“Isaac went to Avimelekh [king of the Philistines], to Gerar” – to Gardiki.6The name of that area in Roman times. Rabbi Dostai in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: Why did they [not]7Radal and Etz Yosef add the word "not" based on Yerushalmi, Sheviit 6:1. decree impurity on the abode in Gardiki?8Even though they decreed impurity on places outside of Israel, on this place, which is close to the border they did not decree impurity since people would not go there anyway.
It is because it is a poor abode. Until where? It is until the ravine of Egypt. “The Lord appeared to him, and said: Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land that I will tell you” (Genesis 26:2).
“The Lord appeared to him, and said: Do not go down to Egypt; dwell [shekhon] in the land” – establish permanent residence [shekhuna] in the Land of Israel; plant, sow, graft branches9See Matnot Kehuna. on trees. Alternatively, “shekhon in the land” – cause the Divine Presence [haShekhina] to rest in the land. “Reside in this land, and I will be with you, and I will bless you, for I will give all these lands to you, and to your descendants, and I will keep the oath that I took to Abraham your father” (Genesis 26:3).
“Reside in this land” – Rabbi Hoshaya said: [God said:] ‘You are an unblemished burnt offering; just as a burnt offering, if it goes outside the curtains, it is disqualified, you, too, if you go out of the Land of Israel, you are disqualified.’ “To you, and to your descendants, I will give all these [ha’el] lands – the mighty; just as it says: “He took the mighty of [eilei] the land” (Ezekiel 17:13).
Another matter, why does it not state haeleh, but rather, ha’el? It is to say: I will give you some of them. When will I give you the rest? It will be in the future.