Genesis 26:21

Gen 26:21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.

Ver. 21. And he called the name of it Sitnah.] Of Satan; to hate deadly, as the devil doth. So the Preacher in his Travels {a} tells us of a place called, The mouth of hell. And we read of a country called, Terra del fuego. {b} Savoy, for the strait passages infested with thieves, was once called Malvoy; till a worthy adventurer cleared the coasts, and then it was called Salvoy, or Savoy, quasi salva via. {c} So, King Alfred, as he divided the kingdom into shires, so the subjects, in the several shires, into tens, or tithings; every of which should give bond for the good bearing of each other. The most ancient of the ten, was called the tithing man. And the kingdom was called Regnum Dei, and Albion, quasi Olbion, {d} happy; as Angli quasi Angeli; for that then a poor girl might safely travel with a bag of gold in her hand, and none durst meddle with her.

{a} Preach. Trav., p. 10.

{b} Heyl., Geog. 130.

{c} Ibid., 474

{d} Polyd., Virg.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Or, hatred.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 21. They digged another well] Never did any man more implicitly follow the Divine command, Resist not evil, than Isaac; whenever he found that his work was likely to be a subject of strife and contention, he gave place, and rather chose to suffer wrong than to have his own peace of mind disturbed. Thus he overcame evil with good.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

21. Sitnah] That is, Enmity. This name is connected with the same root as the word satan, “adversary”; cf. Num_20:22; 1Sa_29:4. It has been doubtfully identified with a modern name, Wady-Sutem.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And he removed from thence,.... A little further from their border, to cut off all pretence, and put a stop to all dispute and controversy for the future:

and digged another well; in the place he removed to:

and for that they strove not; it being at such a distance from their border, they could not have the face to claim any right to it:

and he called the name of it Rehoboth; which signifies broad and spacious, places, enlargements:

for now hath the Lord made room for us; for himself, his family, his herds, and flocks, and freed them, from those difficulties under which they laboured, and the straits into which they were brought through the contention of the herdsmen of Gerar:

and we shall be fruitful in the land; his flocks and his herds increase, having good pasturage and watering for them, and so he and his family be in prosperous circumstances.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

And they digged another well (Isaac having yielded up the first), and strove for that also: beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water" (Pro_17:14) and he called the name of it Sitnah (from fc to lie in wait as an adversary; whence Satan); probably in Wady-es-Shutein, near Rehoboth (vide infra).

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Sitnah - That is, hatred.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Then they dug

"Then Isaac's servants dug"

they quarreled

"the herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac's herdsmen"

so he gave it

"so Isaac gave it"

Sitnah

Translators may add a footnote that says "The name Sitnah means 'oppose' or 'accuse.'" (See: How to Translate Names)

Rehoboth

Translators may add a footnote that says "The name Rehoboth means 'make room for' or 'empty place.'" (See: How to Translate Names)

us ... we

Isaac was speaking about himself and his household.

translationWords

cistern

prosper

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

שטנה old French nuisement; English hindrance.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

ויחפרו...שטנה, from the word “Satan.” The name reflected the fact that every time they dug with success they would be subjected to this hatred.

Radak on the Tanakh — English translations: “Sefaria Community Translation” (CC0 1.0 (public-domain dedication)); “Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash” (CC BY 4.0); “Rabbi Mike Feuer, Jerusalem Anthology” (CC BY 4.0); and “R. David Kimhi on the first book of Psalms, Translated by R.G. Finch, London, 1919” (public domain). Text via Sefaria.