Genesis 16:13

And she called the name of the Lord,—Thou God seest me— or perhaps, "she called upon, she invoked the name of the Lord who spoke to her: and one said, Thou [art] the God, seeing me, i.e.. regarding my misfortunes, and revealing thyself to me; and one used this expression the rather, as she had before said, 'Do I even here see,' [i.e. live and use my senses] after my vision; after seeing the God who has appeared to me?" This is Noldius's interpretation; and thus the words should be rendered. There is in the words a manifest reference to a general opinion, that no mortal eyes could endure the sight of the Divine Majesty with safety. See ch. Genesis 32:30. So Gideon says, "Alas, O Lord God, for I have seen an angel of the Lord, &c." to which the Lord replies, Peace, fear not, thou shalt not die. Judges 6:22. Such was the case of Manoah too, Judges 13:22. We shall surely die, because we have seen God. See Isaiah 6:5 and compare Exodus 33:20. Let it be observed, if this had been only an angel or ministering spirit, this manner of speaking must have been very absurd. In consequence of this sight and life, the well, where God appeared to her, was called באראּלחיאּראי beer-lechi-roi, literally, the well of the living, seeing: i.e.. of her who saw the Lord and lived. And in this view, the whole is consistent. The well lay between Kadesh and Bered, as we are informed; the former a city of Hebron, lying on the edge of the land of Canaan; but where the latter was situated we know not, as it is no where else mentioned. It was, however, not far from Gerar.

REFLECTIONS.—Hagar immediately returns back, after a grateful acknowledgment of the mercy bestowed upon her: and Abram in his old age is comforted with a son. Observe,

1. The name she gave the place where God appeared to her. Thou God seest me; or, thou art the God seeing me. Note; (1.) It is the comfort of every affliction, the spur to every duty, and the restraint from every sin, to feel the eye of God upon us. (2.) We would do well to acknowledge his gracious visitations, and have them not only in our mind, but in our mouth.

2. Her admiration of God's condescension thus to look upon her. Learn, (1.) A soul brought to a sense of its error, is amazed at the mercy it finds with God. (2.) The eye of faith looks to the all-seeing God, and this is its stability and support.

3. Her son born: Ishmael, long before Isaac. Note; Corruption is always the first-born of the heart: and how many expect no second birth, and die contentedly children of the bondwoman!