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Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 21:13

Genesis 21:13. The casting out of Ishmael was not his ruin. He shall be a nation because he is thy seed We are not sure that it was his eternal ruin. It is presumption to say, that all those who are left out of the external dispensation of God’s covenant are excluded from his spiritual mercies. Those may be saved who are not thus honoured. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:1-21

Birth of Isaac (21:1-21)When Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as commanded. In this way he demonstrated that Isaac was heir to God’s covenant promises (21:1-7; cf. 17:9-14).Ishmael made fun of the covenant family, as Sarah had feared. Being the son of a slave-girl, Ishmael had the right to inherit some of Abraham’s wealth, but he could surrender this right in exchange for the freedom of himself and his mother. Sarah, determined that her son should be the sole heir, tried to persuade... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 21:12

Isaac . . . thy seed. Here ser'a is in the sing sense, because of the word "Isaac", and because of the sing verb "it shall be called. " Zer'a is a collective noun (like Eng. "sheep"), but the context must determine whether it is sing, or plural. It is to this verse Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:16 refers; not to Genesis 12:7 , where it is indefinite; or Genesis 17:7 where the verb and pronouns show it is plural. See note there, and on Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:16 ; and compare Romans 9:7 .... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 21:11-13

"And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight, on account of his son. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy handmaid; in all that Sarah saith unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. And also of the son of the handmaid will I make a nation, because he is thy seed."Abraham and Sarah were then reaping the bitterness created by themselves when they chose to introduce a slave girl into Abraham's... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 21:12

Genesis 21:12. In Isaac shall thy seed be called— This promise refers to the Messiah, the Spiritual Seed more especially, and to the children of Abraham by faith. REFLECTIONS.—The casting-out the bond-woman and her son is here commanded. We have, 1. The cause: Ishmael's mockery and persecution of Isaac. Observe, (1.) Mockery is real persecution. (2.) This at least all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer. (3.) None are rejected of God without cause. (4.) They who are the seed of the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 21:13

13. also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation—Thus Providence overruled a family brawl to give rise to two great and extraordinary peoples. :-. EXPULSION OF ISHMAEL. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 21:1-21

12. The birth of Isaac 21:1-21God proved faithful to His promise by providing Isaac. Abraham and Sarah responded with obedience and praise. Ishmael, however, became a threat to Abraham’s heir and, consequently, his father sent him away into the wilderness where God continued to provide for him and his mother. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 21:8-21

The expulsion of Ishmael and God’s care of him and Hagar 21:8-21All was not well in Abraham’s household even though God had provided the heir. Ishmael was a potential rival to Isaac’s inheritance. This section records another crisis in the story of Abraham’s heir. Waltke pointed out six parallels between Hagar and Ishmael’s trek and Abraham and Isaac’s (ch. 22). [Note: Waltke, Genesis, p. 292.] Normally in ancient Near Eastern culture the son of a concubine became the heir of his mother but not... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:1-34

Birth of Isaac. Dismissal of Hagar and Ishmael. Covenant between Abraham and Abimelech8. Weaned] in his second or third year, as is usual among Orientals.9. Ishmael had no doubt been regarded as Abraham’s heir until the birth of Isaac. The change in his prospects may account for his conduct, which St. Paul uses to illustrate the persecution of the Christians by the Jews (Galatians 4:29). Proud of their natural descent as children of Abraham, the Jews scorned the idea that God could regard... read more

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