Keraia
Genesis 26

Genesis 26:1

God’s Promise to Isaac · Genesis 26:1–5
Read Genesis 26

Translations

Modern
Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.
Traditional
And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
Literal
And there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar.
Latin
Orta autem fame super terram post eam sterilitatem, quæ acciderat in diebus Abraham, abiit Isaac ad Abimelech regem Palæstinorum in Gerara.

Original

Hebrew
English
Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.

Notes

Genesis 26:1

This Abimelech is probably not the same person from chapter 20 because these events could be 90 years apart. Abimelech might have been the name of a dynasty or a title. First Samuel 21:10 mentions a later King Achish, who was also called Abimelech (Psalm 34:title).

Genesis 26:1–35

This section pauses Jacob’s story to focus on Isaac. Isaac’s success and wealth in chapter 26 show that God’s blessing had passed to him (compare 25:11), even though he sometimes failed to trust God.

Theme notes and profiles

Isaac Famine Symbolic Numbers

Parallels

Genesis 12:1–9

People

Abimelech: Philistine king who interacted with Abraham and Isaac Abraham: Patriarch, chosen by God to father His people Isaac: Son of Abraham; father of Jacob and Esau

Places

Gerar: Philistine city; Abraham and Isaac's encounters with Abimelech Philistia: An ancient people and region in Canaan

Glossary

Abimelech Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Ebla Tablets Famine Genesis, Book of Gerar Nathanael Patriarchs, Period of the Philistia, Philistines Rebecca, Rebekah

Topics

Abraham: Sojourns in Egypt Canaan: Land of Famines In Famine in Canaan Famine: Instances of, in Scripture in the Days of Isaac Gerar: A City of the Philistines: Visited by Isaac Malice: Philistines Toward Isaac Philistines: Kings of Abimelech Ii