Genesis 21
DOYLYGenesis 21:6
- — God hath made me to laugh.] That is, to rejoice exceedingly. She refers to her laughter on a former occasion; though from a different motive. Bp. Patrick.
Genesis 21:8
- — and was weaned.] Probably when he was two or three years old. Stackhouse.
Genesis 21:9
- — Sarah saw the son of Hagar—mocking.] He derided perhaps the festivity observed at Isaac’s weaning, looking on himself as the first-born. Bp. Patrick.
Genesis 21:10
- — she said.] And God approved it, ver. 12. And the Apostle observes, that “the Scripture saith, Cast out the bondwoman, &c.” Gal. iv. 30. Bp. Kidder. Abraham was satisfied by what follows in ver. 12, that Sarah’s motion proceeded not merely from her anger, but from a Divine suggestion. Bp. Patrick.
Genesis 21:12
- — in Isaac shall thy seed be called.] The promised Seed, the Messiah, shall not descend from Ishmael, but from Isaac. Bp. Kidder.
Genesis 21:14
- — took bread, and a bottle of water.] Which includes all sort of provision for their present necessity, till they came to the place, to which in all probability he directed them. Their wandering about in the desert, until their water was consumed, appears to have been the effect of their accidentally mistaking their way; and not to have been intended by Abraham. Bp. Patrick, Stackhouse.
— and the child.] Ishmael, though called “a child,” was not less than sixteen or seventeen years old; and was consequently a youth capable of being a support and assistance to his mother, as he soon after proved. Stackhouse. See the note on Jer. i. 6. An ambiguity in the text would be avoided, by placing the clause “putting it on her shoulder” within a parenthesis, as it is placed by Bishop Kidder, Stackhouse, and Pyle.
Genesis 21:15
- — she cast the child &c.] The lad being faint and ready to perish, she laid him under the shade of a tree or shrub. Bp. Kidder. She left off supporting him, and let him gently drop on the ground, where he desired to lie. In a succeeding verse the Angel of the Lord bade her lift up Ishmael, and hold him in her hand, or support him under his extreme weakness: she had doubtless done this before; and her quitting her hold, upon his lying down, is the meaning of the word translated cast. Harman.
Genesis 21:18
- — I will make him a great nation.] Very properly denominated Ishmaelites and Hagarenes by others, they affectedly called themselves Saracens: thus rejecting
Abimelech’s covenant with Abraham at Beersheba. Before CHRIST about 1897. she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
Genesis 21:20
- — and became an archer.] A skilful hunter and warrior also with bow and arrow. The Saracens, who were of the posterity of Ishmael, never set their hands to the plough, but got their living for the most part by their bow: supporting themselves on wild flesh and venison, and such wild fowl as the wilderness afforded, with herbs and milk. Bp. Patrick. It is from our inattention to the customs of the times, if we imagine that Hagar and Ishmael had any hard usage in their ejectment. Whatever the nature of their offence may have been, there is no reason to accuse Abraham’s conduct; since it was pursuant to a Divine direction, was agreeable to the practice of the times, and no more than what other fathers in those days imposed upon their younger sons:—since the hardships, which Hagar and Ishmael suffered, were accidental; but the benefits which accrued, were designed:—since Abraham by this means rescued them from a state of servitude for ever; and, according to the Divine prediction, was persuaded, that this would be the only expedient to make of Ishmael a flourishing nation. Stackhouse.
Genesis 21:23
- — swear unto me by God] This is the first mention of an oath given or taken. Bp. Wilson. Bruce, with reference to this passage, observes that a “kind of oath,” which he specifies as now prevailing in those parts, “was in use among the Arabs, or shepherds, as early as the time of Abraham.” “Cursed be those men of my people, or others, that ever shall lift up their hand against you, either in the desert or the tell; (the part of Egypt which is cultivated.) As long as you are in this country, or between this and Cosseir, my son shall serve you with heart and hand: one night of pain, that your medicines freed me from, would not be repaid, if I was to follow you on foot to Messir, that is, Cairo.” “The great people among them came, and, after joining hands, repeated a kind of prayer of about two lech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
Genesis 21:25
- And Abraham reproved Abimelech] Before he sware, he thought it necessary to settle a right understanding between them: and therefore argued with Abimelech, as it may be rendered, about a well of water digged by Abraham’s servants, which Abimelech’s had injurnously taken from him. This was wisdom, to complain of wrongs now, before they entered into covenant; that these being redressed, there might be no occasion of future quarrels. Bp. Patrick.
Genesis 21:27
- And Abraham took &c. and gave them &c.] In token of amity, or as an expression of gratitude. Bp. Kidder. Presents are considered in the East to be essential to humane and civil intercourse: whether they be dates, or whether they be diamonds, they are so much a part of Eastern manners, that without them an inferior will never be at peace in his own mind, or think that he has a hold of his superior for his favour or protection. Bruce. Medicines and advice being given on my part, faith and protection pledged on their’s (some Arabs near the Nile,) two bushels of wheat and seven sheep were carried down to the boat; nor could we refuse their kindness, as refusing a present in that country (however it is understood in our’s) is just as great an affront, as coming into the presence of a superior without a present at all. Bruce.
Genesis 21:30
- And he said, For these seven &c.] That is, thy acceptance of these seven lambs shall be an acknowledgment, that this well, which I have digged, belongs to me. Bp. Kidder.
Genesis 21:31
- — Beer-sheba;] The well of the oath. In process of time there was a considerable town built there, which Abraham worshippeth God there. He is tempted to offer Isaac.
Beer-sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
Or, free.
Genesis 21:33
- And Abraham planted a grove] For a solemn and retired place wherein to worship God. Hence, some think, the custom of planting groves was derived into all the Gentile world: who so profaned them by images, and filthiness, and sacrifices to demons, that God commanded them, by the law of Moses, to be cut down. Bp. Patrick.
Chap. XXII. ver. 1.— God did tempt Abraham.] Or grove and try him, as the word here used signifies in Deut. viii. 2, and xiii. 3, “that it might be known to others what Abraham was.” See ver. 12. Bp. Kidder. See the note on Deut. viii. 2.
— here I am.] A phrase, expressing readiness to hearken and to answer. Bp. Patrick.