18. He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.
19. Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water.
20. But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”).
21. Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”).
22. Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”
23. From there Isaac moved to Beersheba,
24. where the lord appeared to him on the night of his arrival. “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you. I will multiply your descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will do this because of my promise to Abraham, my servant.”
25. Then Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the lord. He set up his camp at that place, and his servants dug another well.
26. One day King Abimelech came from Gerar with his adviser, Ahuzzath, and also Phicol, his army commander.
27. “Why have you come here?” Isaac asked. “You obviously hate me, since you kicked me off your land.”
28. They replied, “We can plainly see that the lord is with you. So we want to enter into a sworn treaty with you. Let’s make a covenant.
29. Swear that you will not harm us, just as we have never troubled you. We have always treated you well, and we sent you away from us in peace. And now look how the lord has blessed you!”
30. So Isaac prepared a covenant feast to celebrate the treaty, and they ate and drank together.