_ISAAC IS BORN, IS CIRCUMCISED AND WEANED. AT SARAH'S REQUEST HAGAR IS DRIVEN OUT; TO WHOM, WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS, AN ANGEL PROMISES THAT ISHMAEL SHALL BE THE FATHER OF A NUMEROUS POSTERITY. ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH MAKE A COVENANT._... [ Continue Reading ]
VISITED SARAH— Had regard to her. To _visit,_ in Scripture, denotes the attention of Providence to execute his promises and designs, whether of good, as Genesis 50:24.Exodus 4:31. Luke 1:68 or of evil and chastisement, as Exodus 20:5.Psalms 89:32.Numbers 16:29. The Chaldee has it, _the Lord remember... [ Continue Reading ]
_GENESIS 21:2_, &C. _SARAH—BARE ABRAHAM A SON,_ &C.— Isaac at last is born; the wonder and expectation of his day. _Observe,_ 1. The fulfilment of the promise, when all human prospects were at an end; when Abraham was _as_ dead, and Sarah past the time of child-bearing. _Note;_ (1.) Promised mercie... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD HATH MADE ME TO LAUGH— Sarah, alluding to the _laughter_ of herself and her husband, whence their son had his name, observes, that God had now caused them to _laugh_ indeed, or in such a manner as not only expressed their own _joy,_ but would occasion all her friends, all who should hear it, to... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE GIVEN CHILDREN SUCK— The plural (_children_) is put for the singular; and possibly Sarah might flatter herself that she should have more children after this. Hence we learn, as well as from many other instances in antiquity, that women of the highest distinction did not disdain the duty of suck... [ Continue Reading ]
GREW, AND WAS WEANED— It is uncertain how long they suckled children in those days. Parker observes, "That it was the usage of various nations from time immemorial, solemnly to _initiate_ their children, and especially if it was the _first-born,_ and a son, by certain festival rites, soon after they... [ Continue Reading ]
SON OF HAGAR—MOCKING— St. Paul calls this _persecuting,_ Galatians 4:29 and the original word מצחק _metsachek,_ would lead one to think that Ishmael's ill-usage consisted, in part, of ridicule and abuse of Isaac for his name. The feast was, in fact, the _initiation_ of Isaac, and his father's _decla... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST OUT THIS BOND-WOMAN AND HER SON, &C.— It is evident from what follows, Genesis 21:12 that Sarah acted, in this affair, by a Divine impulse. While, at the same time, the character of Abraham appears in a very amiable light, from the anxious tenderness which he discovers for Hagar and Ishmael; no... [ Continue Reading ]
IN ISAAC SHALL THY SEED BE CALLED— This promise refers to the Messiah, the _Spiritual Seed_ more especially, and to the children of Abraham by faith. REFLECTIONS.—The casting-out the bond-woman and her son is here commanded. We have, 1. The cause: Ishmael's mockery and persecution of Isaac. _Obser... [ Continue Reading ]
ABRAHAM ROSE UP EARLY, &C.— After so express a declaration from God, Abraham delayed not to obey: and though it is certain that God directed his conduct in this whole transaction, yet he has not escaped the charge of cruelty; in answer to which it must be remarked, that though the ambiguity of our E... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED OUT OF HEAVEN— i.e.. the air or clouds: _arise,_ (Genesis 21:18.) _lift up the lad,_ and _hold him in thine hand:_ the Hebrew is, _and strengthen thy hand_ (or thou shalt strengthen thy hand) _in,_ or _by him,_ because _I will make him a great nation;_ a promise which must necessarily have af... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD OPENED HER EYES— God caused her to see what she had not before observed, through her grief and disorder of mind. Le Clerc observes from Diodorus Siculus, that it was usual with the Arabians to cover up their wells' mouths, and lay them over with sand or earth, leaving only some mark, whereby the... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD WAS WITH THE LAD— See ch. Genesis 17:20. God immediately protected Ishmael, as well as gave him all the blessings which he had promised. See note on Genesis 17:12 of ch. 16:... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS MOTHER TOOK HIM A WIFE OUT OF THE LAND OF AEGYPT— One of her own countrywomen, as was most natural. It appears most likely that Abraham and Ishmael had an intercourse together in future life. Ishmael however, we read, as well as Isaac, took care of the patriarch's funeral. REFLECTIONS.—Abraham... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME TO PASS AT THAT TIME, &C.— Hence it is plain that Abraham had continued in the country of the Philistines for a considerable time; when Abimelech, struck with God's providential regard to him, was desirous of entering into a league and alliance with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
ABRAHAM REPROVED ABIMELECH, &C.— Abraham was very ready to enter into a covenant with Abimelech, and to assure him of his friendship and protection, but thought it necessary first to settle a right understanding between them; and therefore he argued with Abimelech about a well dug at his own cost, ... [ Continue Reading ]
PLANTED A GROVE— Abraham planted this grove, no doubt, to erect an altar there, and to perform the duties of religion. These groves were universal in the Heathen world; _nunquam est lucus sine religione,_ says Servius, _there is never a grove, but it is consecrated to religion._ The pious fathers of... [ Continue Reading ]