26 And Abimelech, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phichol the captain of his host, went to him from Gerar. 27 And Isaac said to them, Why are ye come to me, seeing ye hate me, and have driven me away from you? 28 And they said, We saw certainly that Jehovah is with thee; and we said, Let there be then an oath between us—between us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee, 29 that thou wilt do us no wrong, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done to thee nothing but good, and have let thee go in peace; thou art now blessed of Jehovah. 30 And he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 And they rose early in the morning, and swore one to another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. 32 And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well that they had dug, and said to him, We have found water. 33 And he called it Shebah; therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba to this day.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 26:26-33
Commentary on Genesis 26:26-33
(Read Genesis 26:26-33)
When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him, Proverbs 16:7. Kings' hearts are in his hands, and when he pleases, he can turn them to favour his people. It is not wrong to stand upon our guard in dealing with those who have acted unfairly. But Isaac did not insist on the unkindnesses they had done him; he freely entered into friendship with them. Religion teaches us to be neighbourly, and, as much as in us lies, to live peaceable with all men. Providence smiled upon what Isaac did; God blessed his labours.