Genesis 21

Isaac according to Gods promise is born at length circumcised verse 1 &c. Abraham make a great feast at the time of Isaac weaning 8 Ishmael mocks upon it and is thereupon at the instance of Sarah ratified by God expelled 9 Hagar goeth astray in the wilderness and Ishmael is in danger of starving 15 but God provides for him and comforteth Hagar 17 Ishmaels education and marriage 20 Abimelech makes a covenant with Abraham at Barseba 22 Abraham doth worship God. 33.

1. And the Lord visited Sarah [God visiting is twofold either by special mercies and fulfilling of his promises as below chapter 50.24 Exodus 4:31 Ruth 1:6 Psalms 8:5 and as it is likewise taken in this place or by executing of his threatening and judgment Exodus 20:5 Deuteronomy 5:9 Psalms 59:6 Isaiah 27:1] according as he had said and the Lord according as he had spoken.

2. And Sarah conceived and bare a son to Abraham his old age [others of his old age and so likewise verse 7] at the appointed time which God hath told him [see above chapter 18.10 and 14.]

3. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born him whom Sarah bare unto him Isaac [according to Gods command above chapter 17.19 see the annotate there.]

4. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old [Heb. A son of eight days and so in the next verse] according as God commanded him.

5. And Abraham was hundred years old when Isaac was born to him.

6. Then Sarah said God has made me laugh [partly for wondering as so strange a matter as this and partly for joy because many will rejoice at this mercy of God] everyone that hears it will laugh with me [partake of my rejoicing see Luke 1 verse 58.]

7. Moreover she said who should have told Abraham? Sarah gave suck to the sons [that is a son to the plural number being sometime in scripture phrase put for the singular as below chapter 46 verse 7,23 and Numbers 26 verse 8] for I have born a son in his old age.

8. And the child grew up and was weaned then Abraham made a great feast on that day when Isaac was weaned.

9. and Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian woman whom she had born to Abraham mocking [doubtless saucily gibing at this that they kept so much a do or busied themselves so much with Isaac born so long after him this mocking proceeded from such a bitterness that the apostle term is a persecution Galatians 4:9.]

10. And she said to Abraham drive out this maid servant and her son for the son of her maidservant shall not inherit with my son Isaac [hence it appeareth that Ishmael doubtless through the instigation or instructions of his mother and likewise boasted of his right of primogeniture and that he as the first born ought to inherit Abrahams goods and this was the matter that provoked Sarah so much as well against the mother as against the son.]

11. And this word was very evil in Abraham’s eyes because of his son [that is it displeased him exceedingly for the great loves sake which he bore to Ishmael and in regard likewise of promises which God had given him in his behalf above chapter 17.18,20 to be evil in ones eyes is as much as to say displease one and be very unacceptable to him so in thee mext verse also and below chapter 28.8 Exodus 21:8 Numbers 11:10.]

12. But God said to Abraham [viz. in the night verse 14] let it not be evil in the eyes touching the youth and touching thy maid-servant all that Sarah shall say unto thee [concerning the business of Ishmael and Hagar] hearkening after her voice for in Isaac shall thy seed be named [others called that is the people of God with whom Gods covenant abides and especially the Messiah they shall not issue from Ishmael but from Isaac withal the true posterity and generation of Abraham shall be not they that issue carnally from him according to the course of nature like Ishmael but those that shall be his children through the grace and efficacy of the spiritual promises made to him as Isaac was see Romans 9:6,7,8.]

13. Yet I shall likewise put the son of this maid-servant to be peopling [see above chapter 16.10 and 17.20] for that he is thy seed [that is because he is son and off-spring.]

14. Then Abraham rose up early in the morning and took bread and a bottle of water [by the bread and water is to be understood all necessary provision for the journey] and gave them to Hagar laying the same upon the shoulder also he gave her the child [Ishmael namely called a youth above verse 11 and below verse 17 of the spiritual type of the signification of this whole business see Galatians 4:23,24 &c.] and sent her away and she went forth and strayed in the wilderness of Berseba [lying inn the south-border of Palestine not far from Gerar through at this time not so called yet but afterwards when king Abimelech mad ea covenant with Abraham thereabout see below verse 31.]

15. Now when the water of the bottle was spent then she threw the child [she being not able to lead him further by the hand by reason of this faintness and he too big to carry him as being about seventeen years of the age then see below verse 18.] under one of the bushes [viz. to be sheltered there against the heat of the sun and the more quietly to expire as she thought in the shadow.]

16. And she went and set herself over against going down so far as they that shoot with a bow [that is as far as an archer goes off from his mark, or about a bow-shot] for she said: That I may not see when the child dies, [or, the dying of the child] and sat over-against, and lifted up her voice and wept.

17. And god heard the voice of the youth [who doubtless cried no less than the mother in the desolate condition] and the angel of God called upon Hagar out of heaven and said unto her what is or ails thee Hagar? Be not afraid because God have heard the voice of the youth at the place where he is [Heb. In which or in that where he is.]

18. Arise take up the youth and hold him fast by thy hand for I will put him to be a great people.

19. And God opened her eyes [not as if she had not seen before but that God had so ruled and kept her eyes that she took no heed of that well compare Luke 24:31] that she saw a well of water and she went and filled the bottle with water and gave the youth to drink.

20. And God was with the youth [God was favorable to him and blessed him according to the tenor of his promise in temporal things compare below the annotations on verse 2] and he grew tall and he dwelt in the wilderness and became an Archer [Heb. A shooting bow-shooter that is a valiant hunter and warrior see above chapter 16.12.]

21. and dwelt in the wilderness of Paran [see above chapter 14 on verse 6] and his mother took him a wife out of Egypt [observe here the right and authority of the parents in bestowing and marrying their children even the mothers alone compare below chapter 24. Verse 3, 4&c.]

22. Further it happened at that time [that is about the time of Abrahams aforementioned feast and the expelling of Hagar and her son] that Abimelech [king of Gerar spoken of before chapter 20.2] together with Pichol his chief captain or chieftain of his host spake to Abraham saying god is with thee in all thou doest [God is with his blessing them not only in outward and temporal but also and chiefly in spiritual concernment though Abimelech and Pichol and their eyes principally fixed upon bodily and temporal blessed which Abraham enjoyed see the like phrase below chapter 39.3 Joshua3.7 and 7.12 2 Chronicles 1:1.]

23. therefore swear now unto me by God if thou shalt lie [or deceitful speak or deal] to me and my son or my nephew [understand hereupon that then woe or punishment shall come upon thee or God do thus and thus or this and that unto thee see above chapter 14.23] according to the kindness which I have done by thee salt thou do by me an day the land wherein thou doest sojourn as a stranger.

24. And Abraham said I will swear.

25. Yet Abraham taxed Abimelech [before Abraham swears he will take away all scrupling] because of a water-well [which himself had digged and the water having been having hard to come by otherwise in regard of dry soil of those part and therefore very needful and behoofful and much to be valued compare below chapter 26.19,20,21 &c. Judges 1:15] which Abimelech’s servant had taken by force.

26. Then said Abimelechh I wits not who did this feast [Heb. Word thing matter] and also thou hast not made it known to me and I likewise have not heard of it but this day.

27. And Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech [viz. in token of 1. of his gratefulness to the king for the friendship received from him 2. of being satisfied with the king’s answer touching well 3. Of his readiness and promise to be true and faithful to him and his] and those two made [Heb. Cut struck] a covenant [see above chapter 15 verse 18.]

28. Yet Abraham put seven ewe-lambs of the stock apart [Heb. them alone and so verse 29.]

29. Then said Abimelech to Abraham what shall or mean these seven ewe-lamb here which thou hast set apart?

30. And he said that thou shalt take these seven ewe-lambs from thy hand that it may be for witness to me that I have digged this well [and that consequently the same doth lawfully appertaining to me and mine Abrahams care proved not in vain see below chapter 26.15.]

31. Therefore they called that place Beersheba [which name both here an above verse 14 is attributed to this place and the territory about it but below chapter 26 verse 33 appropriated to a city lying in that tract which was afterwards allotted to the tribe of Judah Joshua 15:8 1 Kings 19:3 yet inhabitated by the tribe of Simeon Joshua 19:2 and was the south border of the land of Canaan as Dan was the north border 2 Samuel 17:11 and 24.2] because these two had sworn there.

32. Thus made they a covenant at Beersheba after that Abimelech arose and Pichol his chief captain and they returned to the country of the Pilistines [understand to Gerar not far distant from this place.]

33. And he [Viz. Abraham] planted a groove at Beersheba and called thereupon the name of the Lord [having received new cause of thankfulness he there set up and exercised the public worship of God see above chapter 4.26] the eternal God [Heb. The God of eternity.]

34. Then Abraham dwelt as a stranger in the land of the philistines many days [that is for a long time the Lord affording him good security and rest there.]