And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.
Famine carries Isaac into the land of the Philistines, where he sojourns for a time and prospers greatly under abundant blessing from the Lord. There he has differences with the Philistines over his prosperity, yet he willingly yields more than justice requires and is blessed by God in consequence. His peaceful yielding while trusting in the Lord leaves his enemies apprehensive of him.
The account belongs to God's providential dealings with Abraham's family as the chosen line through which the Seed would come. Within that purpose God exercises special providence over Isaac as one of the progenitors of the promised Seed. After the Philistines have mistreated Isaac, Abimelech fears harm may come to Isaac and his wife, so he places them under the protection of his authority by charging all his people that he who touches either of them shall surely be put to death. Through that royal command God protects Isaac and his wife. The surrounding chapter closes with Esau's marriages to Hittite women, which grieve Isaac and Rebekah, and these events precede Jacob's journey to Padan-aram.
Famine carries Isaac into the land of the Philistines, where he sojourns for a time and prospers greatly under abundant blessing from the Lord. There he has differences with the Philistines over his prosperity, yet he willingly yields more than justice requires and is blessed by God in consequence. His peaceful yielding while trusting in the Lord leaves his enemies apprehensive of him.
The account belongs to God's providential dealings with Abraham's family as the chosen line through which the Seed would come. Within that purpose God exercises special providence over Isaac as one of the progenitors of the promised Seed. After the Philistines have mistreated Isaac, Abimelech fears harm may come to Isaac and his wife, so he places them under the protection of his authority by charging all his people that he who touches either of them shall surely be put to death. Through that royal command God protects Isaac and his wife. The surrounding chapter closes with Esau's marriages to Hittite women, which grieve Isaac and Rebekah, and these events precede Jacob's journey to Padan-aram.