Genesis 16:7-14

Hagar and the Angel at the Well

7. the angel of the Lord The Angel, i.e. messenger, of Jehovah is the personification of Jehovah. Observe that in Genesis 16:10 He identifies Himself with Jehovah, expressing in the first person sing. what He will do (cf. Genesis 21:18; Genesis 22:15-18).

In all probability, in the development of religious thought, the Angel of Jehovah marks an intermediate stage between the simple anthropomorphisms of Genesis 3:11; Genesis 3:18, and the later, more spiritual and abstract, conception of the Divine Being.

a fountain of water i.e. a spring of water, which in the desert would mean an oasis towards which tracks would converge. See Genesis 24:13.

in the way to Shur Probably, on the main trade route leading to her own country of Egypt. "Shur," mentioned also in Genesis 20:1 and Genesis 25:18, has not been identified. It seems to mean "a wall"; and very probably was the name given to some spot on the line of the Egyptian frontier fortifications on the north-east, not far from the present Suez Canal. Possibly=the modern Tell abû-Sêpheh, 20 miles S. of Port Said.