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The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 25:15
Hadar,—"Chamber" (Gesenius); Ha'dad (1 Chronicles 1:30, LXX; Samaritan, and most MSS.); though Gesenius regards Hadar as probably the true reading in both places; identified with a tribe in Yemen (Gesenius); between Oma…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 25:16
These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns,—unwalled encampments, from hatzar, to surround; used of the movable villages of nomadic tribes (cf. Isaiah 42:11)—and by their castles;—fortified…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 25:19-26
Isaac seems not to have been much tried, but to have spent his days in quietness. Jacob and Esau were prayed for; their parents, after being long childless, obtained them by prayer. The fulfilment of God's promise is al…
Birth of Esau and Jacob. (b. c. 1837.)
BIRTH OF ESAU AND JACOB. (B. C. 1837.) We have here an account of the birth of Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah: their entrance into the world was (which is not usual) one of the most considerable part…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 25:19-34
Divine purposes unfolded. We are now entering a new stage of the sacred history, where we are looking less upon the development of one man's character than upon the unfolding purposes of Jehovah in the family with which…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 25:19-26
§ 9. THE GENERATIONS OF ISAAC (Ge 25:19-35:29). EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 25:19
And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son. The usual formula for the opening of a new section (cf. Genesis 2:4). Abraham begat Isaac. A reiteration in perfect harmony not only with the style of the present n…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 25:19-26
The childless pair. I. THE DISAPPOINTED HUSBAND. 1. The grievous affliction. Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, was barren. Though neither uncommon nor unjust, this was to Isaac 2. The earnest intercession. "Isaac entreated th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 25:20
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife,—the valuable chronological fact here stated for the first time proves that Isaac was married three years after his mother's death (cf. Genesis 23:1)—the daught…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 25:21
And Isaac entreated—from a root signifying to burn incense, hence to pray, implying, as some think (Wordsworth, 'Speaker's Commentary'), the use of incense in patriarchal worship; but perhaps only pointing to the fact t…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 25:22
And the children struggled together within her. The verb is expressive of a violent internal commotion, as if the unborn children had been dashing against one another in her womb. Cf. the story of Acrisius and Praetus,…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 25:23
And the Lord said unto her,—in a dream (Havernick), a form of revelation peculiar to primitive times (Genesis 15:1; Genesis 20:6; Genesis 28:12; Genesis 37:5; 90:5; 91:1; 96:2; cf. Job 4:13; Job 33:15); but whether comm…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 25:24
And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled,—literally, and were fulfilled her days to bring forth; ἐπληρώθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ τεκεῖν αὐτην (LXX.; cf. Luke 1:57; Luke 2:6). Jarchi accounts for the different…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 25:25
And the first came out red,—Adhmoni, πυῤῥάκης (LXX.), rufus (Vulgate), red-haired (Gesenius), of a reddish color (Lange), containing an allusion to Adham, the red earth—all over like an hairy garment. Literally, all…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 25:26
And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel. The inf. constr, standing for the finite verb. Not simply followed close upon the heels of Esau (Kalisch), but seized Esau's heel, as if he wou…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 25:27-28
Esau hunted the beasts of the field with dexterity and success, till he became a conqueror, ruling over his neighbours. Jacob was a plain man, one that liked the true delights of retirement, better than all pretended pl…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 25:29-34
We have here the bargain made between Jacob and Esau about the right, which was Esau's by birth, but Jacob's by promise. It was for a spiritual privilege; and we see Jacob's desire of the birth-right, but he sought to o…
Esau Sells His Birthright. (b. c. 1805.)
ESAU SELLS HIS BIRTHRIGHT. (B. C. 1805.) We have here a bargain made between Jacob and Esau about the birthright, which was Esau's by providence but Jacob's by promise. It was a spiritual privilege, including the excell…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 26:1-5
Isaac had been trained up in a believing dependence upon the Divine grant of the land of Canaan to him and his heirs; and now that there is a famine in the land, Isaac still cleaves to the covenant. The real worth of Go…
Removal of Isaac to Gerar. (b. c. 1804.)
REMOVAL OF ISAAC TO GERAR. (B. C. 1804.) Here, I. God tried Isaac by his providence. Isaac had been trained up in a believing dependence upon the divine grant of the land of Canaan to him and his heirs; yet now there is…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 26:6-11
There is nothing in Isaac's denial of his wife to be imitated, nor even excused. The temptation of Isaac is the same as that which overcame his father, and that in two instances. This rendered his conduct the greater si…
Isaac's Denial of His Wife. (b. c. 1840.)
ISAAC'S DENIAL OF HIS WIFE. (B. C. 1840.) Isaac had now laid aside all thoughts of going to Egypt, and, in obedience to the heavenly vision, sets up his staff in Gerar, the country in which he was born (Genesis 26:6), y…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 26:12-17
God blessed Isaac. Be it observed, for the encouragement of poor tenants who occupy other people's lands, and are honest and industrious, that God blessed him with a great increase. The Philistines envied Isaac. It is a…
Isaac's Removal to Beersheba. (b. c. 1804.)
ISAAC'S REMOVAL TO BEERSHEBA. (B. C. 1804.) Here we have, I. The tokens of God's good-will to Isaac. He blessed him, and prospered him, and made all that he had to thrive under his hands. 1. His corn multiplied strangel…