Definition: And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac [was] sporting with Rebekah his wife.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Genesis 26:8. It's a really interesting story about love and fate! Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Story: Abimelech is looking out the window. He's sitting at home, reflecting on things. He sees Isaac playing with Rebekah. This is the key part – he notices Isaac and Rebekah enjoying each other’s company. What it’s saying about fate and love: “And it came to pass…” This phrase means that what's happening must happen, it's not just a random occurrence. It's a pre-determined path. "...when he had been there a long time..." This tells us this isn’t an accidental moment; it’s something significant has happened for a while. "...that Abimelech king of the Philistines..." This identifies who is telling the story – Abimelech, a powerful leader in the region. "...looked out at a window..." This is a descriptive detail - we're getting a sense of where this is happening. "...and saw, and, behold..." This is a slightly dramatic phrase that adds to the story. “Saw” means he observed something. “Behold” is a word meaning "look" in Hebrew – it’s like saying “And then I noticed…” The Overall Meaning: The verse tells us that Abimelech was observing Isaac and Rebekah playing, and that this observation led to a significant and unexpected event: the birth of Isaac. It's a story about how God’s plan works out perfectly, even if it seems strange or unlikely at first. Important Note: This story is considered a key example in the Bible of how God uses fate and seemingly random events to bring about good things. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss what this story might teach us about love, destiny, or faith?