Bible Strands
Genesis 26:1
Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Genesis 26:1 introduces Isaac’s relocation to Gerar during a new famine. The narrative places Isaac before Abimelech, king of the Philistines, immediately following a prior crisis in the patriarchal era.
The words — The phrase מִלְּבַד הָרָעָב הָרִאשׁוֹן (mil-leVad ha-ra'Av ha-riShon) literally translates to "besides the former famine." It functions as a chronological marker to distinguish this event from the earlier famine that occurred during Abraham’s lifetime.
The thread — Famine drives patriarchal movement in Genesis 12:10 and Genesis 26:1, while the recurring presence of Abimelech connects this account to the covenantal interactions recorded in Genesis 21:22.
Why it lands — The text states that a new famine prompts Isaac to travel to Gerar, and the subsequent divine instruction in Genesis 26:2 commands him to remain. It requires the reader to observe how repeated historical patterns are interrupted by specific, localized divine direction rather than inherited precedent.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
Cross-references
- Genesis 12:10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.
- Genesis 25:11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who lived near Beer-lahai-roi.
- Genesis 21:22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.
- Genesis 20:1 Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar,