Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII.
Verse 1. AFter these things] How long a time it is not certain. But that Isaac was then able to bear the wood of the burnt-offering, v 6. I know not why any can fix it upon the thirty third yeare of Isaacs age.
God did tempt Abraham,] Not by seeking to seduce him to evil, so God tempts no man, Jam. 1. 13. But so our own lusts and Satan do, Jam. 1. 14. 1 Cor. 7. 5. who is therefore called the Tempter, Mat. 4. 3. 1 Thes. 3. 5. God doth it to try by experiment what is in man, what faith in Gods Promises, what obedience to his Will; as men sometimes use to make experiments of the faithfulnesse of their friends. Not yet that God is ignorant of what is in man, but to make it the better known to himself and others. So, Exod. 15. 25. 16. 4. Deut. 8. 2, 16. 13. 3. Indeed God and Satan may both have an hand in one and the same tentation, as in Davids numbring the people, 2 Sam. 24. 1…. 1 Chron. 21. 1. But to far different ends; both Satan and wicked men tempted our Saviour often in the Gospels, with an evil minde, to an evil end. And the sinful Israelites are said often to tempt God, by making doubt and trial of his presence, Providence, Wisdome, Power, and so by unbelief and murmurings, tempting and provoking him to wrath. And so Ananias and Sapphira tempted the Spirit of the Lord. And Paul gives the caveat that we tempt not Christ, 1 Cor. 10. 9. And again tentations are taken for troubles, afflictions, persecutions, which try the truth and strength of Gods graces in his children. And so if God lead into temptation, Matth. 26 13. he will with it give you the issue and outgate, 1 Cor. 10. 13. Here God doth so wi…h Abraham, in a marvellous trial of his faith and obedience.
V. 2. And he said] In such a manner, as he could not doubt but it was God, and no Satanical illusion.
thy only (sonne) Isaac] Only in thy family, Ishmael was gone, and we never read he returned, but to the burial of his father, ch. 25. 9. And it seems at this time Abraham had not taken Keturah, or had no children by her. Thy only Isaac that childe of Promise, Heb. 11. 18. Thy only begotton son▪ Heb. 11. 17. namely of Sarah, thy lawful wise, the free…woman.
w…om thou lovest] Above all; and that for many good reasons.
land of Moriah] Here afterwards Solomon built the Temple, 2 Chron. 3. 1. Moriah had this name afterwards, upon the occasion in the fourteenth verse.
a burnt-offering] Not that God intended he should do it. But this was for trial of his rare faith and obedience, and that in a most extraordinary way and manner. For indeed here all that was in Abraham as a Man, Father, Husband, Believer, Professor of Religion, were put to trial, Heb. 11. 19.
one of the mountaines] It was a mountainous countrey, Psal. 125 2. The mountaine or hill Sion was close by it.
V. 3. Rose up early] It seemes the command was given in the night▪ Here in this strange trial is his strange and ready quick obedience.
and went] From Beer-sheba, in the land of the Philistines, ch 21. 31. 33, 34. and v. 19. of this chapter.
God had told him] More particularly then at first, v. 2. 4, 9.
V. 4. The third day] Either he went leisurely, or some occasions might let and hinder him in his travel.
V. 5. Abide you here] Lest they should hinder him.
lad] The same word used of Joshuah when he was thirty yeares old, ch. 41. 12. and of Joseph when he was fifty three yeares old, as appears in that he lived fourty yeares in the wildernesse, and seventeen yeares after Moses death, and his whole life was one hundred and ten, Josh. 24. 29. and so of Benjamin, Gen. 43. 8. when at that time he had nine or ten sons, ch. 46. 21. And so of Absalom at the time of his death, 2 Sam. 18. 29.
and come again to you] He speaks this as a man astonished and amazed, or in humane frailty, or as Prophet, (as Caiaphas did, John 11. 49. 50, 51. not knowing or meaning what his words would bear, Heb. 11. 19. and so, v. 8.
V. 6. And laid it upon Isaac] Isaac a type of Christ in many things. Christ the only Sonne of his Father, Well-beloved Son in whom he is well-pleased, the promised seed, bore his Crosse, was bound, sacrificed, meekly submitted, being obedient unto death, rose again, as Isaac from the Altar.
V. 9. And bound Isaac] Telling him, no doubt, at this time Gods whole command: and he having only his fathers word for it, yet readily submits and obeyes.
V. 10. To slay his sonne] Heb. 11. 17, 18. James 2. 21, 22, 23.
V. 11. And the Angel] Christ the Angel of the Covenant, who speaks of himself as God, v. 12. sweareth by himself, and promiseth as God, and is called Jehovah, v. 16, 17, 18.
Out of Heaven] So to Hagar, ch. 21. 17.
V. 12. Lay not thine hand] Heb. 11. 19. God accepts the Will for the deed, 2 Cor. 8. 12. Against idolaters sacrificing their children, both Jewes and Gentiles haply upon this pretended example.
V. 13. Behinde him] Likely that way the Angels voice sounded.
aram] This is for the Lamb mentioned, v. 7, 8. This he to…k as sent from God, 1 Pet. 1. 19.
V. 14. Jehovah Jirch] The Lord will see, or will be seen, answerable to that, v. 8. Mori-Jah is of the same signification, so Jehovah-Nissi, Exod. 17. 15. Jehovah Shammah, Ezech. 48. 35.
in the Mount of the Lord it shall be seen] The meaning of the proverb is, that in due time and place God will help and provide for his children, and they shall see it.
V. 16. By my self have I sworne] Heb. 6. 13, 14, 17, 18. Sometimes God doth swear by his Soul, Jer. 51. 14. by his Holinesse, Amos 4. 2. by his Name, Jer. 44. 26. And all this is to swear by himself.
saith the Lord] Thus saith Christ of himself. In like manner, Ps. 2. 7.
for because] Not for the merit of this prompt obedience. The Promise was freely made afore. ch. 12. 2. 13. 16. 15. 5. 17. 2, 4, 5, 6, 16. But as an occasion of repeating and confirming the Promise, finding him rightly qualified, and to encourage him and others to the execution of faith and obedience.
V. 17. In blessing] Surely under the name blessing is meant the Promise of eternal salvatation.
thy seed] Isaacs posterity, ch. 21. 12.
possesse the gate] Ch. 24. 60. where all publick places were for consultation, for judgement, Job 31. 21. Deut. 22. 15. 21. 19. Amos 5 12, 15. and which were the strongest fortifications. The meaning is, thy seed shall subject them, and bring their strength and government under command; their holds and cities, Mat 16. 18.
V. 18. In thy seed] Christ. So the Apostle applies it, Gal. 3. 16, 18. Jer. 4. 2. Ps. 72, 17.
Beer-sheba] Ch. 21. 31, 33, 34.
V. 20 Milcah] Ch. 1. 29. Abraham sends thither for a wife for Isaac, ch. 24. 15, 47.
V. 21. Uz] In this land Job dwelled, Job 1. 1. There is another Uz, ch. 10. 23. and another, ch. 36. 28.
Buz] Job 32. 2. dwelt by his elder brother Uz in Arabia, Jer. 25. 20, 23, 24.
Kemuel the father of Aram] Aram throughout the Bible, is turned in Greek Syria and Syrians, as Mizraim is Egypt, and Cush Ethiopia.
V. 22. Bethuel] Ch. 24. 15.
V. 23. Rebekah] Isaacs wife, ch. 24. 15, 67▪ For this cause chiefly is this Genealogy here set down.
V. 24. And his Concubine] An half wife, sometimes called by the name of a wife, yet not solemnly betrothed, nor taken with dowry, nor Partner in the Government of the family, but subject to the lawful wife, and whose children did not inherit, ch. 16. 6, 9. 25. 5, 6. 21. 10. 1 Kings 11. 3. yet Bilhahs and Zilpahs did extraordinarily, becoming Heads of Tribes.