3 And Sarai H8297 Abram's H87 wife H802 took H3947 Hagar H1904 her maid H8198 the Egyptian, H4713 after H7093 Abram H87 had dwelt H3427 ten H6235 years H8141 in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 and gave H5414 her to her husband H376 Abram H87 to be his wife. H802
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
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.
6 But Abram H87 said H559 unto Sarai, H8297 Behold, thy maid H8198 is in thy hand; H3027 do H6213 to her as it pleaseth thee. H2896 H5869 And when Sarai H8297 dealt hardly with H6031 her, she fled H1272 from her face. H6440
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.