Genesis 26:26
New International Version
Meanwhile, Abimelek had come to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces.

New Living Translation
One day King Abimelech came from Gerar with his adviser, Ahuzzath, and also Phicol, his army commander.

English Standard Version
When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army,

Berean Standard Bible
Later, Abimelech came to Isaac from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army.

King James Bible
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

New King James Version
Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army.

New American Standard Bible
Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath, and Phicol the commander of his army.

NASB 1995
Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath and Phicol the commander of his army.

NASB 1977
Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath, and Phicol the commander of his army.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath and Phicol the commander of his army.

Amplified Bible
Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, his [close friend and confidential] adviser, and Phicol, the commander of his army.

Christian Standard Bible
Now Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army.

American Standard Version
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his host.

Contemporary English Version
Meanwhile, Abimelech had left Gerar and was taking his advisor Ahuzzath and his army commander Phicol to see Isaac.

English Revised Version
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his host.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Abimelech, his friend Ahuzzath, and Phicol, the commander of his army, came from Gerar to see Isaac.

Good News Translation
Abimelech came from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army to see Isaac.

International Standard Version
Later, Abimelech traveled from Gerar to visit Isaac . He arrived with Ahuzzath, his staff advisor, and Phicol, the commanding officer of his army.

Majority Standard Bible
Later, Abimelech came to Isaac from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army.

NET Bible
Now Abimelech had come to him from Gerar along with Ahuzzah his friend and Phicol the commander of his army.

New Heart English Bible
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the commander of his army.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

World English Bible
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his army.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Abimelech has gone to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phichol head of his host;

Young's Literal Translation
And Abimelech hath gone unto him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phichol head of his host;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol, leader of his army.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
To which place when Abimelech, and Ochozath his friend, and Phicol chief captain of his soldiers came from Gerara,

Catholic Public Domain Version
When Abimelech, and Ahuzzath, his friend, and Phicol, the leader of the military, had arrived from Gerar to that place,

New American Bible
Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath, his councilor, and Phicol, the general of his army.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Abimeleck went to him from Gadar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the general of his army.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abimelek came to him from Gadar, and Akhzwath his friend, and Phikal the Leader of his army.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his host.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abimelech came to him from Gerara, and so did Ochozath his friend, and Phichol the commander-in-chief of his army.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Isaac's Covenant with Abimelech
26Later, Abimelech came to Isaac from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army. 27“Why have you come to me?” Isaac asked them. “You hated me and sent me away.”…

Cross References
Genesis 21:22-32
At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. / Now, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.” / And Abraham replied, “I swear it.” ...

Genesis 31:44-54
Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.” / So Jacob picked out a stone and set it up as a pillar, / and he said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and made a mound, and there by the mound they ate. ...

Genesis 24:31
“Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” said Laban. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”

Genesis 33:4-11
Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. / When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.” / Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down. ...

Genesis 34:21
“These men are at peace with us. Let them live and trade in our land; indeed, it is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters in marriage and give our daughters to them.

Genesis 50:15-21
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge? Then he will surely repay us for all the evil that we did to him.” / So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Before he died, your father commanded, / ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. ...

Exodus 18:7-12
So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent. / Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. / And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians. ...

Joshua 9:15-21
And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. / Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them. / So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. ...

1 Samuel 29:6-9
So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and it seems right in my sight that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you are not good in the sight of the leaders. / Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.” / “But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” ...

2 Samuel 3:20-21
When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them. / Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.

1 Kings 5:1-12
Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David. / And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram: / “As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet. ...

2 Kings 6:21-23
And when the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” / “Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.” / So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again.

2 Chronicles 18:3
Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat replied, “I am as you are, and my people are your people; we will join you in the war.”

Psalm 120:7
I am in favor of peace; but when I speak, they want war.

Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.


Treasury of Scripture

Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

Abimelech.

Genesis 20:3
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.

Genesis 21:22-32
And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest: …

Phichol.

Genesis 21:22
And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

Genesis 21:32
Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

Jump to Previous
Abimelech Abim'elech Adviser Army Captain Chief Commander Forces Friend Friends Gerar Head Host Meanwhile Personal Phichol Phicol
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Abimelech Abim'elech Adviser Army Captain Chief Commander Forces Friend Friends Gerar Head Host Meanwhile Personal Phichol Phicol
Genesis 26
1. Isaac, because of famine, sojourns in Gerar, and the Lord blesses him.
7. He is reproved by Abimelech for denying his wife.
12. He grows rich, and the Philistines envy his prosperity.
18. He digs wells.
23. God appears to him at Beersheba, and blesses him;
26. and Abimelech makes a covenant with him.
34. Esau's wives.














Later, Abimelech came to Isaac from Gerar
Abimelech, likely a title for Philistine kings rather than a personal name, represents the leadership of Gerar, a Philistine city. This visit occurs after Isaac has become prosperous in the land, causing tension with the Philistines. The journey from Gerar to Isaac signifies a diplomatic mission, possibly to resolve conflicts over water rights and territorial disputes. Historically, Gerar was a significant city in the Negev region, and its leaders often interacted with the patriarchs, as seen with Abraham in Genesis 20. This encounter reflects the ongoing relationship and tension between the descendants of Abraham and the Philistines, foreshadowing future interactions between Israel and Philistine territories.

with Ahuzzath his adviser
Ahuzzath, mentioned only here in the Bible, serves as an adviser to Abimelech, indicating the importance of the mission. The presence of an adviser suggests that the meeting with Isaac was not merely a personal visit but a formal diplomatic engagement. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, advisers played crucial roles in political and military strategies, highlighting the significance of this encounter. This inclusion underscores the seriousness with which Abimelech approached the situation, seeking to establish or maintain peaceful relations with Isaac.

and Phicol the commander of his army
Phicol, also mentioned in Genesis 21:22 in the context of Abraham, is likely a title for the military leader of Gerar. His presence indicates the potential for conflict or the need for a show of strength, emphasizing the importance of the negotiations. The inclusion of a military commander in diplomatic discussions was common in ancient times, reflecting the intertwined nature of political and military affairs. This meeting prefigures the complex relationships between Israel and its neighbors, where diplomacy and military might often intersected. The presence of Phicol also highlights the protective hand of God over Isaac, as even powerful leaders sought peace with him, foreshadowing the divine protection promised to Israel.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Abimelech
The king of Gerar, a Philistine city. He previously interacted with Isaac regarding the wells and the deception about Rebekah being Isaac's sister.

2. Ahuzzath
An adviser to Abimelech. His presence indicates the importance of the meeting with Isaac.

3. Phicol
The commander of Abimelech's army. His involvement suggests the meeting had significant political or military implications.

4. Gerar
A Philistine city where Isaac had settled and experienced conflict over wells. It represents a place of both conflict and resolution for Isaac.

5. Isaac
The son of Abraham, who had been living in Gerar and faced disputes over water rights, which were crucial for survival and prosperity.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness Across Generations
Just as God was with Abraham, He is with Isaac, demonstrating His unchanging nature and faithfulness to His promises.

Conflict Resolution
Isaac's interactions with Abimelech show the importance of seeking peaceful resolutions and the role of diplomacy in resolving disputes.

The Importance of Witnesses
The presence of Ahuzzath and Phicol underscores the importance of having witnesses in significant agreements, a principle that can be applied in personal and business dealings today.

Trusting God's Provision
Despite conflicts over resources, Isaac's account reminds us to trust in God's provision and timing.

Legacy and Influence
Isaac's dealings with Abimelech reflect the influence and legacy of his father, Abraham, encouraging us to consider the impact of our actions on future generations.(26) Abimelech went to him.--The return of Isaac to Beer-sheba was a matter of serious importance also to Abimelech. The Philistines were themselves an alien race, and an alliance between Isaac and Ishmael, and others of the Semitic stock, might end in their expulsion from the country. Abraham had also been confederate with the Amorites (Genesis 14:13), and on friendly terms with the Hittites (Genesis 23:6), the two most powerful races of Canaan, and they might be ready to aid his son. When, then, Isaac thus retraced his steps, Abimelech, uncertain of Isaac's purpose, deter mined to offer peace and friendship, and to propose the renewal of the old covenant which had existed between Abraham and the people of Gerar.

Ahuzzath.--This is one of several points peculiar to this narrative; but it is uncertain whether it be a proper name, or whether, with the Targum and Jerome, we are to understand by it a company, that is, an escort of friends. If it be a proper name, the rendering should be, Ahuzzath, his friend, that is, his confidant and privy counsellor.

Phichol.--See Note on Genesis 21:22.

Verse 26. - Then (literally, and) Abimelech went to him from Gerar, - the object of this visit was to resuscitate the alliance which had formerly existed between the predecessor of Abimelech and Abraham (Genesis 21:22-32); yet the dissimilarity between the two accounts is so great as to discredit the hypothesis that the present is only another version of the earlier transaction - and Ahuzzath one of his friends, - מֵרֵעֵהוּ; neither ὁ νυμφαγωγὸς αὐτοῦ (LXX.), nor a suite or number of his friends (Onkelos), nor one of his friends (A.V.); but his friend, and probably his privy councilor (Keil, Kalisch, Murphy), whose presence along with the monarch and his general marks the first point of difference between the present and the former incident - and Phichol (vide Genesis 21:22) the chief captain of his army.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Later, Abimelech
וַאֲבִימֶ֕לֶךְ (wa·’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 40: Abimelech -- 'father is king', a Philistine name, also an Israelite name

came
הָלַ֥ךְ (hā·laḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

to [Isaac]
אֵלָ֖יו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

from Gerar,
מִגְּרָ֑ר (mig·gə·rār)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1642: Gerar -- a place South of Gaza

with Ahuzzath
וַאֲחֻזַּת֙ (wa·’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 276: Ahuzzath -- 'possession', a friend of Abimelech

his adviser
מֵֽרֵעֵ֔הוּ (mê·rê·‘ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4828: Friend, companion

and Phicol
וּפִיכֹ֖ל (ū·p̄î·ḵōl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6369: Phicol -- commander of Abimelech's army

the commander
שַׂר־ (śar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

of his army.
צְבָאֽוֹ׃ (ṣə·ḇā·’ōw)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign


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OT Law: Genesis 26:26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 26:25
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