Isaac's Wells and His Treaty with Abimelech

Isaac planted crops in that land and gathered a very large harvest. The Lord blessed him, and he became greater and greater, with flocks, herds, and a great household. Because of this, the Philistines envied him. They filled in the wells that Abraham’s servants had dug, and Abimelech told Isaac to leave because he had become too powerful.

Isaac moved to the valley of Gerar and lived there. He reopened the wells from Abraham’s time and gave them the same names his father had used. Then Isaac’s servants found a well of flowing water. But the herdsmen of Gerar argued and claimed it, so Isaac named that well Esek, because there had been a dispute.

They dug another well, and people argued over that one too, so Isaac named it Sitnah. Then he moved on and dug yet another well. This time no one quarrelled over it. Isaac named it Rehoboth, saying that now the Lord had made room for them and they would grow in the land.

After that, Isaac went up to Beersheba. That night the Lord appeared to him and told him not to be afraid, promising to be with him, bless him, and multiply his offspring for Abraham’s sake. Isaac built an altar there, called on the Lord’s name, pitched his tent there, and his servants dug a well.

Then Abimelech came from Gerar with Ahuzzath and Phicol, the captain of his army. Isaac asked why they had come after sending him away. They answered that they had clearly seen that the Lord was with Isaac, so they wanted an oath between them. Isaac prepared a feast, they ate and drank, and in the morning they swore the agreement and parted peacefully.

That same day Isaac’s servants reported that they had found water, and he named the well Shibah. Because of this, the city was called Beersheba. Where do you see Isaac choosing peace instead of continuing a quarrel?