Genesis 26 has an interesting tale about Abraham's second son
He had moved with his wife to Gerar (philistine territory) from Beer-lahai-roi (a desert), in response to a famine
As if by dejavu, Isaac pretended his wife was his sister to preserve himself from possible death from those who would covet his wife (similar to what his father, Abraham, did a generation earlier
It seems wife-snatching was a common occurrence in those days.
Perhaps this Abimelech (son of the former philistine king during Abraham's lifetime) knew Isaac was Abraham's son, and thus wary enough to keep a close eye, was able to figure out that Rebekah was Isaac's wife
And so, Isaac became set apart (like Abraham) in Gerar
He cultivated crop, reaped 100-fold, and thereafter became very rich. So rich in fact that Abimelech expelled him from Gerar out of fear of being overpowered by Isaac's wealth
Isaac therefore moved to the valley of the same city (Gerar)
He encountered "bitterness" and "hostility", before he finally found "open space".
After moving again, Abimelech himself and the old Phicol came to visit seeking an oath of peace and non-aggression, and thus Isaac (like his father) earned the respect of his foes through their recognition of God's hand on Isaac
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