Genesis 22 - Introduction
(E, J.) 1 19. The Sacrifice of Isaac. (E.) 20 24. The Genealogy of Nahor. (J.)... [ Continue Reading ]
(E, J.) 1 19. The Sacrifice of Isaac. (E.) 20 24. The Genealogy of Nahor. (J.)... [ Continue Reading ]
_after these things_ An indefinite note of time referring to Isaac's birth and the expulsion of Ishmael: cf. Genesis 22:20. See note on Genesis 15:1. _God did prove Abraham_ "Prove" in the sense of "make trial of," cf. Exodus 15:25; Exodus 16:4; Deuteronomy 8:2; Deuteronomy 8:16; Psalms 66:10. The A... [ Continue Reading ]
From E; but Genesis 22:15 are, probably, from another source, possibly R. As a piece of simple and vivid narrative, this passage from E's narrative is unsurpassed. SPECIAL NOTE ON THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC This episode occupies an important place in the religious teaching of Genesis. It is (1) the cr... [ Continue Reading ]
_thy son_ Observe the cumulative force of the successive words, "thy son," "only son," "whom thou lovest," "Isaac," indicating the severity of the test about to be applied to Abraham's faith. _only son_ Ishmael is here disregarded, as in Genesis 22:12_; Genesis 22:16_. He is no longer considered on... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Abraham rose early_, &c. Abraham's prompt unquestioning obedience is here depicted in the description of his successive acts. The mental struggle is passed over in silence. Calvin notes: "quasi oculis clausis pergit quo jubetur." Cf. Wis 10:5, "wisdom knew the righteous man and preserved him bl... [ Continue Reading ]
_On the third day … afar off_ The "place" was on a lofty eminence visible at a distance. Presumably "the third day" indicates a journey of 30 or 40 miles. The journey from Beer-sheba to Jerusalem is computed to take less than 24 hours.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I and the lad_ Abraham's words are either intended to conceal his intention; or they imply hope, against all hope. "Come again," i.e. come back to the young men. He will not let the servants know the nature of the expedition.... [ Continue Reading ]
_laid it upon Isaac_ Isaac carries the heavy weight of the wood; Abraham, the more dangerous burden of the fire (i.e. a brazier) and the knife.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Isaac spake_ The pathos of the narrative reaches its climax in the simple expression of boyish curiosity, indicating a knowledge of his father's regular usages of sacrifice. "Here am I, my son?" is a little formal as a rendering. It is equivalent to a father's reply: "Well, boy, what is it?... [ Continue Reading ]
_provide himself_ Heb. _see for himself_, cf. Genesis 41:33. Abraham's words express his self-control and his faith, and have a reference to Genesis 22:14. The provision by God of a lamb for a burnt-offering lies at the root of the interpretation of the present passage in its typical application to... [ Continue Reading ]
_which God had told him of_ See Genesis 22:1. _built the altar there_ Possibly referring to the altar of some well-known spot. Cf. note on the word "place," Genesis 22:3; Genesis 12:6. For the definite article, see Genesis 8:7. The altar needed rebuilding. _laid the wood in order_ The technical ph... [ Continue Reading ]
_slay_ The technical sacrificial word for killing the victim by cutting its throat.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the angel of the Lord_ See note on Genesis 16:11. _Abraham, Abraham_ For the reiteration of the name, denoting special earnestness, compare Genesis 46:2; Exodus 3:4; 1 Samuel 3:10; Acts 9:4. Abraham's act is arrested at the last possible moment. The sacrifice of Isaac was practically completed, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_for now I know_ Abraham has stood the test. Actual experience has justified Divine foreknowledge. The Angel of the Lord is here identified with the Almighty. By the words "lay not thine hand, &c.," Jehovah proclaims to Abraham and to his descendants His abhorrence of the cruelty of child sacrifice.... [ Continue Reading ]
_and behold, behind_him] The R.V. marginal note refers to a difference of reading, arising from the similarity of the two Heb. letters for _r_(ר) and (ד) _d_. The word, rendered "behind," would, by the alteration of _r_into _d_, appear with the same consonants as the word meaning "one": and this rea... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehovah-jireh_ i.e. _the Lord will see_, or, _provide_. The name which Abraham here gives to the place combines the thought of Jehovah's continual and constant watchfulness with that of His special response to Abraham's utterance of faith, Genesis 22:8, "God will provide himself the lamb," in answe... [ Continue Reading ]
Genesis 22:15-18 are probably taken from another version of the same story. They are inferior in literary excellence, and probably represent a later amplification. _a second time_ The renewal and ratification of the blessing to Abraham expresses the Divine recognition of the patriarch's faith. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_By myself have I sworn_ Cf. Exodus 32:13; Isaiah 45:23; Hebrews 6:13-17. The remembrance of this oath is frequently invoked, cf. Genesis 24:7; Genesis 26:3; Genesis 50:24; Psalms 105:9, "the covenant which he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac"; Luke 1:73, "the oath which he sware unto Abr... [ Continue Reading ]
_that in blessing_, &c. The language of this benediction combines the substance of previous blessings pronounced upon the patriarch, under three heads: (1) multiplication of seed; (2) victory over enemies; (3) universal happiness. _bless_ Cf. Genesis 12:2. _as the stars of the heaven_ Cf. Genesis... [ Continue Reading ]
_in thy seed_ See note on Genesis 12:3. The words might be also rendered "by thy seed." _be blessed_ Better, as R.V. marg., _bless themselves_. See notes on Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 26:4. _because thou hast obeyed_ Lit. "because thou hast heard," or "listened to." God's word may be a s... [ Continue Reading ]
_returned unto his young men_ See Genesis 22:5. It is characteristic of the reserve of the writer, that no mention is made of joy or congratulation or relief. _Beer-sheba_ See Genesis 21:31. Abraham was dwelling at Beer-sheba at the time when these things happened.... [ Continue Reading ]
_after these things_ Cf. Genesis 22:1. _Milcah_ See Genesis 11:27; Genesis 11:29. Nahor's marriage with his niece probably represents the fusion of two tribes.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Genealogy of Nahor (J) In this genealogy it is to be noted, (1) that the home of Nahor and his sons is not Ur, but _Aram Naharaim_, as in Genesis 24:10; (2) that the sons of Nahor, like those of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13-16), Esau (Genesis 36:15-19), and Jacob, are twelve in number, of whom eight... [ Continue Reading ]
_Uz his firstborn_ In Genesis 10:23 (P) Uz is the firstborn of Aram. Uz, as a locality in the Syrian region, is mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions. It may denote a branch of an Aramaean tribe, the _Uṣṣâ_of Shalmaneser II. It appears as the birthplace of Job (Genesis 1:1). Whether it is the same Uz a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Chesed_ Presumably, not to be confounded with the ancestor of the S. Babylonian people, the _Chasdim_, or "Chaldees," mentioned in Genesis 11:31 (P). More probably, the Bedouin tribe, mentioned in 2 Kings 24:2; Job 1:17, as "the Chaldeans," quite distinct from the Chesed of Arpachshad (Genesis 10:2... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bethuel_ See Genesis 24:15. _Rebekah_ See chap. 24. No place, or clan, of this name is mentioned in the O.T.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Reumah_ The children of the concubine denote a less intimate tribal relationship than the children of the legal wife. _Maacah_ See 2 Samuel 10:6. A region to the north of Mount Hermon; cf. the mention of the Maacathites in Joshua 13:11; Joshua 13:13.... [ Continue Reading ]