1Abraham is tempted to offer Isaac. 3He giveth proof of his faith and obedience. 11The angel stayeth him from slaying his son, in whose stead he offereth a ram. 15Abraham is blessed again. 20The generations of Nahor, from whom came Rebekah.
1AND 1it came to pass after these things, that God 2did tempta Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, 3Behold, here I am.
1 After Abraham had received so many promises, even of the birth of the Messiah Himself whereof none could be fulfilled if Isaac had died without seed, the Lord was pleased to put Abraham to this trial as if He would have rescinded all the former promises.
2 God is said to prove His own when He makes trial of their weakness or graces, either to humble or exalt them by the manifestation of the same. See Deut. 8:2; 13:3; Judges 2:22; 2 Chron. 32:31; Psalm 139:23, 24. As for Abraham, God knew him perfectly, but intended to manifest for His own glories’ sake, the strength of his faith, and the sincerity of his obedience in an extraordinary manner, to reveal for the benefit of Abraham and the whole church of God. See verses 16, 17.
a try, test,* prove
3 Hebr. Lo, I, namely, am here. Such a kind of answer, which implies a great deal of readiness and attentiveness in them who are called upon. See verses 7, 11. The same in Gen. 27:1; 1 Sam. 3:4, 6, etc.
2And he said, 4Take now thy son, thineb only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into 5the land of Moriah; and 6offer him there for a 7burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
4 Each word had been enough to pierce the father’s heart. This, and that which is rehearsed in verses 6, 9, 10, can portray somewhat to us the gracious work of God, Who having not spared His only begotten and well-beloved Son, but delivered Him up for us all, to bear our sins upon the tree, Rom. 8:32; 1 Peter 2:24.
b Heb. 11:17.
5 Thus called, after the common opinion, from the deliverance of this temptation. See verse 14 and the annotations. This is the land in which Jerusalem was located, and the temple was built upon the hill of Moriah, 1 Chron. 22:1; 2 Chron. 3:1, past Mount Zion, about three days journey from Beer-sheba. See verse 4.
6 That is, first slay him with thine own hand, and afterward burn his dead body to ashes; as the manner was to proceed with burnt offerings, Lev. 6:9, 10, etc. This command was not to be construed or examined with natural sense and understanding, but only through faith, with God’s promise and Abraham’s fatherly duty and affection to his only son, but of God’s hidden counsel and purpose in this command. See on verse 1 of this chapter, and below verse 12.
7 See the annotation Gen. 8 on verse 20.
3¶And Abraham 8rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clavec the 9wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
8 Abraham is instantly ready, overcoming flesh and blood, and firmly believing, that notwithstanding all this, God would perform His promises, as being able to restore him Isaac even from the dead, which also, after a manner was done, as the apostle testifies, Heb. 11:19.
c split*
9 Hebr. woods of the burnt offering.
410Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
10 This great distance from the place of about three days journey, served to the further manifestation of Abraham’s singular steadfastness.
5And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the 11lad will go yonder and 12worship, 13and come again to you.
11 This word is not only attributed to little children, but to young men likewise full grown, as above, to Abraham’s armed or trained men, Gen. 14:14, 24, and to the young man Sichem, who abused Dinah, Gen. 34:19; Joseph, when he interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, Gen. 41:12; Joshua, when he served Moses, Exod. 33:11; Absalom, when he warred against his father, 2 Sam. 18:29, and here both to Isaac and Abraham’s servants. Compare the next verse.
12 See Gen. 24:26.
13 Though Abraham intended to offer up his son, and the special issue of this work was unknown to him, he nevertheless believed that God was able to restore him his son again. And thus without knowing what would be done, he foretold what came to pass.
614And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
14 Although it be uncertain how old Isaac was by this time, (some guess 25 years, some less, some more) yet hence may well be gathered, that he was of a ripe age seeing he was able to bear all the wood the ass was charged with, and to carry it up the hill. See on verse 5.
7And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, 15My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
15 The sweet words of Isaac might well have been able, according to the flesh, to have much hindered Abraham, but through the Spirit of the Lord, it raises up in him so much the more confidence of a good outcome, as appears by his answer.
8And Abraham said, My son, God will 16provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
16 Hebr. see. Compare verse 14.
9And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and 17bound Isaac his son, and laidd him on the altar upon the wood.
17 Even as the beasts for burnt offering were bound by their four legs, so Abraham bound his son Isaac hands and feet, (as some perceive) because the Hebrew word, being used about sacrifices, often signifies the same. Observe here the singular patience and obedience of Isaac, who was doubtless first exhorted and persuaded to it by his father.
d James 2:21.
10And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife 18to slay his son.
18 Other, to cut of the throat.
11And the 19angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, 20Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
19 Understand the Son of God, as appears by the latter end of verse 12, and the whole sequel of this history. Compare Gen. 18:1, 17, 22; 19:18, 19, 21, 24.
20 The name is doubled thus, the matter requiring haste and prompt attention, while Abraham was making ready to give the stroke, and to dispatch the execution.
12And he said, 21Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for 22now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son 23from me.
21 By this command God now reveals His secret counsel and purpose in this temptation, which in the forgoing command, verse 2, He had not done.
22 Said after the manner of men, as verse 1, for, Abraham’s godliness was sufficiently known to God before, but now He is said to take knowledge of it in regard that by this temptation, He made the same fully known to His entire church. Thus the Hebrew word is taken, Psalm 139:23, try me, and know my thoughts. For, before he had said, verse 2, thou understandest my thoughts afar off.
23 Hence it is plain that it is God Himself, Who speaks here.
13And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold 24behind him a ram caught 25in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
24 It seems that the Angel called upon Abraham from behind so that he, turning himself about, saw the ram at once; instantly apprehending by the inspiration of God that he was to slay and offer the same there in his son’s stead.
25 Namely, of some briar or thorn bush.
14And 26Abraham called the name of that place 27Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, 28In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
26 Comparing his confidence, verse 8, with this result.
27 Understand that the mountain of Moriah had that name given it from the answer which Abraham gave unto his son, verse 8, as likewise the word Moriah itself signifies almost the same thing, that is, the sight or vision of God.
28 A proverbial speech, used by those, who being in the greatest extremity, and seeing no human help, cast themselves altogether upon the faithful providence of God.
15¶And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
16And said, 29Bye myself have If sworn, saith the LORD, for 30because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
29 Having none greater to swear by, Heb. 6:13. See likewise Jer. 22:5. Elsewhere God swears by His great Name, Jer. 44:26; also, by His soul, Jer. 51:14; and by His holiness, Amos 4:2, that is, by Himself. In the next word saith, Hebr. neüm, see Jer. 23:31.
e Heb. 6:13.
f Luke 1:73.
30 Understand hereby no meriting cause of the ensuing promise, which was previously made to Abraham, but the fruit or the end of Abraham’s obedience, which God was pleased of His grace to honor and reward with the renewing of His promise and with this oath here, unto the further strengthening of the faith of Abraham and His entire church. See hereof, Heb. 6:13, 14, 17, 18.
1731That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is 32upon the sea shore; andg thy seed shall possess 33the gate of his enemies;
31 Hebr. blessing bless, and multiplying I will multiply.
32 Hebr. at the lip of the sea. Also Gen. 41:3; Joshua 11:4; 1 Sam. 13:5.
g Gen. 24:60.
33 That is, dominion, violence, cities, and countries, for, with the ancients, justice has been in the gates, Deut. 21:19; 22:15; Amos 5:12, 15; Zech. 8:16. Likewise, the strength of the cities. See Judges 5:8; Psalm 147:13; Isa. 22:7; Ezek. 21:22. Therefore the cities themselves also are called gates, Deut. 12:15; 18:6, even the cities of an entire land, Jer. 14:2. This was fulfilled as to the physical part in Joshua, David, etc., but especially and spiritually in the Messiah, Psalm 2:8, 9; 110:1, 2, 3; Col. 2:15, Who makes His church and servants partakers of His victory; 1 Cor. 15:57; 2 Cor. 2:14; 10:5, 6.
18Andh34in thy seed shall 35all the nations of the earth 36be blessed; 37because thou hast obeyed my voice.
h Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 26:4; Acts 3:25; Gal. 3:8.
34 That is, in Christ, Who is to proceed out of thy seed, after the flesh. See Gen. 12:3.
35 Not only the offspring of your own flesh, but all other people likewise who shall believe in your Seed, the Messiah. See Gal. 3:29.
36 See Acts 3:25; Gal. 3:8, 16.
37 See on verse 16.
19So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to 38Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.
38 See Gen. 21 on verse 31.
20¶And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, 39Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;
39 Who did not come along with Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees into Canaan, but had removed her habitation into Mesopotamia. See Gen. 11:29, 31; 24:10.
2140Huz his firstborn, and 41Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of 42Aram,
40 This Huz, Nahor’s son, is to be distinguished from two others of that same name: the one was the son of Aram, Shem’s son, Gen. 10:23, the other the son of Dishan, the son of Seir, the Horite, Gen. 36:28.
41 From whom, some perceive, Elihu, the Buzite, descended. See of him Job 32:2.
42 See of another Aram Gen. 10:22. It is thought that from the one, or both of these, the country of Syria was called Aram.
22And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.
23And Bethuel begat 43Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
43 Hebr. Ribka, married afterwards to Isaac, Genesis 24.
24And his 44concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and 45Maachah.
44 Understand such a woman who was indeed taken for a wife for the propagation of children, according to the misuse in those days, but she was taken without any dowry and matrimonial contract, being subordinate to the lawful and principal wife; her children likewise could not inherit, but were sent away with gifts or legacies, Gen. 21:14; 25:6. The Hebrew word signifies a divided or half wife.
45 This seems to be a man’s name here: as also 2 Sam. 10:6 the name of a certain king. And thus likewise the mother of king Asa was named, 1 Kings 15:13.