Verses 17-25 show Isaac moving from the valley of Gerar to Beersheba. It is not possible to show with any certainty the migration route Isaac and his people followed. The central point in these verses, however, is the establishing of a series of wells along the route, in a situation where pasturing nomads depended upon these wells for their water and therefore for their survival. It was important for these watering places to have names that would become known to the nomadic herders.

So Isaac departed from there: So marks the result of verse 16. Departed from there means from Gerar, the area where Abimelech lived.

Encamped in the valley of Gerar: encamped translates a verb used here and in 33.18 and means “pitched his tents,” “made his camp,” “settled.” Valley translates the Hebrew nahal, which refers to a stream or river bed. Usually these stream beds are dry except after a heavy rain. The term may also be applied to the valley through which the stream flowed. In the literature in English these areas are usually referred to by the Arabic term wadi. It is not known how far this place may have been from Abimelech’s Gerar.

Dwelt there means he settled, stayed, lived there for a time.

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 .