The biblical character, Isaac, takes a passive and mostly quiet role, especially following the trauma after the binding of Isaac. Arguably, Chapter 26 is the only chapter in Genesis dedicated to Isaac’s character. I would like to address two ways of understanding Isaac’s relationship with his father, Abraham.

Firstly, one way to understand their relationship is to consider how Isaac repeats Abraham’s steps and routines. Similar to Abraham, famine propels Isaac towards Egypt and Isaac also informs locals that his wife Rebecca is his sister. After Abraham dies, the local Philistines fill Abraham (and now Isaac’s) wells with dirt.

Isaac tries to redig Abraham’s wells with the same names but the fresh water is a source of conflict between Isaac and the local Philistines. Perhaps, this indicates the idiom “like father, like son” and Isaac learned from his parents to act in a similar manner. Nachmanides (1194-1270), suggests that events and actions of the biblical patriarchs become imprinted or part of future descendants’ narrative and identity.

The second lens of viewing Isaac’s relationship with his father is through symbolism. The biblical well represents life, Torah, inner truths and meeting places. Rabbi Shmuel Bornsztain suggests that the digging of wells is a metaphor for self-discovery and authentic expression from the depths of one’s soul (Shem Mishmuel, Toldot 1925). Filling the wells and “living waters” with dirt reflects Isaac’s psychological blockage. For a chapter all about Isaac, his father is mentioned explicitly no less than eight times in the first part of the chapter. There is even a play on words with the Philistine king named Avimelech (my father is king) who is named seven times in the chapter. Word repetition in the Torah is noteworthy and draws the reader towards specific themes.

Isaac’s identity is wrapped up with his father and while Isaac goes through the steps similar to his father, he doesn’t always receive the same outcome. The redigging of wells is a time for Isaac to create his identity more independently of his father. Rechovot and Beersheba are two places where Isaac successfully finds flowing well water and peace with his neighbours, both of which symbolise his personal growth (independent of his father) including developing his inner voice.