4 And he went in H935 unto Hagar, H1904 and she conceived: H2029 and when she saw H7200 that she had conceived, H2029 her mistress H1404 was despised H7043 in her eyes. H5869
And her adversary H6869 also provoked H3707 her sore, H3708 for to make her fret, H7481 because the LORD H3068 had shut H5462 up H1157 her womb. H7358 And as he did H6213 so year H8141 by year, H8141 when H1767 she went up H5927 to the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 so she provoked H3707 her; therefore she wept, H1058 and did not eat. H398 Then said H559 Elkanah H511 her husband H376 to her, Hannah, H2584 why weepest H1058 thou? and why eatest H398 thou not? and why is thy heart H3824 grieved? H3415 am not I better H2896 to thee than ten H6235 sons? H1121
And as the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 came H935 into the city H5892 of David, H1732 Michal H4324 Saul's H7586 daughter H1323 looked H8259 through a window, H2474 and saw H7200 king H4428 David H1732 leaping H6339 and dancing H3769 before H6440 the LORD; H3068 and she despised H959 him in her heart. H3820
For an odious H8130 woman when she is married; H1166 and an handmaid H8198 that is heir H3423 to her mistress. H1404
And G1161 these things, G5023 brethren, G80 I have in a figure transferred G3345 to G1519 myself G1683 and G2532 to Apollos G625 for G1223 your sakes; G5209 that G2443 ye might learn G3129 in G1722 us G2254 not G3361 to think G5426 of men above G5228 that G2443 which G3739 is written, G1125 that no G3363 one G1520 of you be puffed up G5448 for G5228 one G1520 against G2596 another. G2087
Charity G26 suffereth long, G3114 and is kind; G5541 charity G26 envieth G2206 not; G3756 charity G26 vaunteth G4068 not G3756 itself, G4068 is G5448 not G3756 puffed up, G5448 Doth G807 not G3756 behave itself unseemly, G807 seeketh G2212 not G3756 her own, G1438 is G3947 not G3756 easily provoked, G3947 thinketh G3049 no G3756 evil; G2556
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.