Water rights are extremely important for folks with livestock. One cannot maintain the wealth he has tied up in his livestock, if he doesn’t have a source of water. Whatever water rights Isaac enjoyed in the suburbs of Gerar, were taken away, when Abimelech told Isaac he had to leave that part of the country (Genesis 26:16). Isaac had grown wealthier and wealthier, during his sojourn there, so much so, that pressure was placed upon Abimelech by the businessmen of Gerar to force Isaac to leave. It seems that more and more Isaac had been seizing their markets, probably markets they, themselves, couldn’t satisfy due to famine conditions (cp. Genesis 26:1). Nevertheless, the Lord had blessed Isaac (Genesis 26:12-13), so he grew in power, while the power of the local businessmen diminished, and they envied him (Genesis 26:14).
So, after Abimelech had told him to leave the area, Isaac departed the suburbs of Gerar and settled in the valley of Gerar, which was the place of flowing water, but the famine had dried up the stream. It is what is called a wadi (Genesis 26:17, cp. verse-6). These streams may flow during wet seasons, especially in the spring when snow in higher elevations melt. However, after the snow has melted, and especially if the season turns dry, the waters dry up. Isaac had settled in one of these wadis, where he hoped he would find water.
What he intended on doing was to dig a well for his family, servants and livestock. Wells were dug in this place earlier by Abraham, but after his death the Philistines had filled them with dirt (Genesis 26:15, 18). Isaac was particularly interested in the locations of those wells, because he was more apt to find water for his flocks and herds there, where water had been found before. Moreover, as he had hoped, Isaac was told by one of his servants that they, indeed, had found water where they had dug out one of Abraham’s original wells (Genesis 26:19), which the Philistines had stopped.
Nevertheless, the herdsmen of Gerar, were apparently keeping an eye on Isaac’s activities, and, when they realized that he had successfully found water, the men strove with Isaac’s herdsmen over the water rights to that well. No doubt, these men were servants of the businessmen who were envious of Isaac and pressured Abimelech to cast him out of the suburbs of Gerar (Genesis 26:20). So, Isaac named the well, Esek, meaning contention, and he took his people and livestock and moved away from there. When he resettled further away from the city of Gerar, Isaac dug another well, but the Philistine herdsmen contended with Isaac’s herdsmen once more over ownership of the water rights to that well. Therefore, Isaac named that well Sitnah, meaning hatred, and he moved on once more (Genesis 26:21).
One may think that Isaac was a coward, because he didn’t stand up for his presumed rights to the wells he dug. However, this manner of thinking isn’t true. Isaac’s faith was tested in his efforts to find rest in the promises of the Lord. Abraham had taken up arms in order to save his nephew, Lot (Genesis 14:11-16). However, when water rights to a well he dug were seized by Abimelech’s men, Abraham had permitted the injustice to occur. Thus, neither Abraham nor his son, Isaac, were aggressors in a dispute. Where violence could be avoided, both men chose to submit to their enemies’ will without taking up arms. Their success wasn’t dependent upon rights that could be granted or taken away. Their success lay in their obedience to and their faith in God.
After resettling further away from Gerar, Isaac dug another well, and the Philistines didn’t quarrel with him over its water rights. Therefore, Isaac named that well Rehoboth, meaning enlargement or room enough (Genesis 26:22)! Thus, Isaac said that they would prosper there, because the Lord had made room for them, because it isn’t about rights; it’s about trusting the Lord.
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