26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath and Phicol the commander of his army . 27 Isaac said to them, " Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?" 28 They said , "We see plainly that the Lord has been with you; so we said , 'Let there now be an oath between us, even between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm , just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace . You are now the blessed of the Lord .' " 30 Then he made them a feast , and they ate and drank . 31 In the morning they arose early and exchanged oaths ; then Isaac sent them away and they departed from him in peace . 32 Now it came about on the same day , that Isaac's servants came in and told him about e the well which they had dug , and said to him, "We have found water ." 33 So he called it Shibah ; therefore e the name of the city is Beersheba to this day .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 26:26-33
Commentary on Genesis 26:26-33
(Read Genesis 26:26-33)
When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him, Proverbs 16:7. Kings' hearts are in his hands, and when he pleases, he can turn them to favour his people. It is not wrong to stand upon our guard in dealing with those who have acted unfairly. But Isaac did not insist on the unkindnesses they had done him; he freely entered into friendship with them. Religion teaches us to be neighbourly, and, as much as in us lies, to live peaceable with all men. Providence smiled upon what Isaac did; God blessed his labours.