 And they were a grief of mind to
Isaac and Rebekah.
‫ה‬ ָ‫ר‬ֹ‫מ‬“grief” (mō·rāh) = bitterness, i.e., the state of
misery, mental distress and
anguish

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