5 And Sarai H8297 said H559 unto Abram, H87 My wrong H2555 be upon thee: I have given H5414 my maid H8198 into thy bosom; H2436 and when she saw H7200 that she had conceived, H2029 I was despised H7043 in her eyes: H5869 the LORD H3068 judge H8199 between me and thee.
The LORD H3068 judge H8199 between me and thee, and the LORD H3068 avenge H5358 me of thee: but mine hand H3027 shall not be upon thee. As saith H559 the proverb H4912 of the ancients, H6931 Wickedness H7562 proceedeth H3318 from the wicked: H7563 but mine hand H3027 shall not be upon thee. After H310 whom is the king H4428 of Israel H3478 come out? H3318 after H310 whom dost thou pursue? H7291 after H310 a dead H4191 dog, H3611 after H310 a H259 flea. H6550 The LORD H3068 therefore be judge, H1781 and judge H8199 between me and thee, and see, H7200 and plead H7378 my cause, H7379 and deliver H8199 me out of thine hand. H3027
But G1161 Martha G3136 was cumbered G4049 about G4012 much G4183 serving, G1248 and G1161 came to him, G2186 and said, G2036 Lord, G2962 dost G3199 thou G4671 not G3756 care G3199 that G3754 my G3450 sister G79 hath left G2641 me G3165 to serve G1247 alone? G3441 bid G2036 her G846 therefore G3767 that G2443 she help G4878 me. G3427 And G1161 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said G2036 unto her, G846 Martha, G3136 Martha, G3136 thou art careful G3309 and G2532 troubled G5182 about G4012 many things: G4183
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.