Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name [was] Keturah. Ver. 1. _Then again Abraham, &c._] After Sarah's death, though Calvin thinks otherwise. His body, dry and dead forty years before, is now, by God's blessing, made lively and lusty.... [ Continue Reading ]
And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. Ver. 2. No Text for this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. Ver. 3. No Text for this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these [were] the children of Keturah. Ver. 4. _Ephah, and Epher._] These five were, haply, the founders of the families of those five kings of Midian mentioned in Numbers 31:8 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. Ver. 5. _Abraham gave all, &c._] So Isaiah 19:25, Assyria is the work of God's hand, and Israel his inheritance.... [ Continue Reading ]
But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country. Ver. 6. _Abraham gave gifts._] So doth God to reprobates; but they are giftless gifts, better be without them. _a_ _Saepe Deus dat... [ Continue Reading ]
And these [are] the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years. Ver. 7. _!!An hundred threescore and fifteen years._] He was sixty-five when he came out of Haran: a whole hundred years he was a stranger in the land, contenting himself with the bare p... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full [of years]; and was gathered to his people._ Ver. 8. _Gave up the ghost._] _Deficit; leniter, expiravit. Describit Moses placidam et optatam, quasi,_ ευθανασιαν; which in Abraham, God's friend, is no wonder. But how c... [ Continue Reading ]
And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which [is] before Mamre; Ver. 9. _And his sons Isaac and Ishmael, &c._] It is like that Abraham, a little afore his death, sent for his two sons and reconciled them. This joining... [ Continue Reading ]
The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. Ver. 10. _The field._] _See Trapp on "_ Gen 23:17 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Gen 23:18 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi. Ver. 11. _Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi._] This had been his oratory, where he had formerly found God; Gen 24:62 and he loved it the better ever after.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now these [are] the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham: Ver. 12. _These are the generations of Ishmael._] Who became the progenitor of twelve princes, according to the promise. Gen 17:20... [ Continue Reading ]
And these [are] the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, Ver. 13. _These are the names of the sons of Ishmael._] When Isaac was twenty years married, and had no child; and afterwards, no... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,_ Ver. 14. _And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massah._] Out of these three names - which signify hearing, silence, and suffering - the Masorites gather the three principal duties of man, in common conversation; viz., to hear, to keep silence, and bear: these, say they, ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah: Ver. 15. _Naphish, and Kedemah._] Twelve in all, princes of their tribes, as was promised. Gen 17:20 See, saith one, _a_ here, what God can do for a poor boy sent out with a bottle of water on his back. God "setteth the solitary in families"; Psa 68:6 ... [ Continue Reading ]
These [are] the sons of Ishmael, and these [are] their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations. Ver. 16. _These are their names by their towns._] Which they called after their own names, as Cain did, that first built the city Enoch, after his son's nam... [ Continue Reading ]
And these [are] the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people. Ver. 17. _And he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered,_] sc., to "the congregation house of all living," as the grave is called, Job... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that [is] before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: [and] he died in the presence of all his brethren._ Ver. 18. _And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur._] A large tract and territory; but nothing so large as his posterity the Saracens', called more rightly... [ Continue Reading ]
_And these [are] the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:_ Ver. 19. _And these are the generations._] That is, the affairs and occurrences.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. Ver. 20. _And Isaac was forty years old._] He was not overhasty to marry in the heat of his youth: but by hard labour, ardent prayers, and pious meditations,... [ Continue Reading ]
And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she [was] barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. Ver. 21. _And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife._] He did it constantly and instantly, as the word עתר signifies; he multiplied prayer, which (as those arrows... [ Continue Reading ]
And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If [it be] so, why [am] I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. Ver. 22. _And the children struggled together._] Heb., _Jithrotsatsu_. They ran at tilt, as it were, and jostled one against another, even to bruising and hurting. Esau... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD said unto her, Two nations [are] in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and [the one] people shall be stronger than [the other] people; and the elder shall serve the younger. Ver. 23. _And the Lord said unto her._] Either by an angel, or a prophet, or... [ Continue Reading ]
And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, [there were] twins in her womb. Ver. 24. _And when her days to be delivered._] Which fell out fifteen years before Abraham's death, to his great comfort, no doubt. God doth for his, his best at last. _ There were twins in her womb._] See So... [ Continue Reading ]
And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. Ver. 25. _And the first came out red._] Red and rough, cruel and crafty, as that red old dragon Rev 12:3 who inhabited in him, and both acted and agitated him. Eph 2:2 _Ab ascensore suo daemone perurgebatur,_... [ Continue Reading ]
And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac [was] threescore years old when she bare them. Ver. 26. _And after that came his brother out._] God could have brought Jacob out first, for it is he that "takes us out of the womb";... [ Continue Reading ]
And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob [was] a plain man, dwelling in tents. Ver. 27. _And the boys grew._] Nature, art, grace, all proceed from less perfect to more perfect. "Grow in grace," saith Peter: 2Pe 3:18 grow "unto a perfect man," even "unto the me... [ Continue Reading ]
And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of [his] venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. Ver. 28. _And Isaac loved Esau, &c._] Here, as likewise in Manoah's wife, more grace appears in the woman than in the man; whose blind and misplaced love, for carnal ends, commends and illustrates the divine adoptio... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he [was] faint: Ver. 29. _And Jacob sod pottage._] Pottage of lentiles, which was a kind of pulse much like to vetches or small peas: so frugal and sparing was the diet of those precious patriarchs, to the shame of our luxury. _Quicquid avium... [ Continue Reading ]
And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red [pottage]; for I [am] faint: therefore was his name called Edom. Ver. 30. _Feed me, I pray thee, with that red, red._] He doubleth it, and could not, for haste and hunger, tell what to call it, to show his greediness. _a_ And saith, ... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright._ Ver. 31. _Sell me this day thy birthright._] Which he knew, by the instruction of his mother, to be his by God's appointment; and therefore takes this opportunity to get it. A well chosen season is the greatest advantage of any action.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Esau said, Behold, I [am] at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? Ver. 32. _What profit shall this birthright, &c._] _Pluris facio pulticulam bonam, quam titulam inahem._ Sensualists look only at the present pleasure, and sell their souls for it. Earthly things are... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Ver. 33. _Swear to me._] With fickle men, make all firm and fast. “Quo teneam vultus mutantem Protea nodo?” - Horat. _And he sold his birthright to Jacob._] And, with it, heaven also, as the Jerusa... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised [his] birthright. Ver. 34. _He did eat and drink, and rose up, &c._] _Hac verborum congeri, impoenitentia Esaui deseribitur._ _a_ Away he went, without showing the least r... [ Continue Reading ]