took such great care of him, he drove him away from him. But
Isaac, when he saw how envy had changed the temper of Abimelech
retired to a place called the Valley, not far from Gerar: and as
he was digging a well, the shepherds fell upon him, and began to
fight, in order to hinder the work; and because he did not desire
to contend, the shepherds seemed to get the him, so he still
retired, and dug another and when certain other shepherds of
Abimelech began to offer him violence, he left that also, still
retired, thus purchasing security to himself a rational and
prudent conduct. At length the gave him leave to dig a well
without disturbance. He named this well Rehoboth, which denotes a
large space; but of the former wells, one was called Escon, which
denotes strife, the other Sitenna, name signifies enmity.

3. It was now that Isaac's affairs increased, and in a
flourishing condition; and this his great riches. But Abimelech,
thinking in opposition to him, while their living made them
suspicious of each other, and retiring showing a secret enmity
also, he
afraid that his former friendship with Isaac would not secure
him, if Isaac should endeavor the injuries he had formerly
offered him; he therefore renewed his friendship with him,
Philoc, one of his generals. And when he had obtained every thing
he desired, by reason of Isaac's good nature, who preferred the
earlier friendship Abimelech had shown to himself and his father
to his later wrath against him, he returned home.

4. Now when Esau, one of the sons of Isaac, whom the father
principally loved, was now come to the age of forty years, he
married Adah, the daughter of Helon, and Aholibamah, the daughter