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
So Abram H87 departed, H3212 as the LORD H3068 had spoken H1696 unto him; and Lot H3876 went H3212 with him: and Abram H87 was seventy H7657 H8141 and five H2568 years H8141 old H1121 when he departed H3318 out of Haran. H2771 And Abram H87 took H3947 Sarai H8297 his wife, H802 and Lot H3876 his brother's H251 son, H1121 and all their substance H7399 that they had gathered, H7408 and the souls H5315 that they had gotten H6213 in Haran; H2771 and they went forth H3318 to go H3212 into the land H776 of Canaan; H3667 and into the land H776 of Canaan H3667 they came. H935
Then went H3212 Esau H6215 unto Ishmael, H3458 and took H3947 unto the wives H802 which he had Mahalath H4258 the daughter H1323 of Ishmael H3458 Abraham's H85 son, H1121 the sister H269 of Nebajoth, H5032 to be his wife. H802
And he rose up H6965 that night, H3915 and took H3947 his two H8147 wives, H802 and his two H8147 womenservants, H8198 and his eleven H6240 H259 sons, H3206 and passed over H5674 the ford H4569 Jabbok. H2999
And it came to pass, when Israel H3478 dwelt H7931 in that land, H776 that Reuben H7205 went H3212 and lay H7901 with Bilhah H1090 his father's H1 concubine: H6370 and Israel H3478 heard H8085 it. Now the sons H1121 of Jacob H3290 were twelve: H8147 H6240
And it came to pass in those days, H3117 when there was no king H4428 in Israel, H3478 that there was a certain H376 Levite H3881 sojourning H1481 on the side H3411 of mount H2022 Ephraim, H669 who took H3947 to him a concubine H802 H6370 out of Bethlehemjudah. H1035 H3063 And his concubine H6370 played the whore H2181 against him, and went away H3212 from him unto her father's H1 house H1004 to Bethlehemjudah, H1035 H3063 and was there four H702 whole months. H2320 H3117 And her husband H376 arose, H6965 and went H3212 after H310 her, to speak H1696 friendly H3820 unto her, and to bring her again, H7725 having his servant H5288 with him, and a couple H6776 of asses: H2543 and she brought H935 him into her father's H1 house: H1004 and when the father H1 of the damsel H5291 saw H7200 him, he rejoiced H8055 to meet H7125 him. And his father in law, H2859 the damsel's H5291 father, H1 retained H2388 him; and he abode H3427 with him three H7969 days: H3117 so they did eat H398 and drink, H8354 and lodged H3885 there.
And David H1732 took H3947 him more concubines H6370 and wives H802 out of Jerusalem, H3389 after H310 he was come H935 from Hebron: H2275 and there were yet sons H1121 and daughters H1323 born H3205 to David. H1732
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.