And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
Abraham journeyed from thence. Whence? No place is mentioned in connection with the patriarch's name in the context immediately preceding. We must look back to Genesis 13:18; because all the transactions related in the intermediate chapters took place while Abraham had his headquarters established in "Mamre, which is in Hebron." His motive for removing might be a necessity to obtain fresh pastures; but considering it was immediately subsequent to the destruction of the plain, it probably was fear to dwell among the Canaanites.
Toward the south country. The word Negeb, or 'south,' is used to describe that tract of country through which lay the ordinary caravan road between central Canaan and Egypt. It comprised a considerable but irregularly-shaped region; its main portion stretching from the mountains and lowland of Judah on the north, to the mountains of the Azazimeh on the south, and from the Dead Sea and southern Ghor on the east, to the Mediterranean on the west. It had, however, a further extension northeastwardly to Lamentations 3 1ø 35' or 40', and southwestwardly to about Lamentations 3 0ø 35', where it met the desert et-Tih; thus occupying a middle position, both topographicaly and physically, between the rich soil of central Canaan and the sand wastes and "that great and terrible wilderness" (Negeb).
And dwelled between Kadesh and Shur (i:e., in the southwest portion of the Negeb: cf. 2 Chronicles 14:12).
And sojourned in Gerar. He with his family established his residence in the capital Gerar, situated at a spot now called Khirbet el-Jerar situated about three hours south-southeast of Gaza, near the mouth of Wady Es-Sheriah, and on the banks of Tour el-Gerar-the river Gerar (Williams' 'Holy City').
The territory of Gerar in the time of the patriarchs did not probably extend much to the north of the metropolis, but seems to have been comprised within nearly the same limits as the country of the Tiyahah tribe in the present day, which stretches northward as far as the neighbourhood of Gaza and Bir es-Seba. The eastern boundary, by a cross line to Wady el-Abyad, and Wady er-Ruhaibeh, is formed by the rocky district of the Azazimch; on the south it terminated at Wady el-Jerur (50 miles south from Gerar, in a line between Ain el-Kadeis and Jebel es-Sur), which runs into Wady el-Arish; while the western boundary, which must have been drawn at some distance from the sea, corresponded to the line of demarcation between the modern Arab tribes of Tiyƒhah and Terabin (Negeb). It was an undulating region, the extent and fertility of which, both as an arable and pastoral country, rendered it a favorite resort of the patriarchs.