05.026. Chapter 21

Genesis 21:1-34 When the promised son was born to Abraham and Sarah, the ecstatic parents named him Isaac (“laughter”), as commanded by God (Genesis 17:19, Genesis 17:21). This expressed their own delight and the delight of all who would hear the news (Genesis 21:1-3). Isaac was probably from 2 to 5 years old when he was weaned. Ishmael would have been between 13 and 17. When Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac at the weaning party, she ordered Abraham to cast out Hagar and her son (Genesis 21:8-10). Paul interprets this action as evidence that law persecutes grace, that law and grace cannot be mixed, and that spiritual blessings cannot be obtained on the legal principle (Galatians 4:29).

Abraham was grieved to lose Hagar and Ishmael, but God consoled him with the promise that Ishmael would become the father of a great nation. And yet the Lord made it clear that Isaac was the promised son through whom the covenant would be carried out (Genesis 21:11-12). When Hagar and Ishmael almost perished from thirst in the desert south of Canaan, God caused them to find a well, and they were spared (Genesis 21:14-21). Ishmael was in his teens at this time; therefore, Genesis 21:15 probably means that Hagar pushed him under a bush in his weakness. Ishmael’s name, “God hears,” is found twice in Genesis 21:17—“God heard” and “God hath heard.” The Abimelech in Genesis 21:22 is not necessarily the same one as in Genesis 20:1-18, This chieftain’s servants had taken a well of water from Abraham’s men. When Abimelech and Abraham made a treaty of friendship, the patriarch told Abimelech about the well that had been seized. The result was a cove- nant granting the well to Abraham. He promptly named it Beersheba (“well of the oath”). The place later became a city, marking the southernmost boundary of the land (Genesis 21:22-32). Abraham planted a tamarisk tree as a memorial (Genesis 21:33).