‘Now Sarai, Abram's wife bore him no children, and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said to Abram, “Look, now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing. Go in, I beg you, to my handmaid. It may be that I will obtain a child by her”.' Sarai knows of God's promises to Abra... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he went in to Hagar and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived her mistress was of little account in her eyes.' The plan was successful. But Hagar was an Egyptian and not brought up to tribal customs, and her success made her feel superior to her barren mistress. She sees herse... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be on you. I gave my handmaid for you to make love to (into your bosom) and when she saw that she had conceived I was of little account in her eyes. Yahweh judge between you and me”.' “MY WRONG BE ON YOU.” This is an official plea for legal protection. Sarai now... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Abram said to Sarai, “Look, your maid is in your hand. Do with her whatever is right in your eyes.” And Sarai treated her harshly and she fled from her face.' Abram passes his judgment. Sarai is given authority to act as she sees fit. The woman is still her maid (it may be that this is an inte... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the angel of Yahweh found her by a spring of water in the desert regions, by the spring on the way to Shur.' There is no suggestion that she is in difficulties, (unlike the next time when she tries the same move under totally different circumstances (Genesis 21:15)). As a young, healthy and det... [ Continue Reading ]
Genesis 16:8 A ‘And he said, “Hagar, handmaid of Sarai, from where have you come and where are you going?” ' It is clear that by becoming what she has Hagar has been brought within the covenant and that God will not let her go. But note that she is addressed as ‘handmaid of Sarai' not wife of Abra... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the angel of Yahweh said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit yourself to her hands.” ' That is the human side. She must acknowledge her status and do what is right accordingly. But in return her future is guaranteed.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the angel of Yahweh said to her, “I will greatly multiply your seed so that it will be so great that it cannot be numbered”.' If she returns her future will be most satisfying. She will become the mother of a great multitude, the longing in those days of every woman. We note here that the ange... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the angel of Yahweh said to her, “Behold you are with child and will bear a son. And you shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction. And he will be like a wild ass among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him. And he will dwell in th... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And she called the name of Yahweh Who spoke to her, “You are El Roi (‘the God Who sees')”, for she said, “Have I even here looked after Him Who sees me?” ' She gives God a new name as being her personal God, for He has seen her need and has responded. She knows that she has met the One Who sees he... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For this reason the well was called Beer-lahai-roi (‘the well of the Living One Who sees me'). Consider, it is between Kadesh and Bered.' We do not know whether this was a new name for the site or an old name applied to a new situation. It is possible that the name was originally given because it... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. And Abram was eighty six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.' The end result of Sarai's planning was the birth of a son to Abram. Now his steward was no longer his direct heir for he had a son of his... [ Continue Reading ]