16. Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”
17. Isaac departed from there, encamped in the valley of Gerar, and lived there.
18. Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. He called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
19. Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.
20. The herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” He called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him.
21. They dug another well, and they argued over that, also. He called its name Sitnah.
22. He left that place, and dug another well. They didn’t argue over that one. He called it Rehoboth. He said, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”
23. He went up from there to Beersheba.
24. The Lord appeared to him the same night, and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.”
25. He built an altar there, and called on the Lord’s name, and pitched his tent there. There Isaac’s servants dug a well.
26. Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his army.
27. Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me, and have sent me away from you?”