He owned flocks, herds, and many enterprises, and the Philistines envied him.
Gen. 26:14
The Philistines personified unrestrained, excessive levity and mindless frivolity for its own sake. They saw no point in happiness derived from spirituality. They were thus the antithesis of Abraham and Isaac, who personified the joy that comes from feeling close to G-d.
The Philistines therefore tried to appropriate the wellsprings of joy that were produced by Abraham and Isaac, erroneously claiming that there is no place for laughter and joy in the service of G-d, which should be serious and solemn. Happiness, joy, and laughter, they claimed, can only be used for empty levity and scoffing. This is why they plugged up Abraham’s wells and claimed Isaac’s for their own.
Similarly, in our own lives, the forces of evil try to steer us toward sadness and depression, falsely claiming that negativity is somehow conducive to religiosity. In truth, however, nothing can foster optimism, joy, and happiness like the feeling of closeness to G-d that springs from a life devoted to the study of the Torah and the performance of the commandments.
—From Daily Wisdom 3