Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/465

 Ch. XXVI.—Isaac and the Philistines (J, R, P).

The chapter comprises the entire cycle of Isaac-legends properly so called; consisting, as will be seen, almost exclusively of incidents already related of Abraham (cf. esp. ch. 20 f.). The introductory notice of his arrival in Gerar ($1-6$: cf. 20$1f.$) is followed by his denial of his marriage with Rebekah ($7-11$ || 12$10ff.$ 20$2ff.$), his success in agriculture ($12~16$,—the only circumstance without an Abrahamic parallel), his quarrels with the Philistines about wells ($17-22$ || 21$25f.$), and, lastly, the Covenant of Beersheba, with an account of the naming of the place ($23-33$ || 21$22-34$).—The notice of Esau's wives ($34f.$) is an excerpt from P.

Source.—The style, except in $34f.$ and some easily recognised redactional patches ($1a. 2a b. 3b-5, 15. 18$: see the notes), is unmistakably Yahwistic: cf. ($2. 12. 22. 25$ [even in the mouth of Abimelech, $28. 29$]);, $7$ (24$16$); , $8$; , $22$ (12$8$); , $25$; , $28$ (24$41$);, $29$ (24$31$). Some critics find traces of E in $1f.$, but these are dubious.—The relation of the passage to other strata of the J document is very difficult to determine. On the one hand, the extremely close parallelism to ch. 20 f. suggests that it is a secondary compilation based on JE as a composite work, with the name of Isaac substituted for that of Abraham. But it is impossible to imagine a motive for such an operation; and several considerations favour the theory that ch. 26 is a continuation of the source distinguished as J$h$ in the history of Abraham. (1) The Abrahamic parallels all belong to the Negeb tradition (J$b$ and E); and it is natural to think that J$h$, representing the Hebron tradition, would connect the Negeb narratives with the name of Isaac (whether Abraham or Isaac was the original hero of these legends we cannot well ascertain). (2) The language on the whole confirms this view (cf., , , , and all the phrases of $25a$). (3) The ideal of the patriarchal character agrees with that which we find in J$h$ (magnanimity, peaceableness, etc.).—In any case, it is to be observed that the ch. stands out of its proper order. The Rebekah of $7ff.$ is plainly not the mother of two grown-up sons, as she is at the close of ch. 25; and 27$1$ is the immediate continuation of 25$34$ or $28$ (see We. Comp.$2$ 30).

1-6. Isaac migrates to Gerar.—Cleared of interpolations, the section reads: ($1a$) There was a famine in the land; ($1b$) and Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, to Gerar. ($2a$) And Yahwe appeared to him and said, ($3a$) Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee and bless thee. ($6$) So Isaac abode in Gerar.—1. Isaac comes probably from