Isaac, disputed wells and room to live

“And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto…” Naming Abimelech and Abraham keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:” Naming Gerar and Isaac keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife…” Naming She and Rebekah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.” Naming Isaac keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:” The line’s distinctive content terms include became, forward, grew. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.” Naming Abimelech and Isaac keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.” Naming Gerar and Isaac keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the…” Naming Abraham and Isaac keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.” Naming Isaac keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the…” Naming Esek and Gerar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.” Naming Sitnah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba.” Naming Beer keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s…” Naming Isaac keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have…” The line’s distinctive content terms include blessed, good, hurt. Its relationship to verses 28 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.” The line’s distinctive content terms include drink, feast. Its relationship to verses 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this day.” Naming Beer and Shebah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter…” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.” Naming Isaac and Rebekah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.