16)

1921 B.C.

 1:  Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had a handmaid (not necessarily a slave), an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar (=flight).
 2:  And Sarai said to Abram, "Behold now, Yahaveh has restrained me from bearing: I pray you, go into my maid; It may be that I may obtain children by her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

1911 B.C.

 3:  And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt 10 years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. (Hagar represents a type of the old covenant of the law which Abram brought from Ur, the Law of Khammurabi.)
 4:  And he went into Hagar, and she concieved: and when she saw that she had concieved, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
 5:  And Sarai said to Abram, "My wrong be upon you: I have given my maid into your bossom; and when she saw that she concieved, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord (Yehovah) judge between me and her."
 6: But Abram said to Sarai, "Behold, your maid is in your hand; do to her as it pleases you." And when Sarai afflicted her, she fled from her face. (The Code of Khummurabi forbade her being sold. Sarai could only lay tasks on her.)
 7: And the Angel of the Lord (Yahaveh) (First occ. = messenger = 2nd Person, as being sent. Elohim = as being commisssioned by oath.) found her (Hagar) by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur (=wall. The nearest way to her native land. Shur was the name of the great fortified wall shutting Egypt off from Palestine, with its Migdol, or Fort.)
 8: And He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, from which place came you? and to which place will you go?" And she said, "I flee from the presence of my mistress Sarai."
 9: And the Angel of the Lord (Yahaveh) said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands."
 10: And the Angel of the Lord (Yahaveh) said to her, "I will multiply your seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude."
 11: And the Angel of the Lord (Yahaveh) said to her, "Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael (=whom God hears); because the Lord (Yahaveh) has heard your afflictions.
 12:  And he will be a wild man, his hand will be against every man (True today and for over 3,000 years), and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell on the face of the same country of all his brethren." (Esp. with the Midianites, Midan being his half-brother, by Keturah)
 13:  And she called the name of the Lord (Yahaveh) that spoke to her, You GOD (El) see me: for she said, "Do I see, here, even after the Vision?" (i.e. "Do I live after seeing God?" Implying living as well as looking. Cp. 32:30. Judg.13:22)
 14:  This is why the well was called Ber-lahai-roi (=the well of living after seeing); behold, it is between Kadesh (=holy) and Bered (=hail).
 15:  And Hagar bare Abram a son (Through infirmity of Sarai's faith. So the Law [parenthetically] "because of transgression" [Gal.3:19]. Levitical Law given, as Ishmael was, until Christ the antitype of Isaac should be born [Gal.4:1-5,19,31].): and Abram called his son's name which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

1910 B.C.

 16:  And Abram was 86 years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

17:1-27. The Covenant Repeated and Sarah's Blessing.

(Alternation and Introversion)

e¹ i k¹ 1,2. Promise of seed to Abram.
      l 3-. Prostration of Abram, and reverence.
     k² -3-8. God's talk with Abram. His seed.
       j 9-14. Circumcision. Command.
     k³  15,16. Promise of seed to Sarah.
      l 17. Prostration of Abraham, and joy.
     k4 18-22. God's talk with Abraham. Sarah's seed.
       j 23-27. Circumcision. Obedience.

17)

1897 B.C.

 1:  And when Abram was 99 years old, the Lord (Yahaveh) appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am the Almighty God (El Shaddai) (First occ. This title assures Abram that He Who has called him was almighty to supply all his needs. Cp. first occ. in N.T. 2 Cor.16:18 which assures us of the same supply); continue to walk before Me, and you be perfect.
 2:  And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly." (=greatly, greatly)

 3:  And Abram fell on his face: (Cp. Mary, John 11:32, and contrast Martha, John 11:21)

and God (Elohim) (=Creator. Used in this chapter because He created new names [vv. 5,15], a new Sign of Covenant [vv. 9-14], and a new thing, from one as good as dead [Heb.11:12].) talked with him saying,
 4:  "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. (Fig. of Speech used for emphasis)
 5:  Neither shall your name be any more be called Abram (=high father), but your name shall be Abraham (The fifth letter of the Heb. alphabet [h] put in the middle of his name, #5=Grace. His name means father of a multitude); for a father of many nations have I made you.
 6:  And I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you (Abraham was the progenator not only of Israel, but of Ishmaelites, Midianites, Arabians, &c.), and kings shall come out of you.
 7:  And I will establish My covenant (unconditional) between Me and you and your seed after you in all their generations for an everlasting covenant (Hence Israel called. Isa.44:7); to be God (Elohim) to you, and to your seed after you.
 8:  And I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land wherein you are a stranger (=land of your sojournings), all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possesson; and I will be their Elohim."

 9:  And God (Elohim) said to Abraham, "You shall keep My covenant therefore, you, and your seed after you in their generations.
 10:  This is My covenant, which you all shall keep, between Me and you and all your seed after you; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
 11:  And you all shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant between Me and you. (Still practiced by Ishmaelites and others. Non-circumcision was the "reproach" of Egypt-Josh.5:9. Today it is not necessary, but can be done for cleanliness. Today both men and women need to be circumcised of the heart = mind, to put off things of this flesh world and to accept the sacrifices of Christ Jesus, Who did fulfill and became these things, and they were done away with forever [i.e. blood rituals])
 12:  And he that is 8 days old (8=the number of Resurrection; associated here with circumcision, the sign of death) shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of your seed.
 13:  He that is born in your house, and he that is bought with your money, must be circumcised and My covenant sall be in your whole person for an everlasting covenant.
 14:  And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul (person) shall be cut off from his people: he has broken My coveant."

 15:  And God (Elohim) said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai (=princely), but Sarah shall be her name. (Sarah=princess, the fifth letter "h" being added = Grace, as in Abraham's case, and Joshua's [Num.13:16], the letter "h" is common to both the names of Yahaveh and Elohim)
 16:  And I will bless her, and give you a son also of her: yes I will bless her; and kings of people shall be of her."

 17:  Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed for joy (cp. John 8:56, "rejoiced to see my day....and was glad". The laughter of faith, Rom.4:19. Sarah did not fall down as Abraham did), and said in his heart (=mind), "Shall a child be born to him that is 100 years old? and shall Sarah, that is 90 years old, bear?"

 18:  And Abraham said to God (Elohim), "O that Ishmael may live before You!" (as though he though Ishmael was to die: showing his faith in Isaac's birth. This is proven in v. 20)
 19:  And God (Elohim) said, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed; and you shall call his name Isaac (=laughter): and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
 20:  As for Ishmael, I have heard you (showing the subject of Abraham's prayer): Behold, I have blessed him, and will multiply him exceedingly; 12 princes (#12=governmental perfection/completeness) shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
 21:  But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear to you at the set time in the next year." (only 4 appointed times in Gen. 1:14; here, 18:14; 21:2)
 22:  And He left off talking with him, and God (Elohim) went up from Abraham. (Notice God ended the conversation)

 23:  And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin in the selfsame day, as God (Elohim) had said to him.
 24:  And Abraham was 99 years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
 25:  And Ishmael his son was 13 years old (Symbolic; and in contrast with Isaac on the 8th day. Ishmaelites and Arabians still circumcise in the 13th year. #13 denotes rebellion, apostacy, defection, disintigration, revelution, &c.), when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
 26:  In the selfsame day was Abrah circumcised, and Ishmael his son.
 27:  And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with the money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.

18:1-16. The Covenant Renewed.

(Introversion.)

e² m 1,2. Appearance of Yahaveh. (Three men.)
    n 3-8. Their reception by Abraham.
    n 9-15. Their confrence with Abraham.
   m 16-. Departure of Yahaveh. (Three men.)

18)

 1:  And the Lord (Yahaveh) appeared to him among the oaks of Mamre (=strength, fatness): and he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day;
 2:  And he lifted up his eyes and looked (see 13:14), and, lo, three men stood by him (Elohim and two angels called men here, but in 19:1,15 are called "angels". #3= the number of Divine perfection. When two departed, Elohim [the Divine presence] remained): and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

 3:  And said,Lord (Yahaveh), if now I have found favor in Your sight, pass not away, I pray You from Your servant:
 4:  Let a little water, I pray You, be fetched, and wash Your feet (a common practice to this day; needed from the use of sandals and bare feet; cp. 24:32; 43:24) and rest yourselves under the tree: (note "the tree", not "a tree")
 5:  And I will fetch a morsel of food, and comfort you all your hearts; after that you shall pass on: for therefore are you all come to your servant." And they said, "So do, as you have said."
 6:  And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said "Make ready quickly three (note the #3, and see v. 2) measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth." (evidently unleavened)
 7:  And Abraham ran (such speedy hospitality common in the East), to the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it to a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
 8:  And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the oak, and they did eat. (We do not totally understand this mystery, but the spiritual body does have substance. We read of "angel's food"; and that Christ ate after His Resurretion.)

 9:  And they said to him, "And as to Sarah your wife...and he interrupting said, Lo! she is in the tent".
 10:  And He said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening in the tent door, which was behind him.
 11:  Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age (This explains how Rebeckah, a grand-daughter of Abraham's brother should be old enough to marry Isaac, Abraham's son); and it ceased to be with Sarah after the maner of women. (i.e. menapause)
 12:  Therefore Sarah laughed within herself (see 17:21), saying, "After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?"
 13:  And the Lord (Yehovah) said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh saying, 'Shall I of a surity bear a child, which am old?'
 14:  Is anything to hard for the Lord (Yahaveh)? At the time appointed (see 17:21) I will return to you, according to the time of life (=280 days, gestation period), and Sarah shall have a son."
 15:  Then Sarah denied, saying, "I didn't laugh"; for she was afraid. And He said, "No; but you did laugh."
 16:  And the men rose up from there, and looked down on Sodom:

18:-16-19:38. Destruction of Sodom.

(Alternation.)

F o 18:-6-33. Abraham and Yahaveh.
   p 19:1-26. Lot and the Angels.
  o 19:27-29. Abraham and Yahaveh.
   p 19:30-38. Lot and his daughters.

18:-6-33. Abraham and Yahaveh.

(Repeated Alternations.)

o q¹ -16. Abraham before Yahaveh.
   r 17-21. Announcement of Sodom's destruction.
  q² 22. Yahaveh before Abraham (see note).
   r 23-32. Intercession for Sodom's preservation.
  q³ 33. Yahaveh's departure. Abraham's return.

and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

 17:  And the Lord (Yehovah) said, "Shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do;
 18:  Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (Another proof that the mystery [Eph.3] means more than Gentile blessing)
 19:  For I know him, how that he will command his children (cp. 22:18) and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord (Yahaveh), to do justice and judgement; that the Lord (Yahaveh) may bring upon Abraham that which He has spoken of him."
 20:  And the Lord (Yahaveh) said, "Because of the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah (things represented by people) is great, an because their sin is very grievous;
 21:  Let us now go down (always down in judgement), and see whether they have done altogether according to their outcry of it, which is come to Me; and if not, I will know." (Fig. asscribing to God that which is human)

 22:  And the two men turned their faces from there, and went toward Sodom: but the Lord (Yahaveh) stood yet before Abraham.

 23:  And Abraham drew near, and said, "Will You really destroy the righteous with the wicked? (note the 6 petitions in Abraham's prayer. #6 = the human number)
 24:  Perhaps there be 50 righteous within the city: will you also destroy and not spare the place for 50 righteous that are therein?
 25:  That be far from You to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked (in the sense of restless activity of the impious and ungodly, or robbers): and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from You: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (put for it's inhabitants)
 26:  And the Lord (Yahaveh) said, "If I find in Sodom 50 righteous within the city, them I will spare all the place for their sakes."
 27:  And Abraham answerd and said, "Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak to the Lord (Yehovah), which am but dust and ashes:
 28:  Perhaps there shall lack 5 of the 50 righteous: will You destroy all the city for lack of 5?" And He said, "If I find there be 45, I will not destroy it."
 29:  And he spake to Him yet again, and said, "Perhaps there shall be 40 found there." And He said, "I will not do it for 40's sake."
 30:  And he said to Him, "O let not the Lord (Yahaveh) be angry, and I will speak: Perhaps there shall be 30 found there." And He said, "I will not do it, if I find 30 there."
 31:  And he said, "Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak to the Lord (Yahaveh): Perhaps there shall be found 20 there." And He said, "I will not destroy it for 20's sake."
 32:  And he said, "O let not the Lord (Yahaveh) be angry, and I will speak but this once: Perhaps 10 shall be found there." And He said, "I will not destroy it for 10's sake."

 33:  And the Lord (Yahaveh) went His way (The same as the One who came in v. 1), as soon as He had left communing with Abraham: And Abraham returned to his place.

19:1-26. Lot and the Angels.

(Repeated Alternation.)

p s¹ 1-5. Evening. The Angels. Reception by Lot.
   t¹ 6-9. Lot's remonstrance with Sodomites.
  s² 10-13. Night. The Angels. Protection of Lot. 
            Announcement of the destruction of Sodom.
   t² 14. Lot's remonstrance with his family.
  s³ 15-17. Dawn. Yahaveh merciful to Lot.
   t³ 18-20. Lot's remonstrance with Yehovah.
  s4 21-26. Sunrise. Yahaveh's acquiescence with Lot. 
            Destruction of Sodom.

19)