14 Wherefore the well H875 was called H7121 Beerlahairoi; H883 H2416 behold, it is between Kadesh H6946 and Bered. H1260
And Isaac H3327 came H935 from the way H935 of the well Lahairoi; H883 for he dwelt H3427 in the south H5045 country. H776
And it came to pass after H310 the death H4194 of Abraham, H85 that God H430 blessed H1288 his son H1121 Isaac; H3327 and Isaac H3327 dwelt H3427 by H5973 the well Lahairoi. H883
And they went H3212 and came H935 to Moses, H4872 and to Aaron, H175 and to all the congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 unto the wilderness H4057 of Paran, H6290 to Kadesh; H6946 and brought back H7725 word H1697 unto them, and unto all the congregation, H5712 and shewed H7200 them the fruit H6529 of the land. H776
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Genesis 16
Commentary on Genesis 16 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 16
Hagar is the person mostly concerned in the story of this chapter, an obscure Egyptian woman, whose name and story we never should have heard of if Providence had not brought her into the family of Abram. Probably she was one of those maid-servants whom the king of Egypt, among other gifts, bestowed upon Abram (ch. 12:16). Concerning her, we have four things in this chapter:-
Gen 16:1-3
We have here the marriage of Abram to Hagar, who was his secondary wife. Herein, though some excuse may be made for him, he cannot be justified, for from the beginning it was not so; and, when it was so, it seems to have proceeded from an irregular desire to build up families for the speedier peopling of the world and the church. Certainly it must not be so now. Christ has reduced this matter to the first institution, and makes the marriage union to be between one man and one woman only. Now,
Gen 16:4-6
We have here the immediate bad consequences of Abram's unhappy marriage to Hagar. A great deal of mischief it made quickly. When we do not well both sin and trouble lie at the door; and we may thank ourselves for the guilt and grief that follow us when we go out of the way of our duty. See it in this story.
Gen 16:7-9
Here is the first mention we have in scripture of an angel's appearance. Hagar was a type of the law, which was given by the disposition of angels; but the world to come is not put in subjection to them, Heb. 2:5. Observe,
Gen 16:10-14
We may suppose that the angel having given Hagar that good counsel (v. 9) to return to her mistress she immediately promised to do so, and was setting her face homeward; and then the angel went on to encourage her with an assurance of the mercy God had in store for her and her seed: for God will meet those with mercy that are returning to their duty. I said, I will confess, and thou forgavest, Ps. 32:5. Here is,
Gen 16:15-16
It is here taken for granted, though not expressly recorded, that Hagar did as the angel commanded her, returning to here mistress and submitting herself; and then, in the fulness of time, she brought forth her son. Note, Those who obey divine precepts shall have the comfort of divine promises. This was the son of the bond-woman that was born after the flesh (Gal. 4:23), representing the unbelieving Jews, v. 25. Note,