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27,299 commentary entries
The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:15-21
Hagar and Ishmael, or the fortunes of the outcasts. I. THE LONELY WANDERERS. 1. Banished from home. Hitherto the household of Abraham had been to Hagar and her boy such a pleasant and doubtless much-prized abode; hencef…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:16
And she went, and sat her down— וַתֵּשֶׁב לָהּ, the pronoun being added to the verb, as an ethical dative, to indicate that the action was of special importance to her, meaning, "she, for herself, or for her part, sat d…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:17
And God—Elohim; Hagar and Ishmael having now been removed from the care and superintendence of the covenant God to the guidance and providence of God the ruler of all nations (Keil)—heard the voice of the lad;—praying (…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:17
Hagar, a weary outcast. "What aileth thee, Hagar?" Hagar is sent away from Abraham's tents. In the wilderness wandering she is lost. In despair she sinks down and weeps. An angel's voice is heard inquiring, "What aileth…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:17-19
God's appearance to Hagar. The greatest truths in the Bible put before us in a setting of human interest and feeling. Our hearts strangely touched by the picture of the desolate woman and the helpless child. The fatherl…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:18
Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand. Literally, bind fast ray hand to him, i.e. give him thy support now, and take cars of him till he reaches manhood. Cf. God's promise to Israel (Isaiah 42:6). For I wil…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:19
Hagar in the wilderness. "And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water." Hagar in the wilderness. Why? She had no pleasure in her home; would not accept her position there. Hence Ishmael's mocking. Compare worki…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:19
And God opened her eyes. Not necessarily by miraculous operation; perhaps simply by providentially guiding her search for water, after the administered consolation had revived her spirit and roused her energies. And she…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:20
God's care for Ishmael. "And God was with the lad." The encampment of Abraham was the scene of joy and festivity on the occasion of the recognition of Isaac publicly as his heir. It is said in Jewish lore that Abraham c…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:22-34
A covenant between the patriarch and the Philistine king. Abraham a sojourner in that land, afterwards the troubler of Israel; for his sake as discipline, for their sakes as opportunity. 1. God's care for those beyond t…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:22-34
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:22
And it came to pass at that time,—possibly in immediate sequence to the incident of the preceding chapter, but, "according to the common law of Hebrew narrative, probably not long after the birth of Isaac." (Murphy)—tha…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:22-34
Abimelech and Abraham, or ancient covenanters. I. THE POLITICAL ALLIANCE. 1. The contemplated object. Peace. What modern monarchs mostly desire at the close of exhausting campaigns is here sought before campaigns begin.…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:23
Now therefore swear unto me here by God—the verb to swear is derived from the Hebrew numeral seven, inasmuch as the septennary number was sacred, and oaths were confirmed either by seven sacrifices (Genesis 21:28) or by…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:24
And Abraham said, I will swear. Only before concluding the agreement there was a matter of a more personal character that required settlement.
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:25
And Abraham reproved (literally, reasoned with, and proved to the satisfaction of) Abimelech (who was, until informed, entirely unacquainted with the action of his servants) because of a well of water, which Abimelech's…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:26
And Abimelech said, I wet not who hath done this thing. There is no reason to question the sincerity of the Philistine monarch in disclaiming all knowledge of the act of robbery committed by his servants. Neither didst…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:27
And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech As the usual covenant presents (cf. 1 Kings 15:19; Isaiah 30:6; Isaiah 39:1). And both of them made a covenant. As already Mature, Aner, and Eshcol had forme…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:28-30
And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves (designing by another covenant to secure himself against future invasion of Isis rights). And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:31
Wherefore he called that place Beersheba. I.e. "the well of the oath," φρέαρ ὁρκισμοῦ (LXX; Gesenius, Furst, Rosenmüller), or the well of the seven (Keil), rather than the seven wells (Lange); discovered by Robinson…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:33
And Abraham planted—as a sign of his peaceful occupation of the soil (Calvin); as a memorial of the transaction about the well ('Speaker's Commentary'); or simply as a shade for his tent (Rosenmüller); scarcely as an or…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 21:34
And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days. The apparent contradiction between the statement of this verse and that of Genesis 21:32 may be removed by supposing either, HOMILETICS
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 23:1-20
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 23:1
And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old (literally, and the lives of Sarah were an hundred and twenty and seven years); so that Isaac must have been thirty-seven, having been born in his mother's ninetie…