Genesis 17 - Introduction
_GOD RENEWS THE COVENANT WITH ABRAM: CHANGES HIS NAME, AND INSTITUTES CIRCUMCISION: HE PROMISES SARAH A SON WITHIN THE YEAR: ABRAHAM AND ISHMAEL ARE CIRCUMCISED._... [ Continue Reading ]
_GOD RENEWS THE COVENANT WITH ABRAM: CHANGES HIS NAME, AND INSTITUTES CIRCUMCISION: HE PROMISES SARAH A SON WITHIN THE YEAR: ABRAHAM AND ISHMAEL ARE CIRCUMCISED._... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM THE ALMIGHTY, &C.— Thirteen years had now passed since the birth of Ishmael, Genesis 17:25 and Abram was advancing in his hundredth year, when all hope of offspring by Sarai must have been almost hopeless. At this time God appears to him again, to renew the covenant, and to assure him of a son... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL MAKE MY COVENANT, &C.— "Continue thou to do thy part, and I will continue stedfast to the purpose of making my covenant, and establishing it with thee; and I appear to thee now to renew and confirm it." Struck with the awfulness of the Divine appearance, Abram fell prostrate on his face, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR ME— The Almighty begins with setting forth his part of the covenant, with declaring what he would do for Abram; and in Genesis 17:9, &c. he sets forth Abram's part of it.—In token of that increase, which, in a temporal and spiritual sense, he would give to Abram, he changes his name to _Abrah... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL MAKE THEE EXCEEDING FRUITFUL, &C.— Abraham was exceeding fruitful, and kings of nations descended from him; not only among the Israelites, but also the Ishmaelites, Edomites, Saracens, and others: and, above all the rest, from him descended the Messiah, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL BE THEIR GOD— The spiritual and temporal covenant are blended together, and with propriety, as the latter was eminently typical of the former. The Scripture covenant with _Abraham,_ and all his children by _faith,_ is strictly _everlasting;_ for it extends to the possession of that heavenly a... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD SAID UNTO ABRAHAM, &C.— Having declared what he would himself perform, the Lord goes on to signify what he expected from Abraham, and to appoint a _sign_ or _token_ of his covenant with him. _Thou shalt keep_ my _covenant, i.e._. observe and fulfil thy part of it: _and this is my covenant, i.e..... [ Continue Reading ]
A TOKEN OF THE COVENANT, &C.— Here circumcision is called a _token,_ as before it was called the _covenant;_ so the Paschal Lamb is called the _Passover of the Lord,_ Exodus 11:10 of which it was only a memorial: so the _bread_ and _wine_ are called the _Body_ and _Blood_ of Christ, of which they ar... [ Continue Reading ]
THE UNCIRCUMCISED MAN-CHILD, &C.— It seems to follow very plainly from the foregoing verses, as well as from this, that nobody could possibly belong to Abraham's family who did not submit to this rite; but then, it follows as plainly, that the blessings of this Abrahamic covenant were not by any mea... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR SARAI THY WIFE, &C.— God now proceeds to reveal to Abraham, that the son of the promise should descend from his wife _Sarai,_ whose name also he changes from _Sarai,_ which signifies, say interpreters, _my lady,_ to _Sarah,_ which signifies, according to some, _lady,_ or _princess,_ absolutel... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LAUGHED— If we compare the twelfth verse of the following chapter, where Sarah expresses her incredulity by _laughing,_ and consider the whole sentence here before us (especially the words, Genesis 17:18. _O! that Ishmael might live before thee;_ as if he had said, to have a son by Sarah, in her... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT CALL HIS NAME ISAAC— In remembrance of the _laughter,_ both of the _father_ and _mother,_ Genesis 17:17 chap. Genesis 18:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR ISHMAEL, I HAVE HEARD THEE, &C.— The Lord is pleased to repeat to Abraham what he had promised Hagar before concerning Ishmael; namely, that he would make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly; see notes on ch. Genesis 16:10. He is pleased, more particularly, to add, _twelve princes shall... [ Continue Reading ]
MY COVENANT WILL I ESTABLISH, &C.— This is an abundant proof, that the _covenant_ which God entered into with Abraham, was of a _spiritual_ as well as a temporal nature, by being thus limited to his descendants by _Isaac_ only; _whom_ he condescends to promise him at a short and fixed period approac... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SELF-SAME DAY, &C.— Thus the great patriarch shewed the most prompt obedience to the Divine command; and there can be no doubt, but the ready obedience of all his family to an injunction so severe and painful, sprung from the assurance which Abraham gave them of the Divine command. Josephus i... [ Continue Reading ]