This verse opens the final stage of the story. The scene is again in Canaan. The action centers on Isaac. Abraham is not mentioned. The camel caravan bringing Rebekah has almost arrived. Accordingly it may be necessary to start a new paragraph at this point and to signal the transition to the new scene. In some languages this may require saying, for example, “While they were traveling…,” “During their trip to Canaan….” Revised English Bible have “Isaac meanwhile had moved….”

Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi: Revised Standard Version represents the Hebrew waw here as Now, that is, as a general transition to the new scene. As noted in the Revised Standard Version footnote, the Hebrew text has “from coming to,” which does not make good sense. Revised Standard Version therefore follows Syriac and Targum had come from. Good News Translation “had come into the wilderness of” follows another variant found in the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Septuagint. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, which rates the Hebrew text as a {B}, recommends “he came from the well of Lahai roi.” This is an attempt to retain the Hebrew while trying to make it clear. The Handbook recommends following Hebrew Old Testament Text Project‘s suggestion. Translators should refer to their own rendering of Beer-lahai-roi in 16.14.

And was dwelling in the Negeb: dwelling refers to pitching camp, setting up a temporary living place, settling. See 20.1. For Negeb see 12.9. Note Good News Translation “southern part of Canaan.”

We may translate the whole verse as follows: “In the meanwhile Isaac, who had settled in the southern part of Canaan, came from Beerlahairoi” or “While they were on their way to Canaan, Isaac, who had settled in the Negeb, came from Beerlahairoi.” For another translation model see Good News Translation.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .