Genesis 22

Genesis 22:1

AFter these things] How long after, it appeares not by the Text, save onely that Isaac was then of sufficient age and strength to carry a burden of wood for sacrific, vers. 6. which is probably conceived to be about the 25 yeare of his age. Joseph. Antiq. 50: 1. 100: 14.

tempt Abraham] The word Nasah, necessarily signifieth no more then to try, or to prove, but because that is usually done by the devill, and the wicked, to seduce unto sinne, and that mans corruption works that way of it selfe, James 1:14. and is further wrought upon by the devill, and the world, to that evill, in the same way, the word Tempt is most commonly taken in an ill sense, for solicitation to sinne; as Matthew 4:1. and else-where; but so God tempteth no man, James 1:13. But his tempting is a proofe, or triall of man for his discovery (not to God, who by his omniscience knows him so perfectly, that he needs none experience of him) but to himselfe, or others; and this as it is alwayes good in him, so is it alwayes done to a good end, as Deuteronomy 8:16. Chap. 13. 3. James 1:12. 1 Corinthians 10:13. The temptations of Abraham were many, some reckon them to ten, which are various in their kinds, as first concerning his habitations: secondly, concerning the persons that were deare unto him; and thirdly, concerning himselfe. First, for his habitations, he was thrice to change them, twice upon commad.

See Acts 7. vers. 3. Genesis 12:1. and once upon necessitie, Genesis 12:10. Secondly, concerning the persons that were deare unto him, and that either within his family or without; within his family, and so he was tempted foure times; twice by occasion of Sarah her taking away, Genesis 12:15. & Chap. 20. once by reason of the discord betwixt Sarah and Hagar when she was with child, Genesis 16:5. lastly, at the ejection of Ishmael and his mother, Genesis 21. vers. 11. and without his family when he was to betake himselfe to warre for the rescue of his kinsman Lot taken captive, Genesis 14:14. Thirdly concerning himselfe, first, when he apprehended an horrour of great darknesse, Genesis 15:12. and secondly, when he received the Covenant of circumcision.

Genesis 22:2

take thy sonne] This is (as some reckon) the tenth time, that Abraham was tryed, and proved by occasions of discovery of what goodnesse, weaknesse, or wickednes was in him; when he was called to come forth of his countrey he knew not whither; his faith, and obedience were both tryed, and shewed; when he was driven by famine to flie for succour to Egypt; his faith, and patience were proved in the strife betwixt Lots herdsmen, and his: and in the household jarres betwixt Sarah and Hagar, his humilitie, patience, and benignitie were tryed, and made known divers times: by the taking away of his wife twice, his cowardise and weake faith were tryed, and discovered; and by the captivitie of Lot, and his rescue of him, his wisedome, his prudence, and courage were tryed; when at ninetie nine yeares old the Sacrament of Circumcision was imposed upon him, and after that his sonne Ishmael sent away from him; and now last, and most of all, his better sonne Isaac to be offered up by him, his faith and obedience even to selfe denyall in the highest degree were tryed as gold in the fire, and gloriously manifested.

onely sonne] Thy onely sonne that is remaining in thy family; for Ishmael was gone; or thy legitimate sonne as opposed to a bastard, Hebrews 12. vers. 8. as was Ishmael begotten of the bondwoman.

whom thou lovest] With an especiall dearenesse, as being the sonne of thine old age, and of thy wives miraculous conception, above the course, and force of nature, and a sonne worthy to be beloved, for his piety and obedience.

Moriah] In this Land there were two eminent Mountaines, Sion, and Moriah, upon which the Temple was built by Solomon, 2 Chronicles 3:1. this is here meant from which the whole Countrey had its name, though it had not that name untill afterward. See vers. 14.

burnt-offering] In this command all that was in Abraham, as a man, a father, an husband, a beleever, a professour of Religion were put to triall. As a man it was against humanity, to slay the Innocent, though but a servant, or a stranger: As a father, it was unnaturall to kill his owne child, though he had never so many; but having but one, and that one so worthy of all fatherly affection, it was much more like to be abhorred: As an husband, how could he ever expect any peace, or comfort in his wife, if he should shed his bloud, against whom she could not endure either a scoffe, or a flout? As a beleever, or professour of Religion, he might be disposed to disobey, because Isaac was the sonne of promise, Genesis 21:12. and to kill such a sonne would make Infidels blaspheme his God, and Religion for such a fact. There was yet more triall in this command, for if it might have been done suddenly, or secretly, or by some more easie kind of death, it would have stirred up the lesse reluctancie; but it must be advisedly done, upon three dayes deliberation, openly upon an high hill, cruelly by cutting his throat, ripping up his bowels, and burning of his quarters in the fire upon the Altar; and what if Isaac being a lusty young man upon his offer should resist, and by his example be tempted to returne upon him with the like bloudy violence? Against all these mighty objections his faith standeth up, and his pretie to God prevaileth so, that he readily setteth upon the service.

Genesis 22:3

rose up early] (Genesis 21:14.) It seemes he had the command given by Divine revelation that night; and though it were so, yet he was well assured it came from God; for though sometimes men may thinke they have a Divine revelation when it is but an illusion, (as one may thinke he heares a Drum, or a Bell, when it is some humming of winde in his head, or some other sound without) yet when there is a Divine revelation indeed, it usually brings with it not onely the matter revealed, but certaine evidence, and assurance that it is a Divine revelation, as a Bell rung, or Drum beaten close by the eare, whereof there can be no doubt at all; and as he knew the command was from God, so his faith told him that God was all-sufficient, Genesis 17:1. and able to secure him from all evill consequences of his command, and to restore Isaac to life againe, though he were dead, Hebrews 11:19. his faith and obedience, both for the sacrifice it selfe, and for the expedition to performe it, are to be remembred for a singular example of selfe-denyall.

Genesis 22:4

the third day] From Gerar, not from the City Gerar but from the Countrey, for he dwelt in Beersheba, as may be collected out of Chap. 21. vers. 31. and after the sacrifice he returned to Beersheba, vers. 19. of this Chap. Now Mount Moriah from that place was but one dayes journey with ordinary expedition; but he proceeded very leasurely, and with much deliberation, having a matter of the greatest moment in hand that ever was imposed on him, or any one else: yet Adricom. Delph. saith, the distance was twenty leagues, each of them of an houres journey.

saw the place] God having given him some signe whereby he might know it.

Genesis 22:5

the lad] The Originall word Naghnar, (properly signifying one in his minoritie for age and growth, and therefore usually rendred lad, or boy,) is many times taken for one of maturitie both for time and stature, as vers. 6. Chap. 34. 19. & 41. 12. Exodus 33:11. 2 Samuel 18:29.

and come againe] That Abraham might not be thought to lie, it is conceived, that for Isaacs returne, he meant it by a Divine resurrection after sacrifice, as Hebrews 11:19. Or, that by the Spirit of Prophecie (though he knew it not) he foretold his preservation from sacrifice.

Genesis 22:8

God will provide] The onely way to overcome all temptations is to rest upon Gods providence.

Genesis 22:9

bound Isaac] It is like his father had declared to him Gods commandement, whereunto he shewed himselfe obedient; and this obedience is as rare an example for a sonne, as that of Abraham for a father; and in this respect the more admirable, because Abraham had Gods word for his act, but Isaac onely his fathers word for his obedience: and herein, as he was the onely sonne of his father, a good sonne, obedient to beare the wood, and to submit unto death; he was a type of Christ, who was the onely Sonne of God his Father, and was bound, Mar. 15. 1. and made to beare his crosse, John 19:17. and was obedient unto death, Phil. 2. 8.

Genesis 22:11

the Angel] The Angel of the Covenant, that is, Christ, as his owne words shew, vers. 12. 16.

out of heaven] Genesis 21:17.

Abraham, Abraham] The word is doubled, and the doubling of it imports the greatnesse of the perill, and the urgent necessitie of present prohibition.

Genesis 22:12

Lay not thine hand] God, though he love obedience even unto death, delights not in sacrifices of mans bloud; that is of too great a price to be offered as a type, because he is the Image of God; too cheape being but the Image, and now corrupted, to serve for a propitiatory sacrifice; therefore the Devil abused the Jews, and Gentiles to make sacrifices by this example; wherein they should observe as well Gods prohibition of the thing, accepting the will for the deed: see 2 Corinthians 8:12. as the promptnesse of Abraham to doe it. Thus againe was Isaac a type of Christ, viz. of his resurrection, rising up from the Altar, on which he was bound for a sacrifice.

now I know] This is spoken after the manner of men; for God knows all things by one act of intelligence, without experience. Or, the meaning may be, that God now made his faith and forwardnesse knowne by this extraordinary act of selfedeniall and obedience; so what God already knew, Psal. 139. vers. 1, 2. David desireth him to know, to search, and to try, vers. 23. it may be to draw it out into some open evidence discernable by others.

thou fearest God] His feare is mentioned rather then his love, though both concurred in his obedience, because in his service he especially requireth a filiall feare, Psalms 2:11.

behind] That way it is like the voyce of the Angel sounded, and by the voyce behind him, Isaiah 30. vers. 21. he was called to looke back, and looking back he saw the Ram.

Genesis 22:13

a ram] Vers. 7. Isaac asketh, where is the lambe, and vers. 8. Abraham answered, God will provide a lambe; and here it is said, that Abraham saw a Ram, and did offer him up in sacrifice; yet no contradiction, for a young he-lambe of a quarter old may have horns which may be entangled in a bush and may be called a Ram.

caught in a thicket] The Ram was a Type of Christ, as in the thicket held by the head, for Christ was crowned with a crown of thornes; but especially as sacrificed on the Altar. Some observe that as the Ram was equivalently Isaac, though he was not offered, because he was offered in his stead; so the offering of Christs humanity had the value and vertue of his Divinity in it (though that could not be sacrificed) because of the neere relation of the one to the other.

Genesis 22:14

called the name Jehovah Jireh] The same letters with variation of the pricks will make either an active sense, The Lord will see: or a passive sense, The Lord will be seene. The name is added to note that God doth both see, and provide secretly for his, and also evidently is seene coming to their succour in their greatest necessities; and this phrase became a proverbiall saying among the Jewes to that purpose.

Genesis 22:16

by my selfe] Man when he sweareth must sweare by a greater then himselfe, and God because there is no greater then himselfe sweareth by himselfe, Hebrews 6:13. and therefore himselfe is meant, when swearing by his Name, Jeremiah 44:26. by his Soule, Jeremiah 51:14. Text and Marg. or, by his holinesse, Amos 4:2. is mentioned.

because] Abraham did not hereby merit the promise of a multiplied posteritie, for God promised this before, Genesis 12:2. & Chap. 13. 16. but it is againe repeated, to encourage him, and others by his example to prompt obedience of the most difficult commands. See Romans 4:13-14.

Genesis 22:17

thy seed] The Apostle, Galatians 3:16. applieth this to Christ in the singular number, in whom they who beleeve, of what Nation soever they be, shall be blessed as children raised up unto Abraham; for true beleevers be reckoned for his children, Galatians 3:7.

shall possesse the gate] The gates of Cities were the places where the Wise men assembled for consultation, and the Magistrates for doing of justice, Deuteronomy 21:19. & Deuteronomy 22:15. Amos 5:12. 15. Zechariah 8:16. Proverbs 31:23. and withall there were the strongest fortifications for defence, and the store of artillery for repulse of an enemy, Judges 5:8. Psalms 147:13. Esa. 22. 7. Ezekiel 21:22. So that the possession of the gate is the prevailing for the whole, for the gate is sometimes put for the whole citie, Deuteronomy 12:15. and for all the cities of a Nation, Jeremiah 14:2.

Genesis 22:21

Huz and Buz] Of the former name there were two others of different parentage, whereof the one is mentioned, Chap. 10. 23. the other, Chap. 36. 28. For the other he is supposed to be the progenitor of Elihu the Buzite, Job 32:2.

Genesis 22:24

his concubine] A concubine differed from a wife, in that she was not solemnly betrothed, nor was partner with the husband in the government of the family, as the wife was, to whom the concubine was subject, Genesis 16:6-9. nor were her children to inherit, but to be put off with portions, Gen. 25. 5, 6. And from an whore she differed in that she was confined to one man, and being in that respect like unto a wife, the name is oftentimes taken in good part, and the concubine sometimes called by the name of a wife, Gen. 37. vers. 2. yet according to her Hebrew title Philegesh compounded of Palag, which signifieth to divide, and Ishah, Mannesse or woman, that is, a divided wife, or halfe a wife and halfe a servant, or a dividing woman, making division betwixt the husband and wife (properly so called) as Hagar did betwixt Abraham and Sarah, Genesis 16:5.

Maachah] Here is the name of a man, but 1 Kings 15:12. it is the name of a woman, so are divers other names of the common of two genders, as Philip, Frances, Timothy, &c.