Komentaryo sa Genesis 26:20: Rashi, Chizkuni, Ramban & Radak

עשק means DISPUTE.

לאמור לנו המים, saying: “the water is ours.” They argued that the water from the well had originally been flowing in the river that was theirs. They used the same argument with the second well Yitzchok’s servants brought in. When Yitzchok moved away further and again succeeded in bringing in a well, they did not argue about it [they finally realised that it was he who was blessed, and that he had not robbed them of anything (verse 22)].

AND HE CALLED THE NAME OF THE WELL ESEK. Scripture gives a lengthy account of the matter of the wells when in the literal interpretation of the story there would seem to be no benefit nor any great honor to Isaac in that he and his father did the identical thing.¹⁷⁴Both Isaac and Abraham dug wells in the land of the Philistines. They did not quarrel with Abraham, but they did quarrel with Isaac. Thus, in the literal meaning of the story, there “is no great honor to Isaac.” However, there is a hidden matter involved here since Scripture’s purpose is to make known a future matter. A well of living water alludes to the House of G-d which the children of Isaac will build. This is why Scripture mentions a well of living waters, even as it says, A fountain of living waters, the Eternal.¹⁷⁵Jeremiah 17:13. From the context of Ramban’s language it would appear that he interprets the verse as if it said, A fountain of living waters, which is the house of the Eternal. He called the first well Esek (Contention), which is an allusion to the First House,¹⁷⁶The First Sanctuary, which was built by Solomon and destroyed by the Babylonians. concerning which the nations contended with us and instigated quarrels and wars with us until they destroyed it. The second well he called Sitnah (Enmity),¹⁷⁷Verse 21 here. a name harsher than the first. This alludes to the Second House,¹⁷⁸The Second Sanctuary, which was built by the Jews who returned from the Babylonian Captivity and which was destroyed by the Romans. which has indeed been referred to by this very name, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote ‘sitnah’¹⁷⁹Hatred, accusation. Thus the same word sitnah appears in connection with the Second Sanctuary. against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.¹⁸⁰Ezra 4:6. And during its entire existence they¹⁸¹Our historic enemies during the period of the Second Temple, signified in the chapter here by the Philistines. were a source of enmity unto us until they destroyed it and drove us from it into bitter exile. The third well he called Rechovoth (Spacious). This is a reference to the Future House, which will be speedily built in our days, and it will be done without quarrel and feud, and G-d will enlarge our borders, even as it says, And if the Eternal thy G-d enlarge thy border, as He hath sworn, etc.,¹⁸²Deuteronomy 19:8. which refers to the future. And concerning the Third House of the future it is written, Broader¹⁸³In Hebrew verachavah, from the same root as the name of the third well, Rechovoth. The connection between the third well and the Third Temple of the future, concerning which Ezekiel prophesied, is thus established. and winding about higher and higher.¹⁸⁴Ezekiel 41:7. [The concluding statement in the present narrative, concerning the naming of the third well], And we shall be fruitful in the land,¹⁸⁵Verse 22 here. signifies that all peoples will come to worship G-d with one consent.¹⁸⁶Zephaniah 3:9.

כי התעשקו עמו means THEY ENGAGED WITH HIM about it in strife and DISPUTE.