Genesis 26:20

26:20 the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled ¹  with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water belongs to us!” So Isaac ²  named the well ³  Esek ⁴  because they argued with him about it. ⁵ 

Genesis 37:13

37:13 Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers ⁶  are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I will send you to them.” “I’m ready,” ⁷  Joseph replied. ⁸ 

[26:20]  ¹ tn The Hebrew verb translated “quarreled” describes a conflict that often has legal ramifications.

[26:20]  ² tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Isaac) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[26:20]  ³ tn Heb “and he called the name of the well.”

[26:20]  ⁴ sn The name Esek means “argument” in Hebrew. The following causal clause explains that Isaac gave the well this name as a reminder of the conflict its discovery had created. In the Hebrew text there is a wordplay, for the name is derived from the verb translated “argued.”

[26:20]  ⁵ tn The words “about it” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[37:13]  ⁶ tn The text uses an interrogative clause: “Are not your brothers,” which means “your brothers are.”

[37:13]  ⁷ sn With these words Joseph is depicted here as an obedient son who is ready to do what his father commands.

[37:13]  ⁸ tn Heb “and he said, ‘Here I am.’” The referent of the pronoun “he” (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity, and the order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse has been rearranged for stylistic reasons.