Bible Translation: Genesis, Chapter 26

“Why are you here?” Isaac asked. “You obviously hate me.”

A severe famine struck the land, so Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived.
God appeared and told him, “Don’t go to Egypt, stay in Gerar. I will bless you and give this land to your descendants, just as I promised your father, Abraham.
As was the family custom, Isaac told the men of Gerar that Rebekah was his sister. But Abimilech looked out his window and saw Isaac caressing her.
He immediately called for Isaac and said “She is obviously your wife! Why did you tell me she is your sister?”
“Because I was afraid someone would kill me for her!”


“How could you do this to us? One of my people might have slept with your wife, and you would have made us guilty of great sin.”


Then Abimelech made a proclamation: “Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death!”

God blessed Isaac with more grain than he planted. He became rich and acquired so many sheep, goats, cattle and servants that the Philistines became jealous. So they filled up his wells with dirt. The wells Abraham’s servants had dug.
Finally, Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave because he had become too powerful.
So Isaac moved to the Gerar Valley and reopened the wells Abraham had dug there.
Isaac’s servants dug and discovered a fresh water well. But the shepherds from Gerar claimed the spring. They argued with Isaac’s herdsmen, so Isaac named it Esek, meaning “argument.”

They dug another well and again there was a dispute. Isaac named it Sitnah, meaning “hostility.” There was no dispute over the next well, so Isaac name it Rehoboth, meaning “open space.”
Isaac moved to Beersheba and dug another well. He also built an altar for God.

One day Abimelech came with his advisor, Ahuzzath, and his army commander, Phicol. “Why are you here?” Isaac asked. “You obviously hate me.”
Abimelech said “If you can’t beat them, join them. God obviously blesses you. Let’s make a covenant. Swear you won’t harm us, just as we have never harmed you. We sent you away in peace, and look how the Lord has blessed you!”
So Isaac prepared a feast and they promised to leave each other alone.
Another well was dug, water was found, the end.
P.S., Esau married two Hittite women and they made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah.

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Bible Translation: Genesis, Chapter 20

And he told Sarah, “I’m giving your brother (air quotes) 1,000 pieces of silver as compensation for any wrong I’ve done to you. Your reputation is cleared.” (Sounds a little like Stockholm Syndrome.)

While living in Gerar, Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, as his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to his palace.


But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!”
But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “God, will you destroy an innocent nation? Abraham told me she was his sister and she agreed. I’m innocent.”
God responded, “I know. That’s why I kept you from sinning and sleeping with her. Now return her to her husband and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don’t return her to him, you and all your people will die.” (What did he do to deserve this? Why aren’t Abraham and Sarah punished for lying?)
Abimelech told his people what had happened and they were terrified. Then asked Abraham, “What have you done to us? What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done! Why?”
Abraham replied, “I thought this was a godless place. I thought you’d want my wife and would kill me. And she really is my sister, for we have the same father. And I married her. I asked her to tell you she was my sister.”
Then Abimelech presented Abraham with some sheep, goats, cattle and servants, along with Sarah. Then Abimelech said, “Look over my land and choose any place you want to live.” And he told Sarah, “I’m giving your brother (air quotes) 1,000 pieces of silver as compensation for any wrong I’ve done to you. Your reputation is cleared.” (Sounds a little like Stockholm Syndrome.)
Then Abraham prayed to God and he healed Abimelech, his wife and female servants so they could have children. Because when Abimelech took Sarah, God had made them all infertile.