13 And she called H7121 the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 that spake H1696 unto her, Thou God H410 seest me: H7210 for she said, H559 Have I also here H1988 looked H7200 after him H310 that seeth me? H7210
[[To the chief Musician, H5329 A Psalm H4210 of David.]] H1732 O LORD, H3068 thou hast searched H2713 me, and known H3045 me. Thou knowest H3045 my downsitting H3427 and mine uprising, H6965 thou understandest H995 my thought H7454 afar off. H7350 Thou compassest H2219 my path H734 and my lying down, H7252 and art acquainted H5532 with all my ways. H1870 For there is not a word H4405 in my tongue, H3956 but, lo, O LORD, H3068 thou knowest H3045 it altogether. Thou hast beset H6696 me behind H268 and before, H6924 and laid H7896 thine hand H3709 upon me. Such knowledge H1847 is too wonderful H6383 H6383 for me; it is high, H7682 I cannot H3201 attain unto it. Whither shall I go H3212 from thy spirit? H7307 or whither shall I flee H1272 from thy presence? H6440 If I ascend up H5266 into heaven, H8064 thou art there: if I make my bed H3331 in hell, H7585 behold, thou art there. If I take H5375 the wings H3671 of the morning, H7837 and dwell H7931 in the uttermost parts H319 of the sea; H3220 Even there shall thy hand H3027 lead H5148 me, and thy right hand H3225 shall hold H270 me. If I say, H559 Surely the darkness H2822 shall cover H7779 me; even the night H3915 shall be light H216 about me. H1157 Yea, the darkness H2822 hideth H2821 not from thee; but the night H3915 shineth H215 as the day: H3117 the darkness H2825 and the light H219 are both alike to thee.
And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 said H559 unto her, Return H7725 to thy mistress, H1404 and submit H6031 thyself under her hands. H3027 And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 said H559 unto her, I will multiply H7235 thy seed H2233 exceedingly, H7235 that it shall not be numbered H5608 for multitude. H7230
And he said, H559 I beseech thee, H4994 shew H7200 me thy glory. H3519 And he said, H559 I will make all my goodness H2898 pass H5674 before thee, and I will proclaim H7121 the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 before H6440 thee; and will be gracious H2603 to whom I will be gracious, H2603 and will shew mercy H7355 on whom I will shew mercy. H7355 And he said, H559 Thou canst H3201 not see H7200 my face: H6440 for there shall no man H120 see H7200 me, and live. H2425 And the LORD H3068 said, H559 Behold, there is a place H4725 by me, and thou shalt stand H5324 upon a rock: H6697 And it shall come to pass, while my glory H3519 passeth by, H5674 that I will put H7760 thee in a clift H5366 of the rock, H6697 and will cover H5526 thee with my hand H3709 while H5704 I pass by: H5674 And I will take H5493 away mine hand, H3709 and thou shalt see H7200 my back parts: H268 but my face H6440 shall not be seen. H7200
And the LORD H3068 descended H3381 in the cloud, H6051 and stood H3320 with him there, and proclaimed H7121 the name H8034 of the LORD. H3068 And the LORD H3068 passed by H5674 before him, H6440 and proclaimed, H7121 The LORD, H3068 The LORD H3068 God, H410 merciful H7349 and gracious, H2587 longsuffering, H750 H639 and abundant H7227 in goodness H2617 and truth, H571 Keeping H5341 mercy H2617 for thousands, H505 forgiving H5375 iniquity H5771 and transgression H6588 and sin, H2403 and that will by no means H5352 clear H5352 the guilty; visiting H6485 the iniquity H5771 of the fathers H1 upon the children, H1121 and upon the children's H1121 children, unto the third H8029 and to the fourth H7256 generation.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 16
Commentary on Genesis 16 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 16
Ge 16:1-16. Bestowment of Hagar.
1. Now, Sarai … had a handmaid—a female slave—one of those obtained in Egypt.
3. Sarai … gave her to … Abram to be his wife—"Wife" is here used to describe an inferior, though not degrading, relation, in countries where polygamy prevails. In the case of these female slaves, who are the personal property of his lady, being purchased before her marriage or given as a special present to her, no one can become the husband's secondary wife without her mistress consent or permission. This usage seems to have prevailed in patriarchal times; and Hagar, Sarai's slave, of whom she had the entire right of disposing, was given by her mistress' spontaneous offer, to be the secondary wife of Abram, in the hope of obtaining the long-looked-for heir. It was a wrong step—indicating a want of simple reliance on God—and Sarai was the first to reap the bitter fruits of her device.
5. And Sarai said … My wrong be upon thee—Bursts of temper, or blows, as the original may bear, took place till at length Hagar, perceiving the hopelessness of maintaining the unequal strife, resolved to escape from what had become to her in reality, as well as in name, a house of bondage.
7. And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain—This well, pointed out by tradition, lay on the side of the caravan road, in the midst of Shur, a sandy desert on the west of Arabia-Petræa, to the extent of a hundred fifty miles, between Palestine and Egypt. By taking that direction, she seems to have intended to return to her relatives in that country. Nothing but pride, passion, and sullen obstinacy, could have driven any solitary person to brave the dangers of such an inhospitable wild; and she would have died, had not the timely appearance and words of the angel recalled her to reflection and duty.
11. Ishmael—Like other Hebrew names, this had a signification, and it is made up of two words—"God hears." The reason is explained.
12. he will be a wild man—literally, "a wild ass man," expressing how the wildness of Ishmael and his descendants resembles that of the wild ass.
his hand will be against every man—descriptive of the rude, turbulent, and plundering character of the Arabs.
dwell in the presence of all his brethren—dwell, that is, pitch tents; and the meaning is that they maintain their independence in spite of all attempts to extirpate or subdue them.
13. called the name—common in ancient times to name places from circumstances; and the name given to this well was a grateful recognition of God's gracious appearance in the hour of Hagar's distress.