1Sarai being barren giveth Hagar to Abram. 4Hagar having conceived despiseth her mistress, and being hardly treated runneth away. 7An angel sendeth her back to submit herself, and informeth her of her son's fortunes. 15Ishmael is born.
1NOW Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath 1restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, 2go in unto my maid; 3it may be that I may 4obtain children by her. And 5Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
1 That is, made me barren. Compare Gen. 20 on verse 18.
2 See Gen. 6:4, and so below verse 4. Sarai despairing of her own bodily issue, and yet heartily longing for the promised seed, she does so far here forget herself that without asking God’s advice, she counsels her husband to tempt the fulfillment of God’s promise, by such a means, which, though of common practice in those days, was nevertheless contrary to the first institution of marriage.
3 Thus then Sarai did, for to make trial whether Abram might get a son by Hagar, whom she might count her own, as born of her own maidservant, in her own house. See Gen. 30:3; Exod. 21:4.
4 Hebr. building, or, building the house, the same phrase is used likewise Gen. 30:3; Deut. 25:9; Ruth 4:11. It is meant the maintaining and propagating of a family.
5 Abram without once asking God about it, Whose promise it concerned, suffered himself to be persuaded by Sarai, not through any base lust, but through the reasons she alleged, and himself much affected, the rather for that as yet it was hid to him whether the promised seed would be born of Sarai, or some other.
3And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt 6ten years in the land of Canaan, and 7gave her to 8her husband Abram to be his wife.
6 Namely, since he had departed from Haran, and was come into the land of Canaan.
7 Misusing the power (which otherwise she had) over her maidservant, and the body of her husband, 1 Cor. 7:4.
8 Understand such an one, as was of less worth and esteem than the first, Hagar continuing a servant still, and under the command of her mistress Sarai, verses 4, 8, 9. See further of the like concubines, Gen. 25:6; 30:3, 9. And of the spiritual sense of this marriage, see Gal. 4:22, etc.
4¶And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was 9despised in her eyes.
9 Hebr. light, that is, regarded little.
5And Sarai said unto Abram, 10My wrong 11be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the 12LORD judge between me and thee.
10 That is, the wrong I suffer. This Sarai spoke out of impatience.
11 Or, for thee, for thy sake, it is to be imputed to thee, since thou canst not but take notice of Hagar’s vilifying of me, and yet do not reprove or chastise her for it.
12 Out of weakness, she commends the business to God’s judgment, provided that He punishes the wrongdoing party, if he does not therein provide. Compare 1 Sam. 24:12, 15.
6But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is 13in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
13 That is, under your power, authority and command, so below Gen. 24:10; 39:4, 6, 8; Num. 31:49; Joshua 9:25; 1 Sam. 14:48; 2 Kings 8:20. Abram wants to say, although I have taken her for my second wife, yet I have not withdrawn her from your commands; therefore if she does amiss, use your authority, as over one who is still under you.
7¶And 14the angel of the LORD 15found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to 16Shur.
14 That is, the Head of the angels, the Lord Christ, Who therefore is likewise called LORD, verse 13 and Gen. 18:26, 33; Judges 6:14; 13:19, 22.
15 This expression sets forth the watchful eyes of the Lord over this straying and distressed Hagar.
16 Hebr. Schur, in the road or way to Egypt, from which she was, see below Gen. 25:18; Exod. 15:22; 1 Sam. 15:7.
8And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
9And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
10And the angel of the LORD said unto her, 17I will multiply thy seed 18exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
17 Here a Divine work is attributed to the Angel, from which it appears that He was not a creature, but the Creator Himself.
18 Hebr. multiplying I will multiply. This physical blessing is to be distinguished from the spiritual, which remained with the seed of the promise.
11And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard 19thy affliction.
19 Hebr. heard after thy affliction.
12And he will be a 20wild man; 21his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; 22and hea shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
20 That is, he shall be a savage, rude man, like unto a wild ass, implying withal that he would be an undaunted, dreadful warrior. See below Gen. 21:20.
21 That is, he shall provoke everyone to fighting and warring, and by reason thereof shall be as much troubled by others, which is to be understood not of his person only, but likewise of his posterity.
22 The sense is, that he would exceedingly spread and enlarge the limits of his habitation to and among his kindred, of whom he would not stand in fear, but courageously face them. See Gen. 25:18.
a Gen. 25:18.
13And she called the 23name of the LORD that spake unto her, 24Thou God seest me: for she said, 25Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
23 Here the Angel mentioned above is expressly called JEHOVAH, the LORD. Compare verse 7.
24 That is, He Who sees all things, and has now also been pleased to regard me favorably in this my grievous affliction, putting me into the right way again, and comforting me.
25 That is, is it not a wonder, that I do yet behold the light now and still remain alive after that He appeared to me, Who looked after me in this my sad condition? She thought she must needs die for having seen the Lord. Compare Gen. 32:30; Exod. 24:11; Judges 13:22.
14Wherefore the wellb was called 26Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between 27Kadesh and Bered.
b Gen. 24:62; 25:11.
26 That is, of the living one, that sees me. She names that well after herself, for having remained alive after she had seen the Lord; and after the Lord likewise, for having so favorably regarded her; yet, some are of the opinion that both appellations have regard to God, Who lives and sees all things.
27 See Gen. 14 on verse 7.
15¶Andc Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, 28Ishmael.
c Gal. 4:22.
28 Doubtless being informed by Hagar, that God Himself had thus named the child. See verse 11.
16And Abram 29was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
29 Hebr. a son of eighty years and six years. Also in Gen. 17:1.