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27,299 commentary entries
The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 20:17
So Abraham prayed unto God. Literally, the Elohim, the personal and true God, and not Elohim, or Deity in general, to whom belonged the cure of Abimelech and his household (Keil), as the next clause shows. And God (Eloh…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 20:18
For the Lord (Jehovah; vide supra on Genesis 20:3) had fast closed up all the wombs—i.e. prevented conception, or produced barrenness (cf. Genesis 16:2; Isaiah 66:9; 1 Samuel 1:5, 1 Samuel 1:6; for the opposite, Genesis…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:1
And the Lord—Jehovah; not because the verse is Jehovistic (Knobel, Bleek, et alii), but because the promise naturally falls to be implemented by him who gave it (vide Genesis 18:10)—visited—remembered with love (Onkelos…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:1-8
Birth, circumcision and weaning of Isaac. Here, is— I. THE FAITIIFULNESS OF JEHOVAH. "As he had spoken. At the set time." "God hath made me to laugh." II. THE FAITH OF HIS SERVANT, which was evidenced in waiting, hoping…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:1-8
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:1-8
The son of promise, or a young child's biography. I. THE BIRTH OF ISAAC 1. A surprising phenomenon. "Who would have said that Sarah should have suckled sons?" "Motherhood at ninety was certainly unusual, especially when…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:2
For Sarah conceived,—through faith receiving strength from God for that purpose (Hebrews 11:11); the fruit of the womb, in every instance God's handiwork (Isaiah 44:2), being in her case a special gift of grace and prod…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:3
And Abraham called the name of his son—the naming of a child by its father is, according to partitionists, a peculiarity of the Elohist as distinguished from the Jehovist, who assigns that function to the mother; but vi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:4
And Abraham circumcised (vide on Genesis 17:11, and note at the end of that chapter) his son Isaac being eight days old (literally, a son of eight days), as (not only because, but in the manner in which) God had command…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:5
And Abraham was an hundred years old (cf. Genesis 17:1, Genesis 17:17), when his son Isaac was born unto him. Literally, at the time of bearing to him (ἐν τῷ τεκεῖν) Isaac. Thus Abraham had waited twenty-five years…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:6
And Sarah said,—the spiritual elevation of her soul being indicated by the poetical form of her speech. Differing from Mary's magnificat in having been uttered after, and not before, the birth of the promised seed, the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:7
And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham,— מִלֶּל, the poetic word for דּבֵּר, is introduced by מִי in order to express astonishment; the meaning being that what had happened was altogether out of the ordinary cou…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:8-21
The separation of the bondwoman's so, from the promised seed. It was necessary that this should take place for the accomplishment of the Divine plan. Human conduct is employed, as in so many other cases, as the instrume…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:8
And the child grew,—καὶ ἠυξήθη τὸ παιδίον (LXX.): imitated by Luke concerning Christ: τὸ παιδίον ηὔξανε (Luke 2:40)—and was weaned. The verb gamal originally signifies to do good to any one, to do completely; h…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:9-14
The expulsion of Ishmael. I. THE CAUSE. 1. The persecution of Isaac. "Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian mocking." That this was no mere sportive pleasantry may be inferred from the deep feeling it aroused in Sarah…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:9
And Sarah saw—at the feast already mentioned (Knobel, Keil); probably also on different occasions since the birth of Isaac—the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Παίζοντα μετὰ Ισαὰκ…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:9-14
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:10
Wherefore she said—though with an admixture of sinful feelings, non dubito arcane Spiritus instinctu gubernatam fuisse ejus linguam et mentem (Calvin); vide Galatians 4:30—unto Abraham, Cast out—by some kind of legal ac…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:11
And the thing (literally, the word, i.e. Sarah's proposal) was very grievous (literally, evil exceedingly; for the contrary phrase vide Genesis 20:15) in Abraham's sight (literally, in the eyes of Abraham) because of hi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:12
And God said unto Abraham,—probably in a dream, or night vision (vide Genesis 21:14)—Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman;—who was never recognized by God as Abraham's wif…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:13
And also of the son of the bond-woman will I make a nation. Literally, to nation I will set or put him; a promise already given (Genesis 17:20), but here repeated to render Ishmael's dismissal easier. Because he is thy…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:14
And Abraham rose up early in the morning,—hastening to put in force the Divine instructions (cf. Genesis 19:27; Genesis 22:8, Abraham; Genesis 20:8, Abimelech; Genesis 28:18, Jacob)—and took bread, and a bottle of water…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:15-21
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:15
And the water was spent in (literally, from) the bottle,—so that the wanderers became exhausted, and were in danger of fainting through thirst—and she cast the child—a translation which certainly conveys an erroneous im…