For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
15. his father’s servants ] Cf. Gen 21:25.
had stopped them ] Wells were of priceless value to large owners of cattle and sheep. The “Philistines” adopted the most malignant method of spiting the Hebrews, and of rendering their continued sojourn in the land impossible. See 2Ki 3:25.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 15. For all the wells – the Philistines had stopped them] In such countries a good well was a great acquisition; and hence in predatory wars it was usual for either party to fill the wells with earth or sand, in order to distress the enemy. The filling up the wells in this case was a most unprincipled transaction, as they had pledged themselves to Abraham, by a solemn oath, not to injure each other in this or any other respect. See Ge 21:25-31.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
15. all the wells which his father’sservants had digged . . . the Philistines had stopped, &c.Thesame base stratagem for annoying those against whom they have takenan umbrage is practiced still by choking the wells with sand orstones, or defiling them with putrid carcases.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged, in the days of Abraham his father,…. For the watering of his flocks and herds, see Ge 21:25:
the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth; that they might be of no use; and this they did through envy to him, and is mentioned as a proof of it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(15) The wells.In the East the digger of a well is regarded as a public benefactor; but the Philistines stopped those that Abraham had digged, probably because they regarded his possession of them, though confirmed by the covenant between him and Abimelech (Gen. 21:32), as an intrusion upon their rights as the people of the country, Envious, too, at the rapid increase of an aliens wealth, they determined to drive Isaac away; and for this no expedient would be more effectual than the preventing him from procuring water for his cattle. Following upon this came an express command of the king to depart, which Isaac obeyed; for he had sought refuge there because of the famine, and had no right to continue at Gerar, if the people refused their hospitality.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15. Wells filled The wells dug by Abraham gave Isaac a sort of title to the land, and filling them up was equivalent to a declaration of war . Comp . 2Ki 3:25; Isa 15:6.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
This was contrary to their covenant. Gen 21:25
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 26:15 For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
Ver. 15. The Philistines had stopped them. ] They deprived themselves of the benefit of those wells, so that Isaac might not water at them. Envy doth nothing with reason. It is vitium diabolicum, saith Augustine. a The devil, of pure spite, hinders men from heaven: he rageth and rangeth, roaring up and down, “seeking whom to devour”; and not caring to be doubly damned himself, so that others may not be saved. We should be so far from envying at the happiness of others, that we should rejoice in it. This were to be as the angels of God; and the contrary, is to be like the devils of hell, as Saul was, who, because he could not see David’s heart, fed upon his own. Envy devours itself, as the worm doth the nut out of which it grows.
a Aug. in Ps. cxxxix.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
his father’s: Gen 21:30
had stopped: In those countries, a well of water was a great acquisition; and hence, this mode of injuring new settlers, or revenging themselves on their enemies, is still resorted to among the inhabitants.
Reciprocal: Gen 21:25 – reproved Gen 26:29 – not Exo 2:17 – shepherds 2Ki 3:25 – stopped