Isaac in the Valley of Gerar

Genesis 26

Now there was a famine (again) in the land and Isaac went to King Abimilech of the Philistines in Gerar. The distinction Abimelech was a title similar to Pharaoh, so this was not the same king Abimelech of Genesis 20, 97 years later. I found this map to show where Issac's journeys are with references to chapters in Genesis :)

The Lord appeared to Isaac and told him to stay in Gerar, and to not go down to Egypt for a while. Isaac feared that if the Philistines wanted to have his wife, Rebekah (she was beautiful), then they would kill him and take her. So, he told Abimelech that she was his sister. Some time passed, and one day, the king saw Isaac (from a window) caressing his wife. He became furious! He summoned Isaac and questioned why he lied to them, realizing that if he or one of his men had taken advantage of her, then guilt would have been put on the whole house. So Abimelech gave orders that anyone who bothered Isaac or Rebekah would be put to death.

Isaac set himself to work planting crops and was blessed one hundred fold that year. He became rich, even wealthy, with flocks, herds, and servants. The Philistines envied him and began to fill up his wells with dirt. King Abimelech ordered him to move away to the valley of Gerar. There, he built wells again, but the first one (Esek), and the second (Sitnah), were filled with dirt again by quarreling herdsmen. Finally, he moved far enough away from all the herdsmen that he had plenty of room, and there they flourished. The Lord appeared to Isaac, and so he built an altar to the Lord and worshipped, which was in keeping with the Abrahamic covenant of his father and the Lord. This happened at Beersheba (see above map).

King Abimelech came to visit, with his personal adviser, Ahuzzath, and the commander of his forces, Phicol. Isaac questioned why they came to visit since recently he was sent away. Abimelech feared the power of Isaac and wanted to make a peace treaty with him. They stayed until the next day and feasted. Then left in peace. After their departure, Isaac's servants came to him and announced finding water in the well. They named the well "Shibah", which means "oath". The city of Beersheba is named from Shibah.