Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI.
1 Isaak is borne; 4 he is circumcised. 6 Sarahs joy. 9 Hagar and Ismael are cast forth, 15 and fall into distresse. 17 The Angel comforteth her. 22 Abimelechs covenant with Abraham at Beer-sheba.
ANd Iehovah, visited Sarah, as hee had said: and Iehovah did unto Sarah, as he had spoken. And Sarah conceived, and bare to Abraham a son, in his old-age: at the set-time, which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son, that was borne unto him, whom Sarah bare unto him, Isaak. And Abraham circumcised Isaak his son, being a son of eight daies: as, God had commanded him. And Abraham was, a hundred yeeres old: when Isaak his son, was borne unto him. And Sarah said, God hath maid me a laughter: every one that heareth, will laugh with me. And she said; who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given sonnes sucke? for I have borne a son, in his old age. And the childe grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great banquet, in the day that Isaak was weaned. And Sarah saw, the son of Hagar the Aegyptian, which she had borne unto Abraham, laughing. And shee said to Abraham; Cast out this bond woman, and her son: for the son of this bond woman, shall not be heire, with my son, with Isaak. And the word was very evill, in the eyes of Abraham: because of his son. And God said, unto Abraham; Let it not bee evill in thine eyes, because of the lad, and because of thy bond-woman; in all that Sarah shall say unto thee, heare her voice: for in Isaak, shall seed be called to thee. And also the sonne of the bond woman, I will make of him a nation: because he, is thy seed. And Abraham rose-earely in the morning, and tooke bread, and a bottle of water, and gave unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and the child, and sent her away: and shee went and wandred, in the wildernesse of Beer-sheba. And the water of the bottle, was spent: and she cast the child, under one of the shrubs. And she went, and sate herselfe over-against him, going-far-off about a bow shoot; for she sayd, let me not see the death of the child: and she sate over-against him, and lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard, the voice of the lad; and an Angell of God, called to Hagar, out of heaven; and said unto her, what aileth thee Agar? feare not, for God hath heard the voice of the lad, there where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thy hand: for I will make of him, a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water: and she went and filled the bottell with water, and gave the lad drinke. And God was with the lad, and he grew: and dwelt in the wildernesse, and was a shooter with bow. And he dwelt in the wildernesse of Pharan: and his mother tooke him a wife, out of the land of Egypt.
And it was, in that time; that Abimelech, and Phicol prince of his host, said unto Abraham, saying: God is with thee, in all that thou dost. And now, sweare unto me here by God; If thou shalt lye unto me, or to my son, or to my newphew: according to the kindnes that I have done vntounto thee, thou shalt do unto me; and unto the land, in the which thou hast sojourned. And Abraham said; I, will sweare. And Abraham reproved Abimelech, because of a well of water, which Abimelechs servants had violently-taken away. And Abimelech said, I know not, who hath done this thing: and also thou, didst not tell mee; and I also, did not heare it, but to day. And Abraham tooke sheepe and oxen, and gave to Abimelech: and both of them stroke a covenant. And Abraham set, seven ewe-lambes of the flocke, by themselves. And Abimelech said, unto Abraham: what meane here, these seven ewe-lambes; which thou hast set by themselves? And hee said; for, the seven ewe-lambes, thou shalt take of my hand: that they may be to me for a Testimonie; that I have digged, this Well. Therefore, he called that place, Beer-sheba: because there they sware, both of them. And they stroke a covenant, in Beer-sheba: and Abimelech rose-up, and Phicol the Prince of his host, and they returned, into the land of the Philistines. And hee planted a tree in Beer-sheba: and he called there, on the name of Iehovah, the eternall God. And Abraham sojourned, in the land of the Philistines many daies.
Annotations.
Visited] This word signifieth a remembrance, providence, care and performance of that which was spoken, be it good or evill. For good, as here, and Gen. 50. 24. Exod. 4. 31. Luk. 1. 68. and often. For evill, and so it meaneth punishment, Exod. 20. 5. Psal. 89. 33. Num. 16. 29. The Chaldee here translateth remembred: and the Hebrew implyeth that, as 1. Sam. 15. 2.
Vers. 2. conceived,] hereupon her faith is commended, Heb. 11. 11. By saith Sarah her selfe received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when when she was past age, because shee judged him faithfull who had promised, in his] or, to his oldage: so vers. 7. the set time] promised the yeere before, Gen. 18. 10. Hereupon Isaak is sayd to be borne of a freewoman, by promise, and after the spirit, Gal. 4. 22, 23, 29. and this birth is set forth as an example of Gods mercy to, and increase of his Church, by the covenant of grace in Christ under the new Testament, whereof Sarah was a figure; Esay 51. 2, 3. Gal. 4. 24. 28.
Vers. 3. Isaak] which signifieth Laughter, or Ioy: this name was foreappointed him of God, Gen. 17. 19.
Vers. 4. son of 8 daies] or, 8 daies old: but understanding, in the 8 day, as the Greeke translateth it: see the Law, Gen. 17. 12. Isaak is the first that wee read of, circumcised at this age.
Vers. 6. made me] or, made laughter to me, that is, joy, as the Chaldee translateth it: as if shee had said, hath made me to laugh, or, rejoyce. The word is sometime used for laughing to scorne, or mocking, as v. 9. & Ezek. 23. 32. and so some understand it here, laughter at me, that is, hath made me to be laughed at; meaning of the profane, which would laugh & mocke, as did Ismael, verse 9. Though both may bee implyed in the word, yet the first seemeth most proper: and according to the prophesies, Rejoyce thou barren which didst not beare, Esay. 54. 1. which hath reference to this birth. Gal. 4. 22.—27. 28. & Esay 51. 2. 3. with me] or at me: but the Greeke translateth it, rejoyce with me: the Chaldee also turneth it into joy. And so the Prophet, Rejoyce yee with Ierusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her, Esay 66. 10. which Ierusalem, was figured out by this Sarah, Gal. 4. 22, 26.
Vers. 7. should have given sons] Hebrew hath given sons: so noting the certainty: speaking as of a thing done. By sonnes, is meant any sonne, or child: as the Greeke explaineth it: see Gen. 46. 23. The like admiration is spoken by the Church, Esay 49. 21. who hath begotten me these? The Chaldee paraphrast referreth this to God, saying, faithfull is he that said to Abraham, and hath fulfilled it, that Sarah should give sucke,
Vers. 8. weaned] The Hebrew word signifieth an exchange of one thing for another; and so in weaning, from milke to stronger meat: which as it signified in Isaak a growth in strength of nature, so is it in the faithfull, a signe of growth in grace and understanding, 1 Cor. 3. 1, 2. Heb. 5. 12, 13, 14. and of abstaining from worldly childish pleasures. Psal. 131. 2. and Isaak being a figure of all the children of promise (Gal. 4. 28.) we may hereupon gather the reason why Abraham made so great a banquet at Isaaks weaning. So at Samuels weaning hee was presented to the Lord, with a spirituall feast, or sacrifice 1 Sam. 1. 22, 24.
Vers. 9. laughing] that is, deriding or mocking: for so laughing often signifieth, as Gen. 19. 14. Ezek. 23. 32. Lam. 1. 7. it meaneth also abusing otherwise, whereupon laughter and scorne followeth, as Gen. 39. 14. 17. also idolatrous laughing or play, as Exod. 32. 6. Hereupon the Ierusalemy paraphrast referreth it to this latter, of laughing in Gods worship: the Greeke translateth it, playing with Isaak her sonne: (which word playing is sometime used for fighting, 2 Sam. 2. 14, 16.) and by laughing or mocking, the Scripture often noteth a contemptuous and malignant carriage, Iob 30. 1. and 12. 4. Lam. 3. 14. Mat. 27. 29. But the Apostle plainly calleth it persecuting, and saith, as then he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him that was borne after the spirit, even so it is now, Gal. 4. 29. And here beginneth by an Egyptians son, that 400 yeeres affliction, spoken of in Gen. 15. 13.
Vers. 10. this bondwoman,] shee figured the old Testament: and her sonne, such as are under the works of the law, Gal. 4. 24. and the mother being to be cast out, it is likely shee was the cause, or an abettor of her sons evill. not be heire,] or, not inherit: under which inheritance is figured heavenly blessings in Christ, and life everlasting. Gal. 3. 18, 29. and 4. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 4. So Ismael cast out from being heire, is a type of servants that abide not in the house for ever, that is, of reprobates, Iohn 8. 35. Galat. 4. 30. And though Ismael were now but a youth, yet even a child is known by his doings, whether his worke be pure and right. Prov. 20. 11. therefore Sarah by the spirit of God uttered this speech, and God confirmeth it, ver. 12. and Paul saith not that Sarah, but the Scripture speaketh this, Galat. 4 30. and by this it is probable, that Ismaels mocking, was about the inheritance; as some of the Hebrew Doctors also have observed: R. Moses Gerundens. my son,] who am a free-woman, with Isaak, who is freeborne: see Gal. 4. 30. 31. 28.
Vers. 11. very evill,] or vehemently evill, that is, very much displeasing, as on the contrary, to be good in the eyes of any, is to please or content, Gen. 20. 15. because,] or, for the causes: so v. 25. The love to his son, caused this griefe: howbeit when God bad him kill his beloved son Isaak, he shewed no such discontentment, Gen. 22. 2, 3. it seemeth hee thought this to proceed but from Sarahs owne passion of minde, till hee was further informed of God, vers. 12. 14.
Vers. 12. shall seed bee called to thee] or, shall thy seed be called: they shall be named of Isaak, not of Ismael: that is, (as Paul inferteth) they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise, are counted for the seed: Rom. 9. 7. 8. Seed to thee, may also bee read seed of thee, that is, thy seed: for the Scripture sometime putteth one for another, as disciples to thee, Mar. 2. 18. is the same that disciples of thee, or thy disciples, Mat. 9. 14. From this limitation of Abrahams seed to Isaak, the Iewes do reckon none for Abrahams, but the Israelites: as in their Canons they say: who so voweth concerning Abrahams seed, is free from Ismaels and Esaus sonnes, and is not bound but touching Israelites: as it is said, for in Isaak shall seed be called to thee: and loe Isaak said to Iaakob, And God give thee the blessing of Abraham, Gen. 28. 4. Maimony, treat. of Vowes, chap. 9. S. 21.
Vers. 13. make of him] Heb. put him unto a nation, so verse 28. Compare Gen. 17. 20. thy seed] thy sonne, according to the flesh: though not after the promise as Isaak was.
Vers. 14. bread] Sometime bread is used for all food, as in Mark. 6. 36. compared with Mat. 14. 15. Psal. 78. 20. if it be not so here, the Scripture would note the great hardnesse and miserie which they must indure that are cast out of the Lords inheritance. and the child] to weet, he gave unto her, he being now about 18. yeeres of age: so casting him his first borne son, with her, out of his house. the wildernesse,] the way towards Egypt, where there was no way, no food, no waters, no inhabitants: thus were they exposed to many miseries: see Deut. 8. 15. Ier. 2. 6. Contrariwise, Isaaks children were led and guided of God, through that great & fearfull wildernes, wherein Ismael and his mother wandred: Deu. 32. 10. 11. 12. Ex. 13. 21. 22. Our English word wildernesse, signifieth a place where men goe wild, that is, goe astray, or wander, as Agar here did; and so in Iob 12. 24. Psal. 1074. 40. the like is spoken. In Hebrew it is called Midbar, as being without order, a place not for men to dwell in; but onelyonly for beasts, who there must also be led and gouerned. See Exod. 3. 1. 18.
Vers. 15. she cast the child] that is, shee left him being sicke, and fainting for thirst. The state of such as are without Christ is hereby resembled: Esay 65 13, but they that drinke of his waters, shall never thirst, for it shall be in them a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life, Ioh. 4. 14. shrubbes,] or, trees, as the Chaldee expounds it. The Greeke saith, under a firre-tree.
Vers. 16. the death,] This sheweth the extremitie that they were come into in the desert, who erewhile had meat and drinke enough in Abrahams house, now ready to perish for thirst: God so chastening their former insolencie. A like example is of the prodigall son, who almost dyed for hunger, when the servants in his fathers house had bread enough, Luk. 15. 14. 17. for the man that wandreth out of the way of understanding, shall remaine in the congregation of the dead, Prov. 21. 16.
Vers. 17. there where] in Greeke, from the place where he is: that is, in this desolate wildernesse, where he lyeth, perishing, forsaken of all Compare herewith Gods promises to his people in miserie, Deut. 4. 27.—30. and Psal 107. 4. 5, 6. And thus God remembreth his former promises, Gen. 17. 20. and 16. 10. &c.
Vers. 19. she saw a well,] which though it were there before, yet she saw not, her eies being holden, till they were opened of God, (as in Luke 24. 16. 31.) By similitude of waters breaking out in the wildernesse, and drawing waters out of the wells of salvation, the Scripture denoteth the spirituall graces of the gospel, communicated with the poore afflicted, Esay 35. 6. and 12. 3.
Ver. 20. God was] The Chaldee paraphraseth, the word of the Lord was a helpe to the lad. shooter with bow] or, an archer: and so consequently, a wariour: for shooting with bow, was used in battels with men, Gen. 49. 23. 24. and 48. 22. and thus the oracle was fulfilled, that hee should be a wild man, and have his hand against every man, Gen. 16. 12.
Vers. 21. of Pharan] or Paran: a wildernesse next adjoyning to the desert of Sinai, through which the Israelites journeyed as they went from Egypt to Canaan, Num. 10. 12. and 13. 1. 4. Deut. 33. 2. Hab. 3. 3.
Vers. 22. Abimelech,] King of Gerar in Palestina: see Gen. 20. 2. Prince] that is, chiefe Captaine: as the Greeke calleth him Archistrategos, Chiefe-leader of the Armie. God is] the word of the Lord is for an helpe to thee, saith the Chaldee paraphrast: so in the verse following, for God, he useth the word of the Lord.
Vers. 23. if thou shalt lye,] that is, that thou wilt not lye: as Psal. 89. 36. an imperfect speech, where an imprecation is understood, which sometimes is expressed in part, as in Ruth 1. 17. the Lord doe so to me and more also, if. &c. For an oath, is both a taking of the Lord to witnesse that which one sweareth, and to punish if any violate his faith: both which Paul expressed when he sware, I call God for a witnesse upon (or against) my soule, 2 Cor. 1. 23. See before Gen. 14. 23. and 26. 29. The Greeke for lying translateth hurting, or wronging. It meaneth false and deceitfull dealing contrary to the covenant now to be made betweene them, see Ps. 44. 18
V. 25. a well] which was of great use and worth in that dry country, as the south parts of Canaan are noted to bee, in Iudg. 1. 15. Hereupon grew that betweene Isaak and the Philistines, for wells of water, Gen. 26. 18. 20. 21. The Greeke for well, translateth wells, as being many: and indeed Abraham had there moe wells then one, as appeareth by Gen. 26 15. 18. and it is usuall in scripture, to put one for many, as is obserued, on Gen. 3. 2. and 4. 20. Albeit the 30. vers. sheweth rather one speciall to be here meant; where also the Greek speaketh of one.
Vers. 31. Beer sheba] by interpretation, the well of the oath, as the Greeke translateth it, and the words following doe confirme: or, the well of seven; because of the 7 lambes forementioned, for Sheba usually signifieth seven, and Shebuah, an oath. See also Gen. 26. 33. they sware,] or, were sworne: for swearing is alwaies expressed in Hebrew, in the forme passive, to be sworne; because it is with a passion of the mind, and offred or occasioned by another. It hath also the signification of seven, which is a mysticall number, Gen. 2. 2. The reason hereof some thinke to be, because it is confirmed as by seven, that is, by many witnesses: or, as having reference to the seven spirits that are before the throne of God, Rev. 1. 4. the seven hornes, and seven eyes of the Lambe (Christ,) which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the world, Rev. 5. 6. Wherefore Abrahams seven lambes, seeme to bee not without mystery.
Vers. 33. he planted] that is, Abraham planted: as the Greeke expresseth: which sheweth his purpose and hope here long to continue. a tree] or, a grove: that is, a plot of trees: the Greeke saith, hee planted a field: the Ierusalemy Thargum translateth it, a paradise, or orchard: and it is usuall to put one for many, see Gen. 3. 2. The Hebrew Aeshel is used also for a tree, in 1 Sam. 22. 6. and 31. 13. which another Prophet rehearsing, calleth Aelah, that is, an Oake, 1 Chron. 10. 12. It is before recorded, that Abram had such trees by his tent, under whose coole shadow men sate and were refreshed, in that hot Country, Gen. 18. 1, 4, 8. but by that which here followeth, that hee called there on the name of the Lord, it is also probable, that this plantation was for religious use, which before the Law given by Moses, might bee lawfull; and was used generally of the nations, Deut. 12. 2. but after was forbidden, when God had chosen a place of worship. Yet as from Abrahams example, offring his sonne Isaak, Gen. 22. the Iewes would superstitiously sacrifice their children, Ier. 7. 31. and 19. 5. so from Abrahams grove, they used groves for religious use, and sacrificed under greene trees: 2 King. 17. 10. Ier. 17. 2. Esay 57. 5. But God forbad such things, Deut. 16. 21. yet the heathen Romans commanded them, saying, Lucos in agris habento: Leg. 12. tab. de relig. lex. 2. eternall God] or, God of eternitie, or, of the World. But the Greeke translateth eternall; and so God is called in Rom. 16. 26. Here is the first place, where this title was given him.
Ver. 34 many daies] or, yeres, (as Gen. 4. 3.) Thus God gave some rest to this weary pilgrim: hee dwelled here still when Isaak was offred, (which was in the 33. yeere of his life,) Gen. 22. 19. and how long after is uncertaine.