Genesis 16:1

CHAPTER XVI

Sarai, having no child, gives Hagar her maid to Abram

for wife, 1-3.

She conceives and despises her mistress, 4.

Sarai is offended and upbraids Abram, 5.

Abram vindicates himself; and Hagar, being hardly used

by her mistress, runs away, 6.

She is met by an angel, and counselled to return to

her mistress, 7-9.

God promises greatly to multiply her seed, 10.

Gives the name of Ishmael to the child that should be

born of her, 11.

Shows his disposition and character, 12.

Hagar calls the name of the Lord who spoke to her,

Thou God seest me, 13.

She calls the name of the well at which the angel met

her, Beer-laharoi, 14.

Ishmael is born in the 86th year of Abram's age, 15, 16.

NOTES ON CHAP. XVI

Verse Genesis 16:1. She had a handmaid, an Egyptian] As Hagar was an Egyptian, St. Chrysostom's conjecture is very probable. that she was one of those female slaves which Pharaoh gave to Abram when he sojourned in Egypt; see Genesis 12:16. Her name הגר hagar signifies a stranger or sojourner, and it is likely she got this name in the family of Abram, as the word is pure Hebrew.