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Genesis 26:20

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 26:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the herdsmen of Gerar strove with Isaac`s herdsmen, saying, The water is ours. And he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the herdsmen of Gerar strove with Isaac`s herdsmen, saying, The water is ours. And he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him.
Genesis 26:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 26

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17And Isaac departed thence, and encamped in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
18And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father. For the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. And he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
19And Isaac`s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.
20And the herdsmen of Gerar strove with Isaac`s herdsmen, saying, The water is ours. And he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him.
21And they digged another well, and they strove for that also. And he called the name of it Sitnah.
22And he removed from thence, and digged another well. And for that they strove not. And he called the name of it Rehoboth. And he said, For now Jehovah hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.
23And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, etc.] About the well which was dug in the valley; and this shows it was near Gerar or at least was upon the border of the country, and so it was a disputable point to whom it belonged: saying, the water [is] ours; though the well was dug by Isaac’s servants, yet they laid claim to the water, pretending it was their ground, being on their borders: and he called the name of the well Esek: which signifies “contention”: the reason of the name follows, because they strove with him; wrangled, contended, and disputed with him about whose right it was.”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification