Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV.
1, Abraham taking Keturah to wife, hath by her many sonnes and nephewes. 5, The division of his goods. 7, His age and death. 9, His buriall. 11, Isaak blessed after his father's death. 12, The generations of Ismael; 17, his age and death. 19, Isaak prayeth for Rebekah being barren. 22, She conceiving, the children strive in her wombe. 24, The birth of Esau and Iakob. 27, Their different state. 29, Esau selleth his birthright to Iakob, for a messe of pottage.
ANd Abraham added, and tooke a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare to him Zimran, and Iokshan, and Medan, and Midjan: and lishbak, and Shuach. And Iokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan: and the sonnes of Dedan, were Asshurim and Lerushim, and Leummim. And the sonnes of Mid…an, Ephah and Epher, and Epoch▪ and Abida, and Eld… all these, were the sonnes of Keturah. And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaak. And to the sonnes of the concubines which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts: and sent them away from …aak his sonne, while hee yet lived; eastward, unto the east country. And these are the dayes of the yeeres of the life of Abraham, which he lived: [hundred yeeres, and seventy yeeres, and five yeeres. And Abraham gave-up the ghost, and dyed, in a good hoary: age, an old-man, and full (of …) and hee was gathered unto his peoples▪ And Isaak and Ismael his sonnes, buried him; in the cave of Macpelah▪ in the field of Ephron the sonne of Zohar the Chethite, which is before Mamree. The field, which Abraham purchased, of the sonnes of Cheth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. And it was, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed Isaak his sonne: and Isaak dwelt by Beer-lachai-roi.
And these are the generations of Ismael, Abrahams son: whom Hagar the Aegyptian Sarahs hand maid, bare unto Abraham. And these are the names of the sonnes of Ismael; by their names, according to their generations: the first-borne of Ismael, Nebajoth and Kedar, Adbeel, and Mibsam. And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa. Hadar and Tema, Ietur, Naphish, and Kedmah. These are the sonnes of Ismael, and these are their names; by their townes; and by their castles: twelve Princes, according to their nations. And these are the yeeres of the life of Ismael; a hundred yeeres, and thirty yeeres, and seven yeeres: and he gave-up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his peoples. And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur; which is before Aegypt, as thou goest to Assiria: before the faces of all his brethren, did hee fall.
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And these are the generations of Isaak, the sonne of Abraham: Abraham, begat Isaak. And Isaak was fourtie yeeres old, when hee tooke Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Syrian, of Padan Aram: the sister of Laban the Syrian, unto him to wife. And Isaak intreated Iehovah, for his wife; because shee was barren: and Iehovah was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the sonnes strougled-together, within her; and she said if it be so, why am I thus? And shee went to inquire of Iehovah. And Iehovah said unto her; Two nations, are in thy womb; and two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels: and the one people, shall be stronger then the other people; and the greater shall serve the lesser. And her dayes were fulfilled, to bring-forth: and behold, twins were in her wombe. And the first came-out red, all over like an hairy mantle: and they called his name Esau. And afterward came his brother out; (and his hand holding by the heele of Esau; and he called his name Iakob: and Isaak was sixtie yeeres old, when she bare them. And the boyes grew; and Esau was a cunning huntsman, a man of the field: and Iakob was a perfect man, dwelling in tents. And Isaak loved Esau, because venison was in his mouth: and Rebekah loved Iakob. And Iakob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint. And Esau said to Iakob; Let me taste I pray thee, of that red, that red pottage, for I am faint: therefore he called his name Edom. And Iakob said, Sell to me this day thy first-birthright. And Esau said, Loe I am going to dye: and wherefore (serveth) this first-birthright unto me? And Iakob said, Sweare unto me this day, and he sware unto him: and he sold his first-birthright unto Iakob. And Iakob gave to Esau, bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eate and drinke, and rose up and went-away: and Esau despised the first-birthright.
Annotations.
ADded] that is, did againe take a wife, when hee was an hundred and fourty yeeres old, and had of her sixe sonnes, by the extraordinary blessing of God: whereas fourty yeeres before, his body was even dead, in respect of naturall strength and vigour, as the Apostle noteth, Rom. 4. 19. a wife] called elsewhere a concubine, 1 Chron. 1. 32. what manner of wife that was, see on Gen. 22. 24. Keturah] in Greeke Chettoura.
Vers. 2. Zimran] in Greeke Zombran. Iekshan] in Greeke Iezan] Medan] whose posterity are called Medanites, Gen. 37. 36. Midian] in Greeke Madiam and Madian, Act. 7. 29. of him came the people called Madianites; that soone fell from Abrahams faith to idolatry, Num. 25. Shuach] in Greek, Soie: of him came Bildad, Iobs friend, called the Shuchite, Iob 2. 11.
Vers. 3. Sheba] in Greek, Saba: his posterity robbed lob of his oxen and asses, Iob 1. 15.
Vers. 4. Ephah] or Gepha: in Greeke, Gephar. Epher] or Gepher, in Greek Apheir: of him the country Aphrica is thought to have the name. Enoch] in Heb. Chanoch: as Gen. 5. 18.
Vers. 5. to Isaak] as being his onelyonly heyre, and child of promise, Gen. 21. 12. a figure of Christ and Christians, heyres by promise of all things, Heb. 1. 2. Iohn 3. 34. Rev. 21. 7. Gal. 3 29. and 2. 28.
Vers. 6. concubines] Hagar, and Keturah: vers. 1. east country] or, land of the East: a part of Arabia: hereupon mention is made of the sonnes of the East, Iob 1. 3. And Iob himselfe was in likelihood the son of one of these sons or nephewes of Abraham by Keturah.
Vers. 7. 175 yeeres] This summe of his yeeres sheweth, how Abraham had lived a pilgrim in Canaan a hundred yeeres after he came out of Charran, Gen. 12. 4. That he attained not to the yeeres of his forefathers, who all lived longer then hee, Gen. 11. 11. &c. as did also his son Isaak, Gen. 35. 28. That he left alive behind him, Heber, that great Patriarch and Prophet, of whom hee had the surname to be an Hebrew, Gen. 11. 17. and 14. 13. and from whom he was the seventh generation, as Enoch was from Adam.
Vers. 8. hoary age] as was promised, Gen. 15. 15. of dayes] so the Greek and Chaldee explaineth it, and the Hebrew it selfe elsewhere, Gen. 35. 29. Such words are often to be understood, as a full, for a full cup, Psal. 73. 10. see Gen. 4. 20. and 5. 3. and by being full of dayes, is meant a willingnesse to dye, without desiring longer life on earth. his peoples] the Greeke translateth, his people: the like is said of Ismael, vers. 17. of Isaak, Gen. 35. 29. of Iaakob, Gen. 49. 33. of Aaron, Num. 20. 24. of Moses, Deut. 32. 50. and others: sometime it is said, gathered to their fathers, 2 King. 22. 20. Iudg. 2. 10. Act. 13. 36. and by Abrahams peoples, are meant his fathers, Gen. 15. 15. and the phrase signifieth the immortality of soules: for Abrahams body was gathered to the body of Sarah onelyonly, as the next words shew: and by his fathers, are meant the spirits of just men made perfect, Heb. 12. 23. See after, in verse 17.
Vers. 10. and Sarah] as is shewed in Gen. 23. 19. Afterwards Isaak and Iakob with their wives, were buried there also, Gen. 49. 29. 31.
Vers. 11. blessed Isaak] so applying and confirming to him, the promises made to Abraham, Gen. 12. 2. and 14. 19. and 17. 19. and so Isaak commended to Iakob, the blessing of Abraham, Gen. 28. 3. 4. and by this blessing, the righteousnesse of faith is implyed, to Abrahams seed, Galat. 3. 8. 9. &c. Beer-lachai-roi] in Greeke, the well of vision; in Chaldee, the well at which the Angell of life appeared: this place of Isaaks seating, is not without mystery: see Gen. 16. 14. and 24. 62.
Vers. 12. generations] a rehearsall of Ismaels offspring; as Gen. 5. 1. And here, the fulfilling of Gods promise is seene, made in Gen. 16. 10. 12. and 17. 20. and how hee that was borne after the flesh, and cast out of Abrahams house, Gal. 4. 23. 30 was multiplyed before Isaak the child and heyre of the promise. See the like of Esau, Gen. 36. 43.
Vers. 13. Nebajoth] he and his brethren seated in Arabia, Esay 20. 13. 14. 16. Ezek. 27. 21. where peoples and places retained the footsteps of their names: they gave themselves to shepherdy, as appeareth, Esay 60. 7. Ier. 49. 29. And here are twelve sons reckned, which were Princes of their tribes, as was promised in Gen. 17. 20. answerable in number to the twelve sonnes of Iakob, heads of the twelve tribes of Israel; but these Ismaelites are a generation before them, as Ismael himselfe was borne before Isaak. For, that is first which is naturall, and afterward that which is spirituall, 1 Corinth. 15. 46.
Vers. 16. castles,] or, villages: dwelling houses so named of being faire and high built in a row or order. In Greeke habitations, as in Act. 1. 20. from Psal. 69.
Vers. 17. 137 yeeres] So he lived not so long as his father Abraham, or his brother Isaak, or as did Iakob; though he lived till a great old age. And this mention of the terme of his life, and gathering to his fathers, (as was spoken before of Abraham, v. 8.) and the burying of his father with his brother, vers. 9. may be some probability of Ismaels repentance, and dying in the faith of Abraham: for unlesse it be he, no reprobate hath his whole life time recorded in holy Scripture. Or if Ismael dyed wicked; then by his fathers to whom he was gathered, are meant the soules of wicked men before him: which are spirits in prison, 1 Pet. 3. 19.
Vers. 18. they] that is, Ismaels sonnes dwelt. In Greeke, he dwelt. Shur] a place in the wildernesse: see Gen. 16. 7. The Chaldee there and here calleth it Chagra. did he fall] meaning either, that his lot did befall him, so to dwell, or that he so dyed, as the word fall sometime signifieth, Psal. 82. 7. Gen. 14. 10. But the Greeke here translateth it, he dwelt: so also doth the Chaldee paraphrast, & so the plaine text was before, in the promise, Gen. 16 12. and to make to fall, is to divide by lot an inheritance to dwell in, Ios. 23. 4. Psal. 78. 55.
foreign Here beginneth the sixt Section of the Law, called The generations of Isaak. See Gen. 6. 9.
Vers. 19. the generations] that is, the history of the off-spring of Isaak; and things that befell unto him, as Gen. 2. 1. and 5. 1. and 6. 9.
Vers. 20. old] Hebr. son of fourty yeere, so v. 26. see Gen. 5. 32. the Syrian] the Hebrew name is Aramite: which the holy Ghost in Greeke calleth Syrian, Luke 4. 27. See Gen. 10. 22. Padan Aram] the same that Aram Naharajim, Gen. 24. 10 for the Greeke turneth them both, Mesopotamia of Syria. Aram is Syria, Gen. 24. 10. and 10. 22. Padan in the Syrian tongue is a payre or couple, and the country of Aram lying betweene a couple of rivers, is so named Padan Aram: and sometime onelyonly Padan, as Gen. 48. 7.
Vers. 21. for] or, directly-for, (as the force of the Hebrew word implyeth) and before his wife: so it seemeth to bee some solemne prayer which they made together directly for this matter: having lived twenty yeeres together without any child, and Isaak wexen old, into the 60 yeere of his life, ver. 26. God exercising his faith hereby, as he had done Abrahams, Gen. 15. 2. The Iewes have a tradition, that Isaak went with his wife to mount Morijah, to the place where he had beene bound, (Gen. 22. 9.) and prayed there: Pirke R. Eliezer, ch. 32.
Vers. 22. strugled-together] or, bruised themselves, by strugling: which did presage the contrarietie that should be betweene these two brothers: and so betweene the children of God, & of this world. if so, &c.] an unperfect speech, which in her passion she uttered: the Greeke translateth it, if it shall so be with me, why (is) this unto me? why have I conceived, if I must feele such things? to enquire] or seeke, either by private prayer, or by asking some Prophet. The Ierusalemy Thargum taketh it in this last sense, and saith, she went to the Schoole of Sem the great: Howbeit Sem was dead about ten yeeres before this: but by Abraham, or Heber, the great Patriarch, then living, shee might well inquire of God. Others, (as R. Eliezer, Perek 32.) take it to be meant of her praying unto God.
Vers. 23. Two nations] that is, fathers of two nations, and divers peoples: Edomites and Israelites. the greater] to weet, in dignity, which came naturally by the first birthright: or, the elder. The Hebrew Rab, (whereof great men and masters are called Rabbies, Iohn 1. 39. Mat. 23. 8.) signifieth a superiour in dignity. The holy Ghost in Greeke translateth it, the greater, Rom. 9. 12. Hereby Esau and his posteritie are meant. shall serve] as came to passe carnally, when the Aedomites (of Esau) became servants to David, and to the Israelites which were of Iakob, 2 Sam. 8. 14. and spiritually, when Iakob got of Esau the first birthright, and bereaved him of the blessing, Gen. 25. 33. and 27. 29. For servitude came in with a curse, and figureth reprobation, Gen. 9. 25. Iohn 8. 34. 35. Gal. 4. 30. 31. Therefore from hence the Prophet teacheth, that God loved Iakob, and hated Esau, Mal. 1. 2. 3. and the Apostle gathereth the doctrine of Gods election and reprobation, saying, when Rebekka had conceived by one, even by our father Isaak, the children being not yet borne, neither having done any good or evill, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of workes, but of him that calleth, it was said unto her, the greater shall serve the lesser, as it is written, Iakob have I loved, but Esau have I hated, Rom. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
Vers. 25. red] a signe of the cholericke, cruell, and bloody disposition, found in Esau himselfe, and in his posterity, Gen. 27. 40. 41. Obad. 1. 10. Ezek. 25. 12. So the cruell persecuting Dragon was of red colour, Rev. 12. 3. The Hebrew Doctors say, Esau the wicked, was drawne after the workes of judgement, mystically signified in these words, And by thy sword shalt thou live, Gen. 27. 40. and therefore he was red: R. Menachem Rakenat. on Gen. 25. And in Bresith rabbah they note, how hee was red, and his meat was red, Gen. 25. 30. end his land was red, (as in Gen. 32. 3.) &c. And he that takes vengeance on him is red; and in red clothing, Song 5. 10. Esay 63. 1. 2. all over] Hebr. all of him like a mantle of hayre; which the Greek translateth, like a rough hide. This also signified his strong, fierce, and crafty nature: For hayre is a signe of naturall strength; and nature being corrupted, hairinesse denoteth the power of corruption; therefore when Lepers were purified, all their hayre was to be shaven off, Lev. 14. 8. So the Hebrewes say, that his hayrinesse signified the strength of uncleannesse, which came out of him: R. Menachem, on Gen. 25. Esau] by interpretation, Made, or Perfected: as being of a more strong and perfect constitution naturall, then other children: rather like a man then a babe.
Vers. 26. the heele] or foot sole; as if he would have pulled backe his brother from the birth, and have beene before him: or at least, for to overthrow him. Which as God by their former strugling in her body, and now by this behaviour did signifie: so the Prophet mentioneth it after to Iakobs children, how he thus strove for the grace of the first birthright, which they by sin suffered themselves to be deprived of, Hos. 12. 2. 3. This manner of birth, that Iakobs hand held his brother by the heele, was also extraordinarily strange, and perillous for the life both of mother and child. See the like after, in Gen. 38. 28. he called] that is, every one called: as in vers. 25. it is written, they called: or, he was called; so vers. 30. See the notes on Gen. 16. 14. Iakob] that signifieth one that should hold by the foot, or overthrow his brother.
Vers. 27. a cunning huntsman] Hebr. a man knowing hunting. of the field] ranging the fields for to hunt beasts. Of a disposition much like Ismaels, Gen. 16. 12. or Nimrods, Gen. 10. 9. perfect] of a religious, honest, plaine and simple disposition, without guile or wickednesse: as the Greeke translateth, vnfeighned. See Gen. 6. 9. dwelling] or, sitting in tents: that is, either keeping home, (as Iudg. 5. 24.) or being with the sheepfolds as an heirder: for shepherds kept in tents, Gen. 4. 20. Esa. 38. 12. and such was Iakobs trade and his childrens, Gen. 46. 34. Besides, that dwelling in tents, signified his pilgrimage in the land, Heb. 11. 9. Hereupon Iakobs tents, are used for the state of the commonwealth of Israel, Num. 24. 5. Mal. 2. 12. The Greeke here translateth, dwelling in house: but the Chaldee saith, A minister of the house of doctrine: as giving himselfe to religious study and schollership. So other of the Hebrew Doctors; as in Pirkei R. Eliezer, ch. 32. it is said, After the children were growne, the one walked in the way of life, the other walked in the way of death. Iakob our father walked in the way of life, for he dwelt in tents, and studied the law, all his dayes; but Esau the wicked, walked in the way of death, to kill Iakob, Gen. 27. 41.
Vers. 28. in his mouth] or, for his mouth; namely, his meat, as the Greeke explaineth it: that is, because he delighted to eate of Esaus venison. This love for carnall respect continued contrary to the Oracle of God, but it was disappointed, Genes. 27. 4. 33.
Vers. 29. pottage] or broth: Hebr. sod a seething. faint] with wearinesse; as the word implyeth. This signified Esaus vaine imployment of his time and strength: whereas they that wait on the Lord spiritually, faint not, Esay 40. 30. 31. but the righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soule: Pro. 13. 25.
Vers. 30. Let me cast] or, let me have a draught; the Greeke and Chaldee translate it tast. It is a word not used but in this place. red] which in Hebrew is Adom: whereupon his name was called Aedom. The doubling of the word red, and omitting the word pottage, noteth Esaus hast and greedinesse, increased also by the colour. he called] or, his name was called Aedom, that is, Red: for hee was ruddy when hee was borne, vers. 25. and now longing for red broth, and selling his birthright for it, this name was given him, as a brand-marke of his greedinesse and profanenesse.
Vers. 31. this day] or, even now: the Hebr. Cajom, As to day, is often used for hajom, this day, as the Greeke here interpreteth it, and in vers. 23. following. So 1 Sam. 2. 16. and 9. 13. 27. 2 Chron. 18. 4. And the Hebrew word for As, is often a very affirmation: see Gen. 27. 12. firstbirthright] The dignity whereof the Law sheweth to be great, in that all the first-borne were peculiarly consecrated and given unto God, Exod. 22. 29. were next in honour to their parents, Gen. 49. 3. had a double portion of their fathers goods, Deut. 21. 17. succeeded them in the government of the family, or kingdome: 2 Chron. 21. 3. and administration of the priesthood, and service of God, Num. 8. 14.—17. Therefore the first-borne is used for one that is loved, and deare to his father, Ex. 4. 22. and higher then his brethren, Psal. 89. 28. and figured Christ, Rom. 8. 29. and true Christians heyres of the kingdome of heaven, Heb. 12. 23. This honour Iakob strove to have at his birth; but missing then, hee seeketh now, and obtaineth it. The Greeke translateth it plurally, firstbirthrights; and so doth the Apostle in Heb. 12. 16.
Vers. 32. going to dye] that is, ready, or in danger to dye: which may bee meant, both in respect of his present hunger, which could not (as he prophanely thought) bee satisfied with the title of his birth-right: and of his daily danger to bee killed by the wild beasts, in the field where hee hunted. wherefore serveth] or, what profiteth? as if he should say, nothing at all.
Vers. 33. Sweare] to confirme the bargain, (Heb. 6. 16.) and to make it irrevocable, (Psalm. 110. 4. and 15. 4.) So by oath he renounced his birthright before God, whose name is therfore used in othes; Deut. 6. 13. he sold] It is recorded in the Iewes canon lawes, that the first-borne who selloth the portion of his birthright, even before it be parted; his sale standeth in force: because the firstborne hath part in the birthright, before the parting thereof: Maimony, Treat. of Inheritances, ch. 3. S. 6.
Vers. 34. of lentiles] a kind of pulse much like to vetches, or small pease; and but course food, so vile an exchange did Esau make of his heavenly dignity: that not without cause doth the holy Ghost call him a profane person; who for one meales meat, sold his first birthrights, Heb. 12. 16. It is a tradition of the Hebrew Doctors, that Lentiles were wont to be eaten of men, in their sorrow and mourning: and that Iakob did feed upon Lentiles, in mourning and sorrow, for that the kingdome, and dominion, and first-birthright was Esaus. Whereupon they also gather, that the sonnes of Esau should not fall, untill the Remainder of Iakob come, and give to the sonnes of Esau, food of lentiles, with mourning and sorrow, and take from them the dominion, kingdome, and firstbirthright, which Iakob bought of him by oath. Pirkei R. Eliezer, ch. 35. eat and drinke] This seemeth to intimate not onelyonly a satisfying of his hunger, but a carnall secure despising of his honor now sold: as in 1 Cor. 15. 32. let us eat and drinke, for to morrow wee shall dye. went away] without shewing any remorse or sorrow, for his profane bargaine. despised] unto this the Ierusalemy Paraphrast addeth, that he also despised his portion in the world to come; and denyed the resurrection of the dead. Thus the Iewes esteemed his fact most irreligious and profane: as the Apostle also doth, Heb. 12. 16.