gerar

After Isaac settled in Beersheba, King Abimelech arrived from Gerar to visit him. Abimelech brought with him Ahuzzath, his personal advisor, and Phicol, the commander of his forces (possibly the same commander that was recorded as dealing with Isaac’s father, Abraham). Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to visit me at my home since previously you were hostile towards me and sent me away?” They answered, “We saw clearly that God was with you so we thought a sworn agreement should be made between us. Let us make a treaty with you and agree that you will do us no harm just as we did not harm you. We always treated you well and sent you away peacefully... and after we sent you away, you were

After Abimeleh issued orders to the citizens that nobody should harm Isaac or his family, Isaac had a very successful year with his crops (despite a famine in the land). Because God had blessed Isaac – he reaped a hundred times what he had sown. Isaac became rich and his fortune continued to grow until he became very wealthy with large flocks, herds, and many servants. The Philistines living in the area began to envy Isaac and despite Abimelek’s orders to not harm his family, they filled his wells with earth (the same wells that his father had constructed). Isaac’s wealth and power threatened King Abimelek too and he told Isaac, “Leave us for you have become much more powerful than we are.” As requested, Isaac moved away and settled in

During a famine in the land of Canaan, Isaac went to Abimelek (aka Abimelech), who was the king in Gerar where the Philistines lived. On his way, God stopped Isaac and instructed him to not go to Egypt (as his father Abraham had done during the last famine). God reminded Isaac that he should live in the land that God instructed him to live in. He told Isaac if the stayed in this land for a while, God would bless him. God reminded Isaac that because Abraham did what God told him, obeyed his commands, and followed his instructions, he would one day give him these lands (confirming the oath God made to Abraham). God told Isaac that his descendants would be as numerous as the

Abraham moved his family, likely in search of better pastures for his herds, to Negev (located between Kadesh and Shur). From Negev he moved to Gerar where he lived for quite some time. Once again, Abraham and Sarah (his wife) told everyone that Sarah was his sister (see here for the first time he told this lie). Abimelech (uh-BIM-uh-lek), given his role as the king of Gerar (geh-RAHR), had the privilege to select whichever woman he wished to add to his collection of wives. Abimelech, thinking that Sarah was not married (because Abraham had told everyone she was his sister), sent for her to add to his concubine. After some time, God spoke to Abimelech in a dream. God told Abimelech that he was sentenced to