Genesis 25:14

And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa. Of Mishma and Massa, and of their posterity, there is not anything said elsewhere, unless the Masani, Ptolemy (p) places near Arabia Felix, came from Massa.

And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, Mishma - Septuagint, Masma. Ptolemy mentions the Maisaimaneis, whose settlement was on the northeast of Medina, as probably representing the descendants of this son of Ishmael.

Dumah; from him Dumah, , or Dumatha, a place in Arabia, seems to have recieved its name. Others make him the father of the Idumeans.

Genesis 25:14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,Ver. 14. And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massah.] Out of these three names - which signify hearing, silence, and suffering - the Masorites gather the three principal duties of man, in common conversation; viz., to hear, to keep silence, and bear: these, say they, make a quiet and good life. Sustine et abstine, is the philosopher’ s counsel. Video, Taceo, "I see, and say nothing," was Queen Elizabeth’ s motto: and "I am for peace," was David’ s; or, as the Hebrew hath it, "I am peace." He "heard the slander of many, fear was on every side"; but he "as a deaf man heard not, and as a dumb man, so he opened not his mouth". Facile est in me dicere, cum non sim responsurus, said one once, to another that reviled him; thou shalt fight without an adversary, for I will hear and bear, and say nothing. The best answer to words of scorn and petulancy, saith learned Hooker, is Isaac’ s apology to his brother Ishmael, patience and silence, no apology. Pασιν, απολογεισθαιθεραπευτικον. A man would not be bound to such a slavery as to answer every calumny. Qui nescit ferre calumnias, convitia, iniurias, nescit vivere, saith Chytraeus. He that cannot patiently bear reproaches and injuries, may make up his pack, and get him out of the world; for here is no being for him. Vitus Theodorus sent to advise with Melancthon, what he should do when Osiander preached against him: Melancthon per Deum obtestatur, ut taceret, et se ira gereret, quasi non audiret: Melancthon besought him, for God’ s sake, to say nothing in that case, but to carry himself so as if he heard not. Vitus writes back, that this was very hard; yet he would obey. It is hard to swallow down physical pills: but better swallow them whole, then chaw them between the teeth. Aνεχουκαιαπεχου. Epictet. Cared. Elisab. Melch. Adam.

Verse 14. Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa] Where the first and last of these settled is not known; but it is probable that Dumah gave his name to a place called Dumah in Arabia. See a prophecy concerning this place, Isaiah 21:11, from which we find that it was in the vicinity of Mount Seir. These three names have passed into a proverb among the Hebrews, because of their signification. משמע mishma signifies HEARING; דומה dumah, SILENCE; and משא massa, PATIENCE. Hence, "Hear much, say little, and bear much," tantamount to the famous maxim of the Stoics, ανεχουκαιαπεχου, "Sustain and abstain," is supposed to be the spirit of the original words.

12–18 (P). The Descendants of Ishmael The genealogy of Ishmael is thus disposed of, before the narrative resumes the history of the Chosen Family in the generations of Isaac (Genesis 25:19). It is to be noticed that the sons of Ishmael are twelve in number, like the sons of Nahor (Genesis 22:21-24) and of Jacob.

13-15. The names — We find scattered notices of these names in later books.