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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
God's Mercy to Hagar and Ishmael. (b. c. 1892.)
GOD'S MERCY TO HAGAR AND ISHMAEL. (B. C. 1892.) Here is, I. The casting out of the bond-woman, and her son from the family of Abraham, Genesis 21:14. Abraham's obedience to the divine command in this matter was speedy—e…
Abimelech's Covenant with Abraham. (b. c. 1892.)
ABIMELECH'S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM. (B. C. 1892.) We have here an account of the treaty between Abimelech and Abraham, in which appears the accomplishment of that promise (Genesis 12:2) that God would make his name great…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 21:33-34
Observe, 1. Abraham, having got into a good neighbourhood, knew when he was well off, and continued a great while there. There he planted a grove for a shade to his tent, or perhaps an orchard of fruit-trees; and there,…
Abraham Commanded to Offer Isaac. (b. c. 1872.)
ABRAHAM COMMANDED TO OFFER ISAAC. (B. C. 1872.) Here is the trial of Abraham's faith, whether it continued so strong, so vigorous, so victorious, after a long settlement in communion with God, as it was at first, when b…
Abraham's Obedience. (b. c. 1872.)
ABRAHAM'S OBEDIENCE. (B. C. 1872.) We have here Abraham's obedience to this severe command. Being tried, he offered up Isaac, Hebrews 11:17. Observe, I. The difficulties which he broke through in this act of obedience.…
Isaac Rescued. (b. c. 1872.)
ISAAC RESCUED. (B. C. 1872.) Hitherto this story has been very melancholy, and seemed to hasten towards a most tragical period; but here the sky suddenly clears up, the sun breaks out, and a bright and pleasant scene op…
Abraham's Blessing Confirmed. (b. c. 1872.)
ABRAHAM'S BLESSING CONFIRMED. (B. C. 1872.) Abraham's obedience was graciously accepted; but this was not all: here we have it recompensed, abundantly recompensed, before he stirred from the place; probably while the ra…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 22:20-24
This is recorded here, 1. To show that though Abraham saw his own family highly dignified with peculiar privileges, admitted into covenant, and blessed with the entail of the promise, yet he did not look with contempt a…
The Death of Sarah. (b. c. 1857.)
THE DEATH OF SARAH. (B. C. 1857.) We have here, 1. Sarah's age, Genesis 23:1. Almost forty years before, she had called herself old, Genesis 18:12. Old people will die never the sooner, but may die the better, for recko…
The Cave of Machpelah. (b. c. 1857.)
THE CAVE OF MACHPELAH. (B. C. 1857.) Here is, I. The humble request which Abraham made to his neighbours, the Hittites, for a burying-place among them, Genesis 23:3-4. It was strange he had this to do now; but we are to…
Sarah's Funeral. (b. c. 1857.)
SARAH'S FUNERAL. (B. C. 1857.) We have here the conclusion of the treaty between Abraham and Ephron about the burying-place. The bargain was publicly made before all the neighbours, in the presence and audience of the s…
Abraham's Charges to His Servant. (b. c. 1857.)
ABRAHAM'S CHARGES TO HIS SERVANT. (B. C. 1857.) Three things we may observe here concerning Abraham:— I. The care he took of a good son, to get him married, well married. It was high time to think of it now, for Isaac w…
Journey of Abraham's Servant. (b. c. 1857.)
JOURNEY OF ABRAHAM'S SERVANT. (B. C. 1857.) Abraham's servant now begins to make a figure in this story; and, though he is not named, yet much is here recorded to his honour, and for an example to all servants, who shal…
Abraham's Servant Entertained by Laban; Errand of Abraham's Servant. (b. c. 1857.)
ABRAHAM'S SERVANT ENTERTAINED BY LABAN; ERRAND OF ABRAHAM'S SERVANT. (B. C. 1857.) We have here the making up of the marriage between Isaac and Rebekah. It is related very largely and particularly, even to the minute ci…
Rebekah's Departure. (b. c. 1857.)
REBEKAH'S DEPARTURE. (B. C. 1857.) Rebekah is here taking leave of her father's house; and 1. Abraham's servant presses for a dismission. Though he and his company were very welcome, and very cheerful there, yet he said…
Isaac's Marriage. (b. c. 1857.)
ISAAC'S MARRIAGE. (B. C. 1857.) Isaac and Rebekah are, at length, happily brought together. Observe, I. Isaac was well employed when he met Rebekah: He went out to meditate, or pray, in the field, at the even-tide, Gene…
Abraham's Death. (b. c. 1822.)
ABRAHAM'S DEATH. (B. C. 1822.) Abraham lived, after the marriage of Isaac, thirty-five years, and all that is recorded concerning him during the time lies here in a very few verses. We hear no more of God's extraordinar…
Genealogy of Ishmael. (b. c. 1822.)
GENEALOGY OF ISHMAEL. (B. C. 1822.) Immediately after the account of Abraham's death, Moses begins the story of Isaac (Genesis 25:11), and tells us where he dwelt and how remarkably God blessed him. Note, The blessing o…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Isaac's Covenant with Abimelech. (b. c. 1760.)
ISAAC'S COVENANT WITH ABIMELECH. (B. C. 1760.) We have here the contests that had been between Isaac and the Philistines issuing in a happy peace and reconciliation. I. Abimelech pays a friendly visit to Isaac, in token…