Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV.
Ver. 1. THen again] Whether in Sarahs life-time cannot certainly be determined. The sacred story mentions nothing of Keturab or her children, till now after Sarahs death. And the words here seem to give it to be after her death. And Sarah in her life-time not enduring Hagar and Ishmael▪ would hardly have endured another. And Isaac when offered is called his only son. And yet on the other side, Keturab is called a Concubine, implicitely, v. 6. and expresly, 1 Chron. 1. 32 And though a Coucubine be called a wife, yet I finde not that a legitimate wife, as she should be after Sarahs death, or a second wife, is called a Concubine. And the words of Abrahams servant seeking a wife for Isaac, ch. 24. 36. compared with v. 5, 6. of this chapter, seem to reflect on Keturahs sonnes in Sarahs life-time. And which is most of all, if Abraham did not take her to wife till after Sarahs death, then he must be one hundred thirty eight, and likely one hundred and fourty yeares old when he married her, and after that begat six sonnes of her, whereas the Apostle saith, that fourty yeares before that time, his body was dead for begetting of children, Rom. 4. 19. Gen. 17. 17. 18. 12. If then it were after Sarahs death, it must be said, that God did renew unto him that masculine strength, and vigour of body, after fourty yeares, by an extraordinary blessing, in a marvellous, if not miraculous manner, and that to make good his Promise of multiplying Abrahams seed, ch. 17. 5. in others also, though principally in Isaac.
V. 2. Medan] Ch. 37. 36.
Midian] Numb. 25. 6, 17.
Shuah] Job 2. 11.
V. 3. Sheba] Job 1. 15.
V. 4. Midian] Numb. 31. 18. Judg 7. 25. 8. 5. children of Keturah] And Grandchildren.
V. 5. To Isaac] As being his only heire and childe of Promise, ch. 21. 12. a figure of Christ and Christians, ch. 24. 36.
V. 6. Concubines] Hagar and Keturah.
and sent them away from Isaac] Because he was to be the heire of Canaa….
Eastward] Arabia Syria, Job 1. 3. Job likely came of Keturah, Judg. 6. 3. 7. 12.
V 7. One hundred seventy five yeares] Ch. 15. 15. Heber (of whom he was called an Hebrew, ch. 14. 13.) out-living him. And Jacob and Esau were then fifteen yeares old, v. 26. ch. 21. 5.
V. 8. Gathered unto his people] V. 17. which implies the immortality of the soule, and so the phrase of gathering to their fathers, Judg. 2. 10. Heb. 12. 23.
V. 9. Isaac and Ishmael] Ishmael, though never received again into Abrahams family, yet dwelt not so far off, but might heare of his fathers death, and come to his burial.
V. 11. Blessed Isaac] Entailed the blessing and Promises made to Abraham on him, ch. 17. 19.
Lahai-roi] See, ch. 24. 62.
V. 12. Generations of Ishmael] ch 16. 10, 12. 17. 20. much exceeded Isaacs, 1 Cor. 15. 46.
Nebaioth] He and his brethren seated in Arabia, Esay 21. 13. 60 7. Ezech 27. 21. Jer. 49. 28.
V. 15. Tema] Job 2. 11.
V. 16. Twelve Princes] Ch. 17. 20. Like the twelve sonnes of Jacob.
V. 18. Havilah] Ch. 2. 8. an ample region in Arabia, not that Havilah in India.
Shur] Ch. 16. 7 Ex. 15. 22.
died in the presence] His brethren surviving him, ch. 16. 12.
V. 20. The Syrian] So, Luke 4. 27. Aramite is translated Syrian by our Saviour.
Padan-Aram] Called Aram-Naharaim, ch. 24. 10. sometime Padam only, ch. 48. 7. This is Mesopotamia of Syria, distinguished from Aram-Zobah, Ps. 60 tit.
V. 21. Intrcated] Often, no doubr.
barren] Twenty yeares, v. 20, 26. many good women in Scripture barren a long time.
V. 22. Strugled] A misery to her, and a mystery in her, v. 23.
if it be so, why am I thus?] A speech of passion; why prayed I? why conceived I? or why is this strange strugling in my wombe, more then in other women?
to enquire of the Lord] By her prayer, or by some Prophet, as her father in-law Abraham, ch. 20. 7. or Heber, yet living.
V. 23. Two Nations] Esau and Jacob, the virtual roots and Original of two Nations, Edomites and Israelites.
two manner of people] Differing and disagreeing one from and with another, differing in Religion, Lawes, Manners, Affections, jarring, at variance.
shall be stronger] So Esau stronger then Jacob, ch. 27. 43. 32. 4, 6, 13. and, ch. 33. 3. And a long time the Edomites were more potent then the Israelites, Numb. 20. 18, 20.
and the elder shall serve] So the Israelites subdued the Edomites, 2 Sam. 8. 14. 1 Kings 22. 47. Obad. v. 17, 18. And spiritually Jacob got the birth-right, v. 33. and Esau despised it, v. 34. and he got also the blessing, ch. 27, 29, 36. The Lord in Malachi proceeds further, saying, Though Esau was Jacobs brother, yet I loved Jacob and hated Esau, Mal. 1. v. 2, 3. whence the Apostle gathereth the doctrine of Gods free grace, in the election of some, and reprobation of others, before the doing of good or evil, Rom. 9. v. 10, 11 12, 13. Likely Isaac did not rightly understand this Prediction; but Rebekah did, which made the one seek so much to favour Esau, and the other Jacob.
V. 25. Red] A signe of the cholerick and cruel disposition, found in him and his posterity, ch. 27. 40. 41. Obad. 1. 10. Ezech. 25. 12. His meat red, ch. 25. 30. his land red, ch. 32. 3.
all over] With red haire all over his body, ch. 27. 11.
his name Esau] That is, made, perfected, as if he were borne a man rather then a childe.
V. 26. Took hold on Esaus heele] As if he would have pulled him back, that he might be borne before him, or as if he would overthrow and supplant him. A divine presaging what would afterward come to passe, v. 23. This striving for the grace and preheminence of the birth-right, the Prophet mentioneth, Hos. 12. 3, 4.
Jacob] An holder by the heele or supplanter, chap. 27. 36.
V. 27. A cunning hunter] Somewhat like Ishmael or Nimrod, valourous, fierce.
a plaine man] A good plaine man, living a plaine shepherds life, keeping home and looking to houshold-affaires, ch. 4. 20. and a sincere plain-dealing man, without guile, though at his mothers instance and urging, he used too much deceit in getting the blessing, ch. 27. Shepherds kept in Tents. And such was Jacobs trade and his childrens, ch. 46. 34.
V. 28. Because he did eat of his venison] By seeing his officiousnesse to please his fathers palate, his father might take it as a signe, that he did greatly reverence, respect and love him, and that he would prove the most able and active, the fittest for great emploiments, and the best and stoutest stay and support of their family; yet all this was but carnal, and not so suiting to the divine oracle, on the behalf of Jacob, v. 23.
V. 29. Sod pottage] This though a small matter, conduceth yet, and is subservient to that divine Promise, ch. 27. 29. 2 Sam. 8. 14.
V. 30. Red] Red is doubled in the Hebrew, and pottage omitted; to note Esaus haste, and his eagernesse of appetite, in his extremity of fainting, after that mear which his eye first pitched upon, (there being other meat, no doubt, in his fathers house) and haply fancied too by him for the colour sake, if there were not also some cordial in it, as saffron or other like thing, which gave it that extream red colour.
called Edom] Or Aedom; Adam signifieth red, red-borne, v. 25. and now so greedily desiring red broth, and selling for it his birth-right, got him this nick-name, and brand for it.
V. 31. Sell me this day thy birth-right] The honour of the first-borne was great. God in honour calls Israel his sonne, his first-borne, Exod. 4. 22. and so Ephraim, Jer. 31. 9. as first chosen by him of all people to be his peculiar people, Ex. 19. 4, 5. Deut. 32. 11, 12. Ps. 89. 27. yea, Christ is called the first-borne among many brethren, Rom. 8. 29. This birth-right advanced them to be highest in their Parents affections, Zech. 12. 10. to be first in honour next their Parents, ch. 49. 3. to be Governours of the family under them, ch. 4. 7. 2 Chro. 21. 3. to the Peiesthood, after the fathers death, at least till Moses time, Numb. 8. 14, 15. 10. 18 to a double portion, Deut. 21. 17. to omit, that it might be an outward sign or pledge of being one of those first-born, which are written in Heaven, Hebr. 12. 23. They being peculiarly consecrated to God in after-times, Exod. 22. 29. These rights and priviledges, or the most of them, together with the Oracle, v. 23. might move Jacob to catch at any advantage to gain the birth-right: and did move him too to seek it, in a way not altogether so lawful, as to deny his brother necessary relief in his extremity, except upon such hard termes: upon such a pinch to drive him for such a price to so unjust a bargain.
V. 32. At the point to die] With this present hunger, with dangers in hunting wilde beasts.
V. 33. Swear] See Annot. on ch. 24. 3.
V. 34. Bread and pottage] One morsel of meat, Hebr. 12. 16.
of lentiles] A mean kinde of graine, a kinde of pulse, 2 Sam. 17. 31. Ezech. 4. 9.
eate and drink] Never troubled at all for what he had done, 1 Cor. 15. 32.
despised] Irreligiously and profanely, Hebr. 12. 16. Though possibly selling so precious a thing, for so poor a price, he might have a purpose to recover that by force, which was got from him by fraud. And therefore he pleads his birth-right after this to his father, ch. 27. 32.