Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI.
Ver. 1. VIsited] This word signifieth Gods remembrance, care, providence, performance of what he hath spoken, be it good or evil, in justice, as, Exod. 20. 5. or in mercy, for blessings temporal or spiritual. Here, for performance of his promise of a childe to Sarah, ch. 17. 19, 21. 18 10, 14.
V. 2. Conceived] Hereupon her faith commended, Heb. 11. 11.
at the set time] Ch. 18. 10, 14. Hereupon Isaac is said to be borne by promise, Gal. 4. 23, 28. Isaac borne at Gerar.
V. 3. Isaac] So appointed by God, ch. 17. 19.
V. 4. Being eight dayes old] On the eighth day, chap. 17. 12.
V. 5. An hundred yeares old] Ch. 17. 1.
V. 6. Laugh] For joy now, Esay 54. 1. 66. 10. Gal. 4. 27. not out of diffidence, as, ch. 18. 12, 13, 15. Laughing is taken for mocking, or laughing to scorne, v. 9.
V. 7. Who would have said] So, Esay 49. 21. Rom. 4. 18.
children] As daughters for daughter, and sonnes for sonne, ch 46. 7, 23.
V. 8. Weaned] So Samuel 1 Sam. 22. 23, 24. It is not said at what yeare of his age.
feast] Fitter at that time then at the time of birth or Circumcision.
V. 9. Mocking] Laughing to scorne, mocking him as their young Master, and he that must forsooth be heire of all. And likely his mother Hagar had some hand in it, as being not free from an envious eye, and repining at the jollity of this feast; and therefore she is cast out too. So, ch 19. 14. Ezech. 23. 32. Nehem. 2. 19. 4. 1. This mocking here was in some malignant bitter way, which so highly incensed Sarahs wrath. St. Paul calls it a persecution, Gal. 4. 29. So Cham his mothers Progenitor derided his own father, ch. 9. 22.
V. 10. She said] By the Spirit of God, and God confirmes it, v. 12. And Paul saith not that Sarah, but the Scripture speaks it, Gal. 4. 30. Her saying was not only passionate, but prophetical.
this bondwoman and her sonne] Gal. 4. 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31.
not be heire] Under this inheritance Heaven was figured, Gal. 3. 18, 29.
V. 12. And God said] By night, v. 14. God approves Sarahs minde and Will, it was not then only her passion that ruled her.
the lad] Ishmael was now about seventeen or eighteen years old, chap. 17. 24. 25. 21. 5.
in Isaac shall thy seed be called] And not from Ishmael. The promised seed and spiritual prerogatives shall be entailed upon him, Rom. 9. 7, 8.
V. 14. Bottle of water] Scant in those dry deserts.
and the childe] See Annot. on v. 12
wandered] Lost her way in those deserts towards Egypt.
of Beersheba] So first called, v. 31.
V. 15. Cast the childe] Being sick and fainting for thirst.
V. 16 The death] Such extremity they were come unto in the wildernesse.
V. 17. And God heard] In accomplishment of his Promises, ch. 16. 10, 12. 17. 20.
where he is] Though he be cast out of his fathers house, and here in such misery.
V. 18. And …old him in thy hand] Not lay him on thy back.
V. 19. Opened her eyes] Withheld before from seeing it, by grief or some other reason; or as it was with the two disciples going to Emmaus, Luke 34. 16, 31. and Elishaes servant and the Aramites, 2 Kings 6. 17, 18, 20.
V. 20. Dwelt in the wildernesse] Ch. 16. 12.
archer] And so a Warriour, shooting with the bowe being used in war, ch. 48. 22. 49. 23, 24. Psal 44. 6. Josh. 24. 12. 2 Sam. 1. 22. 1 Kings 22. 34.
V. 21. Paran] Nigh to Sinai, through which the Israelites went, Numb. 10. 12. A part of th…t wildernesse is called Kedar, from one of Ishmaels sons of that name, ch. 25. 13. Ps. 83. 6.
his mother] The mothers right in marrying her childe; she chose an Egyptian as her self was one.
V. 22. At that time] While Abraham dwelt at Gerar, ch. 20. 1. and after Isaacs weaning.
that Abimelech.] Ch. 20. 2.
V. 23. If thou shalt lie unto me] Gen. 14. 23. An imperfect speech, implying an imprecation if he should deal deceitfully with him. For an oath calls God both as a witnesse of the truth, and an avenger of the untruth. This imprecation is sometimes expressed, as, Ruth 1. 17. 2 Cor. 1. 23.
V. 24. I will swear] He…. 6. 16. Abrahams right to the land of Canaan, was but for the future, after foure generations, ch. 15. 13, 16.
V. 25. A Well of water] Of great use in that dry Southerne part of Canaan. And therefore such strife about them, v. 30. ch 26. 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 2…, 32.
V. 27. And Abraham took sheep] Likely gifts were in use at the making of Covenants Or he did it in requital of Abimelechs gifts, ch. 20. 14.
V. 30. That they may be a witnesse] To prevent future controversie about this Well, v. 25. so an heap of stones is made a witnesse, ch. 31. 46▪ 48.
V. 31. Beersheba] The Well of the oath, or of seven, with relation to the seven lambes. It was afterward in the Southerne part of the lot of the tribe of Judah, toward the coast of Edom, Josh. 15. 21, 28. 1 Xings 19. 3. Nehem. 11. 25, 27. yet seemes to be allowed to the tribe of Simeon, which was within the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, Josh. 19. 1. 2. 1. ch. 4. 24, 28. It is oft opposed to Dan, as to the Northerne part of Canaan. There is a Well, Wildernesse and City of this name, all joyning together. As Abraham dwelt here, and made this Covenant, and digged this Well: so after Isaac dwells there, makes a Covenant, and digs again the Well, and renewes the name, chap. 26. 23, 33. And Jacob dwelling there with his father, went thence to Laban in Haran: and going into Egypt, with all his family comes thither, there sacrificeth and hath a vision. And yet at last in the dayes of King Uzziah or sooner, it became a seat of some solemn idolatry, Amos 8. 14. 5. 5.
V. 32. a Covenant] Such Covenants lawful with Heathens and Idolaters; so, ch. 31. 44.
V. 33. Grove] Of Oakes, as intending long to dwell here. Abraham dwelt under the shadow of trees in the Plaine of Mamre, ch. 18. 4, 8. Here it seems he intends it for a religious use, for the place of prayer and exercise of Gods Worship, as not being a thing yet forbidden. But after in Moses time, when God had chosen a place of Worship, God strictly forbids this, not to plan… a grove of any trees near the Altar of the Lord, and commands such groves to be cut down, and threatens grievously such offenders; yet hardly were Gods people kept from this sin and idolatry, but they planted groves, placed their idols, served them, even as the Canaanites and other Heathens did, Deut. 12. 2. Thus it was in the times of the Judges, ch. 3. 7. In the times of the Kings of Israel throughout, 2 Kings 17. 16. specially in the reignes of Joroboam, 1 Kings 14. 15, and of Ahab, whose Queen Jezabel had foure hundred Prophets of the groves, that did eare meat at her table; yea, and in the reignes of some Kings of Judah, specially of Ahaz and Manass…h. But the godly Kings of Judah cut them down, pluck't them up, or burnt them, as Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah. And Asa put down his Grandmother Maachah from being Queen, because she had made an idol in a grove.
V. 34. Many dayes] Till Isaac was offered, ch. 22. 19. And how long after we know not.