Introduction. H¹ Expedient, vv 1,2-. H² Consequences, v.-2.
a u 3-6. Dream, &c. v 7-. Restoration commanded. w -7. Prayer. u 8-13. Dream &c. v 14-16. Restoration effected. w 17, 18. Prayer.
1: And Abraham journey from there toward the Negeb (=the south) country, and dwelled between Kadesh (=holy) and Shur (=a wall), and sojourned in Gerar (=a lodging place).
2: And Abraham said to Sarah hs wife, "She is my sister." (= half-sister:) (Abraham's expedient = the next assault on Abraham in the Great Confilct for the destruction of the promised Seed of the woman [Gen.3:15]. God had to intervene, for man could know nothing of it. Abraham's fear shown in v. 11.):
and Abimelech (=father-king. The official tittle of the king of Gerar, like Pharaoh in Egypt) king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. (see 21:7. In Sarah's conception God must have renewed her youth, for she nursed Isaac.)
3: But God (Elohim) (God) came to Abimelech in a dream (20 recorded in Scripture) by night, and said to him, "Behold, you are but a dead man if you do not restore her, for the woman which you have taken; for she is a man's wife."
4: But Abimlech had not come near her: and he said, "the Lord (Yehovah) (Lord), will You slay (as Sodom and Gomorrah) also a righteous nation?" (Abimelech evidently expected God to slay the whole nation)
5: Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister?' and she, even she herself said, 'He is my brother': in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands, have I done this?"
6: And God (Elohim) said to him in a dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; for I also withheld you from sinning against Me (Divine intervention needed. Note the emphatic pronouns): therefore I suffered you not to touch her.
7: Now therefore restore the man his wife;
for he is a prophet (First occ., showing that prediction is only a small part of its meaning, God's spokesman. Here it is prayer, and prayer is associated with prophesying, i.e. witnessing [1 Cor.11:5].), and he shall pray for you, and you shall live, and if you restore her not, know that you shall surely die, you, and all that are yours."
8: Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.
9: Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, "What have you done to us? (an expession of feeling by way of indignation) and what have I offended you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? you have done deeds to me that ought not be done."
10: And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What have you seen, that you have done this?"
11: And Abraham said, "Because I said to myself, surely the fear (=reverence) of God (Elohim) is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake. (showing how his fears were worked upn by the Enemy)
12: And yet indeed she is my sister (the daughter of Terah by another wife [than Abraham's mother: therefore Abraham's half-sister); she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13: And it came to pass, when God (Elohim) caused (the verb is in the plural) me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her, 'This is the kindess which you shall show to me; at every place we shall come, say of me, 'He is my brother' ' "
14: And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored to him Sarah his wife.
15: And Abimelech said, "Behold, my land is before you: dwell where it pleases you."
16: And to Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother (Irony) 1,000 pieces of silver, behold he is to you a covering of the eyes (Fig. of speech, when a wish is expressed to pass by a subject, which is, notwithstanding, briefly alluded to subsequently. Having called Abraham her "brother", she uses this beautiful Fig. of Speech for her husband), to all that are with you, and with all the other", thus she was reproved. (by Irony)
17: So Abraham prayed to God (Elohim): and God (Elohim) healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
18: For theLord (Yehovah) had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
d x 1-3. Isaac's birth and naming. y 4,5. Circumcision. x 6,7. Cause of Isaac's naming. y 8. Weaning.
4: And Abraham circumcised his son being 8 days old (8=the Dominical number, cp. Ishmael, 13th year), as God (Elohim) had commanded him.
1896 B.C.
5: And Abraham was 100 years old, when his son Isaac was born to him.
6: And Sarah said, "God (Elohim) has made me to laugh, so that all that hear with laugh with me." (not laugh "at")
7: And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? (A proof that "God", the Creator, had renewed her youth, showing why Abimelech should have taken her [20:2]. Sarah's Magnificat may be compared with Mary's. The scenes of both near to each other. Mary's words [Luke 1:54,55] connect her "mercy" with that shown to "Abraham and his seed") for I have born him a son in his old age."
8: And the child grew (cp. Luke 2:40), and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
c z 9,10. Hagar and Ishmael, in house. a 11. Abraham's suffering. b 12,13. God's intervention. c 14. Hagar and Ishmael. Wilderness of Beer-sheba. z 15. Hagar and Ishmael, out of house. a 16. Hagar's suffering. b 17-19. God's intervention. c 20,21. Hagar and Ishmael. Wilderness of Paran.9: And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born to Abraham, mocking (again).
1891 B.C.
10: Wherefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac." (see the Divine Interpretation-Gal.3:6-29; 4:22-31; 5:1-12)
11: And the word was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
12: And God (Elohim) said to Abraham, "Let it not be grievous in your sight because of the lad, and because of your bondwoman; in all that Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac shall your seed be called. (Here Heb. zer'a = seed, is in the sing. sense, because of the word "Isaac", and because of the sing. verb "it shall be caled". Zer'a is a collective noun, like Eng. "sheep", but the context must determine whether it is sing. or pl. It is to this verse Gal.3:16 refers; not 12:7, where it is indefinate; or 17:7 where the verb and pronoun show it is plural. See Gal.3:16; and cp. Rom.9:7. Heb.11:18. "Your seed" is therefore "Christ". The difference of the 30 years comes in here: 430 years to Exodus 12:40 from Gen.12:4, when Abraham was 75: thence to Isaac's birth: and now, 5 to his recognition as the seed = 30 years.)
13: And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is your seed."
14: And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water (cp. man's provision, a bottle, with God's a well v.19), an gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the widerness of Beer-sheba (=well of the oath).
15: And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16: And she went, and sat herself down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, "Let me not see the death of the child." (a Fig. of speech, the lessining of a thing in order to increase and intensify that same thing, demeaning). And she sat over against him, and the boy lifted up his voice and wept.
17: And God (Elohim) heard the voice of the lad; and the Angel of God (Elohim) called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What ailes you, Hagar? fear not; for God (Elohim) has heard the voice of the lad where he is.
18: Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in your hand; for I will make him a great nation."
19: And God (Elohim) opened her eyes, and she saw a well digged of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
20: And Elohim was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21: And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran (=place of caverns): and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
D d 22-24. Sojourning. Commencement. x e 25,26. The well taken. f 27. Covenant. x e 28-31. The well digged. f 32,33. Covenant. d 34. Sojourning. Continued.22: And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol (=strong) the chief captain of his host spoke to Abraham saying, "God (Elohim) is with you in all that you do:
25: And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away. (cp. 26:19. Ex.10-18. Judg.5:11. This explains Ex.17:8 "Then came Amalek", because of vv.1-7)
26: And Abraham said, "I know not who has done this thing: neither did you tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but today."
27: And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant. (not one party as in 15:10-18. cp. Gal.8:20. The covenant cut, because of the dividing of the sacrifice. cp. 15:10. Jer.34:18-20. English = concluded or solemnised)
28: And Abraham set 7 ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29: And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What means these 7 ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?"
30: And he (Abraham) said, "For these seven ewe lambs shall you take of my hand, that they may be a witness to me, that I have digged this well." (Does this remind you of the 7,000 elect that will witness for Christ before Satan [antichrist] in the end times?)
31: This is why he called the place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them.
32: Thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba: the Abimlech rose up, and Phicol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines (=imigrants).
33: And Abraham planted trees (not 'asherah, but the wood for 22:3 about 20 years later) in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord (Yahaveh), the everlasting GOD. (This is the Divine definition of Yahaveh [Lord], Heb 'olan = duration, secret and hidden from man. Cp. Ps.90:2)
34: And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.
C g¹ 1,2. Yehovah. Command. h¹ 3-10. Abraham. Journey. g² 11,12. Yehovah. 1st call. h² 13,14. Abraham. The offering. g³ 15-18. Yehovah. 2nd call. h³ 19. Abraham. Return.
about 1871 or 1863 B.C.
2: And He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love (note the reference to the Antitype, Christ), and get you into the land of Moriah (=shown or provided by God. Cp. 1 Chron.21:22; 22:1. 2 Chron.3:1. Christ crucified also on one of these mountains): and offer (= to offer up, especially a burnt offering) him there for a burnt offering (= to ascend as being wholly burnt) upon one of the moutains which I will tell you of."
3: And (Fig. Polysyndeton = many ands, emphasing the calmness of Abraham's faith. Each "and" is to be noted, and each act weighed. There are 7 of these = Spritual perfection) Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his two men with him, andIsaac his son, and clave wool for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which Elohim had told him.
4: Then on the third day (#3 symbolic of resurrection, cp. v.5 "come again", 1st person plural. Exactly 3 days journry from Beer-sheba to Mriah. Gerizim is 2 days further) Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5: And Abraham said to his young men, "Abide you all here with the ass; and I and the lad (this is polite Hebrew, while "the lad and I" would be polite English) will go as far as there (as though pointing) and worship, and come again to you." (This was proof of Abraham's faith. 1st person plural, "We will come again.")
6: And Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son (cp. John 19:17); and he took the fire in his hand (without doubt fire from Abraham's altar 12:2; 13:4,18, and see 21:33, for God accepted a sacrifice only by fire from heaven), and a knife; and they went both of them together. (Cp. the Father and the Son Antitype. Emphatic by repitition in v.8. John 10:30; 14:10,11; 16:33. The sinner is not seen in the type; his part is subsequent to this, namely to believe in the substituion. See Rom.8:32. 2 Cor.5:19)
7: And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, "My father." and he said, "Behold me, my son." and he (Isaac) said, "Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"
8: And Abraham said, "My son, God (Elohim) will look out for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So they went both of them together.
9: And (see v.3) they came to the place which God (Elohim) had told him of; and Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10: And Abraham stretch forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11: And the Angel of the Lord (Yahaveh) called to him out of heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham." (Fig. of speech = Duplication. Cp. the 10 Duplications: A). 7 used by God to men; 22:11; 46:2. Ex.3:4. 1 Sam.3:10. Luke 10:41; 22:31. Acts 9:4; B). 3 under other circumstances: Matt.7:21,22 [cp. Luke 6:46; 13:25]. Matt.2:37 [cp. Luke 13:34]. Mark 15:34 [cp.Matt.27:46. Ps.22:1].) and he said, "Behold me."
12: And He said, "Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do yo any thing to him: for I know that you love Elohim, seeing you have not witheld your son, your only son from Me."
13: And Abraham lifted up his eyes (Fig. Redundancy), and looked (see 13:14), and behold (Fig. Indicating), behind him was one ram caught in the thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. (Here is the Doctrine of substitution, clearly stated)
14: And Abraham called the name of the place Yahaveh-yireh (=Yahaveh will see, or provide): as it is said to this day, "In the mount the Lord (Yahaveh) will be seen." (So it was in 2 Sam.24:25. 1 Chron.21:26. 2 Chron.7:1-3. And so it will be in the future)
15: And the Angel of the Lord (Yahaveh) called to Abraham out of heaven a second time (The first time was for substitution, the second was for revelation),
16: And said, "By Myself have I sworn, says the Lord (Yahaveh) (This oath is the foundation of Israel's blessings [24:7; 26:3; 50:24. Ex.13:5,11; 33:1]. David's "sure mercies" all grounded on it [Ps.89:36; 132:11. Cp. Luke 1:73].), for because you have done this thing, and have not witheld your son, your only son:
17: That I will surely bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven (see 13:16), and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate (=cities) of his enemies;
18: And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed (Proof that the "Mystery" does not mean blessing of Gentiles as such: but the secret concerning Christ and the church [Eph.5:32]); because you have obeyed My voice."
19: So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.
20: And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, "Behold, Milcah, she has also born children to your brother Nahor (=snorting);
21: Huz (=light, sandy soil) his firstborn, and Buz (=contempt) his brother, and Kemuel (=congregation of God) the father of Aram,
22: And Chesed (=increased), and Hazo (=vision), and Pildash (=flame of fire), and Jidlaph (=weeping), and Bethuel." (=dweller in God)
23: And Bethuel begat Rebekah (=ensnarer): these 8 Milcah (=queen, or council) did bare to Nahor (Nahor had 12 in all, as Ishmael had, and as Jacob had), Abraham's brother.
24: And his concubine, whose name was Reumah (=elevated), she bare Tebah (=slaughter), and Gaham (=sunburnt), and Thahash (=badger), and Maachah (=oppression).
A² X¹ 23:1-20. Death of Sarah. X² 24:1-67. Marriage of Isaac.
X¹ i 23:1,2. Death of Sarah. k 3-18. Abraham's Treaty for buryingplace. i 19. Burial of Sarah. k 20. Ratification of Treaty.
1859 B.C.
2: And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba (=the city of the four); the same is Hebron (=alliance) in the land of Canaan: and Abraam came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
k l¹ 3,4. Request. m¹ 5,6. Grant. l² 7-9. Request. m² 10,11. Grant. l³ 12,13. Request. m³ 14-18. Purchase.
3: And Abraham stood up leaning over the face of his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,
4: "I am (cp. "you are" v.6) a stranger and a sojourner with you (cp. 1 Pet.2:11. Ps.39:12): give me a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight."
5: And the sons of Heth answered Abraham saying to him,
6: "Hear us, my lord: you are a mighty prince among us (Heb. prince of El, Gen. of relation, for Adjectve.Cp. Ps.36:7; 80:10); in the choice of our sepulcre bury your dead; one of us shall withhold from you his sepulcre, but you may bury your dead."
7: And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.
8: And he communed with them saying, ""If it be your mind (soul) that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me Ephronthe son of Zohar,
9: That he may give me the cave of Machpelah (=double, or a portion), which he has, which is in the end of the field; for as much silver as it is worth he shall give it to me for a possession of a buryingplace among you." (What Jacob bought-33:19,21-was for an altar)
10: And Ephron (=fawn-like) was sitting there among the sons of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city (So there was plenty of witnesses to this "Treaty"), saying,
11: "No, my lord, hear me: the field have I given you (Fig. of speech, the past for the present); in the presence of the sons of my people have I given you: bury your dead."
12: And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.
13: And he spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, "But if you will give it, I pray you, hear me: I will give you money for the field; take it from me, and I will bury my dead there."
14: And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,
15: "My lord, hear me: the land is worth 400 sheckels of silver (about $250); what is that between me and you? bury therefore your dead."
16: And Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, 400 sheckles of silver, current money with the merchant.
17: And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the borders round about, were made sure.
18: To Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, even before all that went in at the gate of his city.
19: And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre the same is
Hebron in the land of Canaan.
20: And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure (this is in strict conformity with the commercial enactments of the "Code of Khumurrabi") to Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace (All that Abraham possessed; but in the faith and hope of resurrection) by the sons of Heth. (This area a source of great contention today. But Abraham did buy it, it was passed down to Jacob/Israel and they own it to this day. It was never sold back!)