Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
Verse 1. NOw Sarai] Being seventy five years old, and Abram being eighty five when he took Hagar, ch. 12. 4. ch. 16. 3, 16. Fifteen yeares after, Sarai beiug then ninety, and Abraham one hundred they had Isaac, ch. 17. 17.
an handmaid] Or bondmaid, ch. 21. 10, 12. Opposed to a free-woman, Gal. 4. 22.
an Egyptian] Of Chams posterity.
Hagar] The Apostle allegorically makes her a figure of the Covenant of the Law on Mount Sinai, and of the earthly Jerusalem, gendring to bondage; and Sarah of the Covenant of the Gospel, and of Jerusalem which is above, gendring to freedome, Gal. 4. 22, to the end of the chapter. Gal. 3. 12, 14, 18, 22, 29.
V. 2. Restrained me] Ch. 20. 18. God had promised a seed to Abram, but not as yet unto Sarai; therefore doubting whether she should be the mother, she sets on foot this course; not lawful in it self, Mal. 2. 15. The impediment she alledgeth, why she was out of hope of bearing childe, ch. 18. 11. was fifteen yeares after.
it may be] No certainty. But after Sarah had a Son by Promise. ch. 18. 10. Gal. 4. 23. Rom. 9. 9.
I may obtain] Thus Rachel and Leah did, and said, ch. 30. 3, 6, 9. by the Law, Exod. 21. 4. Bond-servants-children were their Masters.
V. 3. Ten yeares] Since he left Haran.
to be his wife] A secondary wife, a Concubine, ch. 25. 6. so Keturah, Gen. 25. 1. 1 Chro. 1. 32. so Bilha and Zil pa, Gen. 35▪ 22. yet called wives, ch. 37. 2. inferiour to a lawful wife. This a fault and infirmity of faith in Abraham too.
V. 4. Conceived] Quickly, v. 16.
despised] Prov. 30. 21, 23. it seems by Saraies words, v. 5. in an high degree.
V. 5. My wrong] Likely Abram bear too much with Hagars insolencie, and was the more tender of her because she was with childe by him. So the Israelites too passionate against Moses and Aaron, Exod. 5. 21. and Zipporah against Moses, Exod. 4. 26. either right thou my wrong, or beare the punishment thereof from God, yet otherwise she made a patterne of wively obedience, 1 Pet. 3. 6.
V. 6. Thy maid] So he calls her still, and so Hagar calls her Mistresse, v. 8.
in thine hand] To correct her for her fault.
V. 7. And the Angel] Christ the Angel of the Covenant, Mal. 3. 1. called here Jehovah, v. … speaking as God, v. 10. called an Angel, Exod. 14. 19. 13. 21. 23. 20, 21, 22, 23. Esay. 63. 9.
Shur] Towards Egypt her countrey, Exod. 15. 22. In this wildernesse her posterity after dwelt, chap. 25. 17. 18.
V. 8. Whence] As, ch. 3. 9.
V. 11. Thy affliction] Though her self the cause of it.
V. 12. A wilde man] He after dwelt in the wildernesse as a Salvage, and was a warlike man, fierce and unruly, rough and rude, of such courage, as to match all his opposers, ch. 21. 20.
his hand] A quarrelsome man: he for booty by prey and pillage, they most to defend themselves.
and he shall dwell] His seed be a several Nation from his brethren, border upon them, and they not able to overbear him, ch. 25. 9, 18. 37. 23.
V. 13. Have I also, &c.] Magnifying Gods mercy, for his careful eye and providence over her, for vouchsafing her so clear a sight of him, and that even here in the desert, which was more marvell then if it had been in her holy Masters family, and that after her so ill carriage of her self, and letting her yet live after it; many after the sight of God were afraid, yea, some that they should die, Gen. 3. 10. 32. 30. Exod. 3. 9. 24. 12. 33. 20. Deut. 4. 33. and, 5. 24. Judg 6. 22. 13. 22, Esay 6. 2. 5. Luke 5. 8.
V. 14. Beerlehai-roi] i. e. The Well of him that liveth and seeth me.
Kadesh] Kadesh-barneah, Numb. 32. 8. 13. 26. Deut. 1. 19. 9. 23. Josh. 14, 6, 7.
V. 15. Abram called his name] Therefore Hagar returned as the Angel commanded.
Ishmael] Likely upon Hagars relation.
V. 16. Eighty six] See Annot. on v. 1. For the space of thirteen yeares after this God keepeth silence, and speaketh not to Abram, ch. 17. 1.