18 and Isaac turneth back, and diggeth the wells of water which they digged in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines do stop after the death of Abraham, and he calleth to them names according to the names which his father called them. 19 And Isaac's servants dig in the valley, and find there a well of living water, 20 and shepherds of Gerar strive with shepherds of Isaac, saying, 'The water 'is' ours;' and he calleth the name of the well 'Strife,' because they have striven habitually with him; 21 and they dig another well, and they strive also for it, and he calleth its name 'Hatred.' 22 And he removeth from thence, and diggeth another well, and they have not striven for it, and he calleth its name Enlargements, and saith, 'For—now hath Jehovah given enlargement to us, and we have been fruitful in the land.' 23 And he goeth up from thence 'to' Beer-Sheba, 24 and Jehovah appeareth unto him during that night, and saith, 'I 'am' the God of Abraham thy father, fear not, for I 'am' with thee, and have blessed thee, and have multiplied thy seed, because of Abraham My servant;' 25 and he buildeth there an altar, and preacheth in the name of Jehovah, and stretcheth out there his tent, and there Isaac's servants dig a well.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 26:18-25
Commentary on Genesis 26:18-25
(Read Genesis 26:18-25)
Isaac met with much opposition in digging wells. Two were called Contention and Hatred. See the nature of worldly things; they make quarrels, and are occasions of strife; and what is often the lot of the most quiet and peaceable; those who avoid striving, yet cannot avoid being striven with. And what a mercy it is to have plenty of water; to have it without striving for it! The more common this mercy is, the more reason to be thankful for it. At length Isaac digged a well, for which they strove not. Those that study to be quiet, seldom fail of being so. When men are false and unkind, still God is faithful and gracious; and his time to show himself so is, when we are most disappointed by men. The same night that Isaac came weary and uneasy to Beer-sheba, God brought comforts to his soul. Those may remove with comfort who are sure of God's presence.