“Isaac again dug the wells of water that they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, but the Philistines had sealed them after the death of Abraham. He called them names like the names that his father called them” (Genesis 26:18). “Isaac again dug…” – how many wells did our patriarch Isaac dig in Beersheba? Rabbi Yehuda said: Four.
Corresponding to that, his descendants were arrayed into four banners in the wilderness.22The tribes of Israel were divided into four camps, or banners, in the wilderness (Numbers 2:1–32). The Rabbis say: Five, corresponding to the five books of the Torah. “The herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying: The water is ours. He called the name of the well Esek, because they involved themselves with him” (Genesis 26:20).
“He called the name of the well Esek [because they involved themselves [hitaseku] with him]” – corresponding to the book of Genesis, in which the Holy One blessed be He became involved and created the world. “Isaac's servants dug in the valley, and they found there a well of fresh water” (Genesis 26:19). “They dug another well, and they quarreled over it as well. He called it Sitna” (Genesis 26:21).
“He called it Sitna”23Enmity. – corresponding to the book of Exodus, after, “they embittered their lives with hard work” (Exodus 1:14). “They found there a well of fresh water” – corresponding to the book of Leviticus, which is filled with many halakhot. “He called it Shiva; therefore, the name of the city is Beersheba to this day” (Genesis 26:33). “He called it Shiva” – corresponding to the book of Numbers,24The book of Numbers is divided into three books, which is why there are seven books. which completes the seven [shiva] books of the Torah.
But are they not five? Ben Kappara made Numbers into three books: From: “And He spoke” (Numbers 1:1) until: “It was when the Ark traveled” (Numbers 10:35) – a book in and of itself; from “it was when the Ark traveled” and the verse after it – a book in and of itself; and from the end of that passage until the end of the book – a book in and of itself. “He moved from there and dug another well and they did not quarrel over it.
He called its name Reḥovot and he said: As now the Lord has expanded [hirḥiv] for us, and we will be fruitful in the land” (Genesis 26:22). “He called its name Reḥovot” – corresponding to the book of Deuteronomy, due to, “when the Lord your God will expand [yarḥiv]” (Deuteronomy 12:20) – “as now the Lord has expanded [hirḥiv] for us and we shall be fruitful in the land.”