Jan 7th. Today we remember the beheading of St. John the Baptist. St. Matthew 14 : 1 - 12
Genesis 26 : Isaac and Abimelech
There is another famine in the land and the Lord tells Isaac not to go to Egypt but to some other place in the same country. Lord says that he will honor the promise made to Abraham that he will make his descendants the owners of this place.
So Isaac goes and lives at Gerar. He tells everyone that Rebecca is his sister since he is scared that men might kill him to take his beautiful wife. Abraham had done the same when he was in Abimelech's country. This Abimelech and that may not be the same. More than 100 years have passed between that incident and this. As Barnes says in the commentary, Abimelech might be the title of the king rather than the name. May be the name is passed on.
One day Abimelech discovers that Rebecca is Isaac's wife and not sister. He calls Isaac and asks him why he did such a thing to bring misfortune to this land. He cautions his men against doing anything wrong with Isaac and family. Isaac lives there for many years and becomes prosperous. Abimelech's men become jealous and close his wells. Due to the quarrels, Abimelech asks Isaac to go out of Gerar.
Isaac goes away, digs a couple of wells and the third one produces water. So he calls it 'Freedom'. After sometime, Abimelech visits him and asks him to make a vow that Isaac or his men will not harm Abimlech's men. He asks this because he knows that God has blessed Isaac. Isaac and Abimelech make a vow.
Esau marries foreign women - Judith and Basemath who make life tough for Isaac and Rebecca, may be because of cultural differences.
No comments:
Post a Comment