Genesis 16

Sarai being barren, giveth Hagar her maid servant unto Abram for concubine verse 1 Hagar being with child begin to despise Sarai who complains thereof gets leave to humble Hagar and she fieth from Sarai into the wilderness 4 where God speak unto her sending her back to Sarai with temporal promises touching her son Ishmael whom she bare t Abram when he was eighty six years old 7.

1. Yet Sarai Abrams wife did not hear to him or brought net forth unto him and she and Egyptian maid-servant whose name was Hagar.

2. Therefore Sarai said to Abram behold I pray the Lord hath shut me up [that is made me barren compare chapter 20 verse 18] that I bear not go in I pray to my maid-servant [see chapter 6.4 and so below verse 4 Sarai despairing of her own bodily issue and yet heartily longing for the promised seed she doth so far here forget herself that without asking Gods advice she counsels her husband to endeavor the fulfilling of Gods promises by such a means which though of common practice in those days was nevertheless contrary to the first institution of marriage] peradventure shall I be built up out of her [thus then Sarai did to make trial whether Abram might get a son by Hagar whom she might count her own maid-servant in her own house see chapter 30.3 Exodus 21:2 as for the phrase of building or building the house the same is likewise used chapter 30.3 Ruth 4:11 Deuteronomy 25:9 and by it meant the maintaining and the propagation of a family] and Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai [Abram without once asking God about it whose promise it concerned suffers himself to be persuaded by Sari not through any base lust but through the reason she alleged and himself much affected the rather as that for yet it was hid to him whether the promised seed should be born of Sarai or some other.]

3. So Sarai Abrams wife took the Egyptian Hagar and her maid-servant at the end of ten years that Abram had dwelt in the land of Canaan [viz. since he had quitted Haran and was come into the land of Canaan] and she gave to Abram her husband [abusing the power which otherwise she had over the maid-servant and the body of her husband 1Corinthians 7.4] for a wife to him or to be a wife for him [understand such a alone as was of less worth and esteem then the first Hagar continuing a servant still and under the command of the mistress Sarai verse 4,8,9. See further the like concubines chapter 25.6 and 30.3,9 and of the spiritual sense of this match Galatians 4:22 &c.]

4. And he went into Hagar and she conceived now when she saw what she had conceived then her mistress was despised in her eyes [Heb. Light in &c. that is undervalued slightly or little regarded.]

5. Then Sarai said to Abram my wrong [that is the wrong I suffer this Sarai spake out of impatience] is upon thee [or for thee for thy sake I is to be imputed to thee since thou canst not but take notice of Hagars vilifying of me And yet doest not reprove or chastise her for it] I have given my maid servant into thy bosomy now she sees that she had conceived I am despised in her eyes the Lord judge between me and between thee [out of infirmity she commends the business to Gods judgment to punish the wrong doing party not making amends compare 1Samuel 24.13,16.]

6. And Abram said to Sarai behold thy maid-servant is in thy hand [under thy power authority and command so below chapter 24.10 & 39.4,6,8 Numbers 31:49 Joshua 9:25 1Samuel 14.48 2Kings 8.20 Abram implies thus much although I have taken her for my second or secondary wife yet I have not withdrawn her from thy command therefore if she do amiss use thy authority as over ne that is still under thee] do to her what seems good in thy eyes and Sarai humbled her and she fed from her face.

7. And the angel of the LORD [that is head of the angels the Lord Jesus Christ who therefore is likewise called the LORD verse 13 and chapter 18.26,33 Judges 6:14 and chapter 13 verse 19,22] found her [this expression doth set forth the watchful eyes of the Lord over this straying and distress Hagar] by a fountain of water in the wilderness by the fountain of water of Sur [Heb. Schur in the road or way of Egypt whence she was see below chapter 25.18 & Exodus 15:22 1Samuel 15.7.]

8. And he said Hagar thou maid-servant of Sarai whence comest thou and wither thou go/ and she said I am flying from the face of my mistress Sarai.

9. Then the angel of the Lord said to her turn again unto thy mistress and humbles thyself under her hands.

10. Moreover the angel of the Lord said to her I will greatly multiply thy seed [Heb. Multiplying I will multiply here a divine work is attributed to the angel whence it appears that it was not a creature but the creator himself] so that by reason of multitude it shall not be numbered [note that this temporal blessing is to be differenced from the spiritual which remained with the seed of the promise.]

11. Also the angel of the Lord said unto her behold thou art with child and shall bear a son and shall call his name Ishmael for the Lord hath heard thy distress [Heb. Heard after thy affliction.]

12. And he shall be a wild ass of the of a man [that is he shall be a savage rude man like unto a wild ass implying with all that he should be undaunted dreadful warrior see below chapter 21.20] his hand shall be against all hands against him [that is he shall provoke everyone to fighting and warring and by reason thereof shall be as much troubled by others which is to be understood not of his persons only but likewise of his posterity] and he shall dwell before the face of all brethren [the sense is that he should exceedingly spread and enlarge the limits of his habitation to and among his kindred of whom he should not stand in fear but stoutly face them everywhere see chapter 25.18.]

13. And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her [here the angel above mentioned is expressly called JEHOVAH the LORD compare above verse 7] thou God of regard [that is he hath seeth all things and hath now also been pleased favorable to regard me in thy grievous affliction putting me into the right way again reviving me with his comfort .] for she said have I also seen after him that regardeth me ?[that is it not a wonder that I do yet regard the light now and still remain alive after that he appeared to me who looked after me in this my sad condition ? she thought she must need die for having seen the Lord compare below chapter 32.30 Exodus 24:11 Judges 13:22.]

14. Therefore they called that well Lachai Roi [that is of the living one that seeth me she dominates that well from herself for having remained alive after that she had seen the Lord and from the LORD likewise for having so favorably regarded her yet some of the opinion that both denominations have regard to God that liveth and seeth all things] behold the same is between Cades [see above chapter 14 verse 7 and the annotations] and between Bered.

15. And Hagar bare a son unto Abram and Abram called the name of the son whom Hagar had born Ishmael [doubtless being informed of Hagar that God himself had named the child thus in the womb see verse 11.]

16. And Abram was 86 years old [Heb. A son of eighty years and six years so in the first verse also of the next chapter] when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.