Genesis
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Genesis 21
Genesis 21
1And Jehovah visited Sarah as he had said, and Jehovah did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
1And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
Commentary · verse 1
2And Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
3And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
2For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
3And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
Commentary · verses 2-3
Abraham named his son Isaac as God had told him to in Genesis 17:19.
4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
5And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
6And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh; every one that heareth will laugh with me.
7And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should give children suck? for I have borne him a son in his old age.
8And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
5And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
6And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
7And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
8And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
Commentary · verses 4-8
Sarah and Abraham handled everything perfectly, they followed God's commands.
9And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne unto Abraham, mocking.
10Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this handmaid and her son: for the son of this handmaid shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
9And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
10Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
Commentary · verses 9-10
Here we see that Ishmael mocked Isaac. Paul referenced this verse in Galatians 4:29-30 where it clearly stated that Ishmael had "persecuted him that was born after the Spirit"...meaning Isaac.
11And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight on account of his son.
12And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy handmaid; in all that Sarah saith unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
11And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
12And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Commentary · verses 11-12
God told Abraham to do what Sarah wanted. Hagar was Egyptian. Ishmael was half Egyptian.
13And also of the son of the handmaid will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
14And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and gave her the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
13And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
14And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer–sheba.
Commentary · verses 13-14
The phrase "sent her away" was the same as "put her away." Remember, Hagar was Abraham's wife. Abraham put Hagar away.
15And the water in the bottle was spent, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not look upon the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.
17And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
15And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
17And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
Commentary · verses 15-17
God heard Ishmael's voice and then He spoke to Hagar to comfort her. In fact, He asked her a question.
18Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thy hand; for I will make him a great nation.
18Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
Commentary · verse 18
God still made a great nation from Ishmael even though his conception was an effect of Abram and Sarai attempting to fulfill God's Covenant in their own strength.
19And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
20And God was with the lad, and he grew; and he dwelt in the wilderness, and became, as he grew up, an archer.
21And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
19And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
20And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
Commentary · verses 19-21
Ishmael married an Egyptian woman.
22And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:
22And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:
Commentary · verse 22
Abimelech was the king of Gerar of the Philistines. He and his general ("captain of his host") recognized that God was with Abraham in all that he did. Remember, the purpose of the 4th Dispensation was for God to use Abraham (patriarchs) as an example to reach other nations.
23now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
24And Abraham said, I will swear.
25And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of the well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
26And Abimelech said, I know not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to-day.
27And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and they two made a covenant.
23Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
24And Abraham said, I will swear.
25And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
26And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.
27And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
Commentary · verses 23-27
Abraham covenanted with Abimelech, which meant Abimelech had a covenant with God.
28And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?
30And he said, These seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that it may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
31Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them.
28And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?
30And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
31Wherefore he called that place Beer–sheba; because there they sware both of them.
Commentary · verses 28-31
Beer-sheba was a city at the south edge of Israel. "Beer-sheba" meant "well of the sevenfold oath."
32So they made a covenant at Beer-sheba: and Abimelech rose up, and Phicol the captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
33And Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of Jehovah, the Everlasting God.
32Thus they made a covenant at Beer–sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
33And Abraham planted a grove in Beer–sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
Commentary · verses 32-33
A "tamarisk tree" was also referred to as a "grove" which could mean an orchard or a group of trees. As the story of God's people through Abraham continued, we see that "groves" were used often in idolatry, in worshipping an image.
34And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many days.
34And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.
Commentary · verse 34
Genesis 19-21 documented God's judgment and blessing during the 4th Dispensation. We saw the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. We also saw God blessed another nation (Abimelech) through Abraham.
The following story was referenced in Hebrews 11:9 as proof that Sarah was an example of faith to us. God visited Sarah "as he had said" He would. This referred to Genesis 18:10 – "And he said, I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son…"