Discovery BoxGenesis 26:20 
Context26:20 the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled 1 with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water belongs to us!” So Isaac 2 named the well 3 Esek 4 because they argued with him about it. 5
Genesis 31:36
Context31:36 Jacob became angry 6 and argued with Laban. “What did I do wrong?” he demanded of Laban. 7 “What sin of mine prompted you to chase after me in hot pursuit? 8
1 tn The Hebrew verb translated “quarreled” describes a conflict that often has legal ramifications.
2 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Isaac) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Heb “and he called the name of the well.”
4 sn The name Esek means “argument” in Hebrew. The following causal clause explains that Isaac gave the well this name as a reminder of the conflict its discovery had created. In the Hebrew text there is a wordplay, for the name is derived from the verb translated “argued.”
5 tn The words “about it” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
6 tn Heb “it was hot to Jacob.” This idiom refers to anger.
7 tn Heb “and Jacob answered and said to Laban, ‘What is my sin?’” The proper name “Jacob” has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation and the order of the introductory clause and direct discourse rearranged for stylistic reasons.
8 tn Heb “What is my sin that you have hotly pursued after me.” The Hebrew verb translated “pursue hotly” is used elsewhere of soldiers chasing defeated enemies (1 Sam 17:53).
