Genesis 26:26

26:26 Now Abimelech had come ¹  to him from Gerar along with ²  Ahuzzah his friend ³  and Phicol the commander of his army.

Genesis 31:49

31:49 It was also called Mizpah ⁴  because he said, “May the Lord watch ⁵  between us ⁶  when we are out of sight of one another. ⁷ 

[26:26]  ¹ tn The disjunctive clause supplies pertinent supplemental information. The past perfect is used because the following narrative records the treaty at Beer Sheba. Prior to this we are told that Isaac settled in Beer Sheba; presumably this treaty would have allowed him to do that. However, it may be that he settled there and then made the treaty by which he renamed the place Beer Sheba. In this case one may translate “Now Abimelech came to him.”

[26:26]  ² tn Heb “and.”

[26:26]  ³ tn Many modern translations render the Hebrew term מֵרֵעַ (merea’) as “councillor” or “adviser,” but the term may not designate an official position but simply a close personal friend.

[31:49]  ⁴ tn Heb “and Mizpah.”

[31:49]  ⁵ sn The name Mizpah (מִצְפָּה, mitspah), which means “watchpost,” sounds like the verb translated “may he watch” (יִצֶף, yitsef). Neither Laban nor Jacob felt safe with each other, and so they agreed to go their separate ways, trusting the Lord to keep watch at the border. Jacob did not need this treaty, but Laban, perhaps because he had lost his household gods, felt he did.

[31:49]  ⁶ tn Heb “between me and you.”

[31:49]  ⁷ tn Heb “for we will be hidden, each man from his neighbor.”