GENESIS CHAPTER 21 God visits Sarah; she conceives and bears a son,
GENESIS 21:1,2. He is named Isaac, GENESIS 21:3; circumcised the
eighth day, GENESIS 21:4. Sarah's joy and thanks, GENESIS 21:6,7.
Abraham makes a feast at the weaning of Isaac, GENESIS 21:8. Ishmael
mocks; Sarah sees it, GENESIS 21... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIS OLD AGE, or, _for his old age, _ i.e. for the comfort of his
old age.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ circ. 1807_ No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Before, my own distrustful heart made me to laugh, now God makes me
laugh, not through diffidence and irreverence, as before, GENESIS
18:12, but through excess of holy joy. ALL THAT HEAR WILL LAUGH WITH
ME; or, _at me; _ some through sympathy rejoicing with me and for me,
laughter being oft put for... [ Continue Reading ]
What man or woman could believe so improbable a thing? Or, who but a
God could have foreseen and foretold it? She saith CHILDREN, though
she had but one child, either by a usual enallage of the plural number
for the singular, whereby the word _sons_ or _daughters_ is used when
there was but one, as... [ Continue Reading ]
It doth not appear how old Isaac was, because the time for the weaning
of children is very various, according to the differing tempers and
necessities of children, or inclination of parents; and in those
times, when men's lives were longer than now they are, proportionably
the time was longer ere ch... [ Continue Reading ]
Signifying either by words or gestures his contempt of Isaac, and his
derision of all that magnificence then showed towards his younger
brother. And this carriage proceeding from a most envious and
malicious disposition, and being a sufficient indication of further
mischief intended to him, if ever... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 1892_ She was enraged by this fact, and perceived it was but a
beginning and earnest of greater evil designed by him against her
beloved Isaac; being also guided by the wise counsel and providence of
God, as appears from GENESIS 21:12. Though the fact was done by
Ishmael, yet Sarah plainly saw tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Because of his tender affection to him, and God's promise concerning
him. See GENESIS 17:18,20. He who cheerfully parted with Isaac, was
hardly brought to part with Ishmael, because the former was done by
God's command, which he was obliged to obey; the latter by the passion
of an enraged woman, whe... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus Abraham had better authority for his divorce from Hagar than he
had for his marriage with her, GENESIS 16:2. THY SEED, to wit, the
promised Seed, the heir of thy estate, covenant, and promises, the
progenitor of my church and people, and particularly of the Messias.
CALLED, i.e. reputed and val... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
He who before doubted and lingered to do it when Sarah's passion
suggested it, when once he understands it to be God's will, he makes
haste to execute it. An excellent example of prudence and piety.
BREAD, by which may be here understood all necessaries, as ZECHARIAH
1:7,12 MT 6:11 14:15, compared w... [ Continue Reading ]
Not as if she carried him in her arms, or upon her shoulders, for he
was now about eighteen years old; but being weak and faint, and no
doubt much dejected in spirit upon the prospect of his desolate and
distressed condition, she was forced to support and lead him by the
hand; but now, despairing of... [ Continue Reading ]
Who wept? Either Hagar, for the verb is of the feminine gender; or the
lad, as the words following seem to intimate. And for the change of
the genders, that is not unfrequent in Scripture use.... [ Continue Reading ]
God heard his cries, though not flowing from true repentance, but
extorted from him by his pressing calamity. Though he be in a vast and
desolate wilderness, yet my eye is upon him, and I will take care of
him.... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. Support or sustain thy languishing child with thy hand; for I
will bless him, and thy care shall not be in vain.... [ Continue Reading ]
Not that her eyes were shut or blind before, but she saw not the well
before; either because it was at some distance, or because her eyes
were full of tears, and her mind distracted and heedless through
excessive grief and fear; or because God withheld her eyes that she
might not see it without his... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. A skilful hunter of beasts, and warrior with men too, according
to the prediction, GENESIS 16:12. For the bow was a principal
instrument in war, as well as in hunting, GENESIS 48:22, GENESIS
49:23,24. And these two professions oft went together. See GENESIS
10:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE WILDERNESS OF PARAN; in the borders of that wilderness, by
comparing GENESIS 14:6, for the innermost parts of it were
uninhabitable by men or beasts, as ancient writers note. HIS MOTHER
TOOK HIM A WIFE; by which we see both the obligation that lies upon
parents, and the right that is invested... [ Continue Reading ]
We plainly see that God blesseth and prospereth thee in all thy
undertakings. Of _Abimelech, _ see GENESIS 20:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU WILT NOT DEAL FALSELY WITH ME; that thou wilt not do me any
hurt or injury; Heb. _That thou wilt not lie unto me; _ i.e. as thou
hast formerly professed kindness and friendship to me, give me thy
oath to assure me that thou wilt be true and constant to thy own
professions.... [ Continue Reading ]
QUEST. How could Abraham lawfully swear this, when Canaan was given by
God to him and his seed for ever? ANSW. Neither Abraham nor his seed
had any present and actual right to the possession of the land, but
only the promise of a right in it, and possession of it after some
hundreds of years, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
That the foundation of true friendship might be firmly laid, and the
peace inviolably observed, he removes an impediment to it, an occasion
of quarrel and just exception on Abraham's part. A WELL OF WATER in
those hot and dry countries was of great esteem and necessity. Compare
GENESIS 26:19 JUDGES... [ Continue Reading ]
By which he wisely and truly suggests, that Abraham should not have
smothered the grudge in his mind so long time, but should instantly
have reproved him for it, and endeavoured a speedy redress, which
hereby he intimates that he was ready to give.... [ Continue Reading ]
ABRAHAM GAVE THEM UNTO ABIMELECH; partly, as an acknowledgment to him
for his former favour and friendship; partly, as an assurance of his
sincere friendship, both present and for the future, of his
acquiescence in his answer about the well; and partly, for sacrifice,
and for the usual rite in makin... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
That this care of Abraham's was not superfluous may appear from
GENESIS 26:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which name was communicated unto a city adjoining: of which see
GENESIS 26:23 JOSHUA 15:28 2 SAMUEL 17:11, 2 SAMUEL 24:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 1891_ i.e. Into their part of that land, to wit, Gerar, which was
not far from this place. It is a usual synecdoche, whereby the whole
land is put for a part of it; otherwise they were at this time in that
land.... [ Continue Reading ]
ABRAHAM PLANTED A GROVE, not so much for shade, which yet was pleasant
and necessary in these hot regions, as for religious use, that he
might retire thither from the noise of worldly business, and freely
converse with his Maker. Which practice of his was afterwards abused
to superstition and idolat... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]