Texts · 16 · Isaac and Rebekah
Why did Isaac re-dig Abraham's wells?
If Abraham had roamed the same region, wouldn't his wells already be there? Later scribes answered: the Philistines had filled them in.
Merging stories creates puzzles scribes then solve.
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Abraham is mentioned eight times in this story, mostly in lines that appear to be additions. Scribes also inserted divine appearances that attribute Isaac's success to Yhwh's blessing rather than the king's protection.
Bible reference: Genesis 26:15, 18
Source: Why the Bible Began, pp. 258–259
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