Study it in the app“When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down through the window and saw, and look, Isaac was caressing Rebekah his wife.”
Whenוַיְהִי כִּיhe had beenלוֹthereשָׁםa long time,אָרְכוּ הַיָּמִיםAbimelechאֲבִימֶלֶךְkingמֶלֶךְof the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיםlooked downוַיַּשְׁקֵףthroughבְּעַדthe windowהַחַלּוֹןand saw,וַיַּרְאand look,וְהִנֵּהIsaacיִצְחָקwas caressingמְצַחֵקRebekahאֵת רִבְקָהhis wife.אִשְׁתּוֹ
happen
For something to occur or take place; many stories open with this word.
Where else “yehi” appearsbe long, prolong
Be long, last long; prolong.
Where else “archu” appearstime
Literally "the days": a period, an age, or the span of someone's life.
Where else “yamim” appearsAbimelech
Abimelech, the name of Philistine kings of Gerar in the days of Abraham and of Isaac, and of other men, such as a son of Gideon. The name means "my father is king"; it may have been a title of the kings of that place.
Where else “avimelech” appearsking
A king who rules a people.
Where else “melech” appearsPhilistines
Philistines: a people that settled on the south-west coast of Canaan and was Israel's enemy in the days of the judges and of David.
Where else “pelishtim” appearslook down
Look down from above, look out (of a window).
Where else “yashkef” appearswindow
Window: an opening in a wall.
Where else “chalon” appearssee
To see with one's eyes.
Where else “yar” appearsIsaac
Isaac, the son promised to Abraham and Sarah, father of Esau and Jacob. His name means "he laughs" (Genesis 17:17, 19; 21:6).
Where else “yitschak” appearsplay
To jest, play, fondle.
Where else “metsachek” appearsRebekah
Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel, wife of Isaac; mother of Esau and Jacob.
Where else “rivka” appearswife
Literally "his woman": the one married to him.
Where else “isht” appearsThe verb is the one in Isaac’s name (Yitschaq): literally “Isaac was isaac-ing with Rebekah.”
7The men of the place asked about his wife, and he said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “My wife,” thinking, “lest the men of the place kill me on account of Rebekah, for she is beautiful in appearance.”
8 · This verse (above)
9Abimelech called Isaac and said, “So she is your wife! How could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to him, “Because I said to myself, ‘I might die because of her.’”
1. What it says
What did YHWH promise Isaac, and what happened with the wells he dug (vv. 2-5, 18-22)?
2. What it means
What did Isaac say when he named the well Rehoboth, the one they did not quarrel over, and what does that show about his attitude (vv. 20-22)?
3. How I live it
How can you respond with peace the next time someone disputes something that is yours?
