Verse

Genesis 26:26

ESV When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army,
NIV Meanwhile, Abimelek had come to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces.
NASB Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath, and Phicol the commander of his army.
CSB Now Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army.
NLT One day King Abimelech came from Gerar with his adviser, Ahuzzath, and also Phicol, his army commander.
KJV Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.
NKJV Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army.

What does Genesis 26:26 mean?

Isaac, living in Beersheba (Genesis 26:17–23), in the region of Gerar, receives visitors. King Abimelech has traveled to see him with two of the leaders of Gerar: Ahuzzath, an advisor, and Phicol, the commander of the army. Previously, Abimelech had asked Isaac to move away from his people out of a combination of envy and fear (Genesis 26:12–17).

A similar meeting occurred between Abraham, and two men named Abimelech and Phicol, in Genesis 21:22–34, though Ahuzzath was not part of it. Some scholars suggest this Abimelech is the same one that knew and negotiated with Abraham. However, this incident is at least 90 years after the meeting between Abraham and those other men. For that reason, it's more likely that Abimelech and Phicol are titles and not names. They may have fit the same role as names such as Pharaoh and Caesar. This might also mean that these are names passed down from fathers to sons, along with their respective positions.
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