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28 They replied, “We could plainly see[a] that the Lord is with you. So we decided there should be[b] a pact between us[c]—between us[d] and you. Allow us to make[e] a treaty with you 29 so that[f] you will not do us any harm, just as we have not harmed[g] you, but have always treated you well[h] before sending you away[i] in peace. Now you are blessed by the Lord.”[j]

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 26:28 tn The infinitive absolute before the verb emphasizes the clarity of their perception.
  2. Genesis 26:28 tn Heb “And we said, ‘Let there be.’” The direct discourse in the Hebrew text has been rendered as indirect discourse in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  3. Genesis 26:28 tn The pronoun “us” here is inclusive—it refers to the Philistine contingent on the one hand and Isaac on the other.
  4. Genesis 26:28 tn The pronoun “us” here is exclusive—it refers to just the Philistine contingent (the following “you” refers to Isaac).
  5. Genesis 26:28 tn The translation assumes that the cohortative expresses their request. Another option is to understand the cohortative as indicating resolve: “We want to make.’”
  6. Genesis 26:29 tn The oath formula is used: “if you do us harm” means “so that you will not do.”
  7. Genesis 26:29 tn Heb “touched.”
  8. Genesis 26:29 tn Heb “and just as we have done only good with you.”
  9. Genesis 26:29 tn Heb “and we sent you away.”
  10. Genesis 26:29 tn The Philistine leaders are making an observation, not pronouncing a blessing, so the translation reads “you are blessed” rather than “may you be blessed” (cf. NAB).

28 They answered, “We saw clearly that the Lord was with you;(A) so we said, ‘There ought to be a sworn agreement between us’—between us and you. Let us make a treaty(B) with you 29 that you will do us no harm,(C) just as we did not harm you but always treated you well and sent you away peacefully. And now you are blessed by the Lord.”(D)

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