Genesis 16:3

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 16:3

ten. These 10 years to be taken into account in any calculations. wife. This was strictly in accordance with the enactment of Khammurahi (146) which Abram had brought from Ur. See App-15 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 16:3-4

"And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar, the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes."Sarai and Abram had not counted on such a development as this. They had their weaknesses, but Hagar also had hers. Hagar was then Abram's wife, and although she was not on an equality with Sarai, being... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 16:3

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... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 16:1-6

Sarai and Hagar 16:1-6Using a woman other than one’s wife (Genesis 16:2) was a method of providing an heir in the case of a childless marriage apart from adoption. [Note: Speiser, p. 130; T. Frymer-Kensky, "Patriarchal Family Relationships and Near Eastern Law," Biblical Archaeologist 44 (1981):209-14.] Hagar was Sarai’s personal servant, not a slave girl. Abram also had at least one personal servant (Genesis 24:2)."It was a serious matter for a man to be childless in the ancient world, for it... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:1-16

The Circumstances connected with the Birth of Ishmael1, 2. Abraham was now eighty-five years old, Sarah was seventy-five, and the promise of an heir seemed no nearer fulfilment. Despairing of offspring herself, Sarah persuades Abraham to take her Egyptian maid Hagar as a secondary wife, intending, according to ancient custom, to regard the issue as her own. But her lack of faith in God’s promises was productive of very unhappy consequences. 4. Hagar] The Arabs claim descent from Hagar through... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 16:3

(3) Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.—He was now, therefore, eighty-five years of age (see Genesis 16:16 and Genesis 12:4), and this long delay had not only tried his faith, but brought him and Sarai to the conclusion that the promised seed was to be obtained by other means. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 16:1-16

A Particular Providence As Revealed in the Gospel Genesis 16:13 God beholds thee individually, whoever thou art. He 'calls the by thy name'. He sees thee, and understands thee, as He made thee. He knows what is in thee, all thy own peculiar feelings and thoughts, thy dispositions and likings, thy strength and thy weakness. He views thee in thy day of rejoicing, and thy day of sorrow. He sympathizes in thy hopes and thy temptations. He interests Himself in all thy anxieties and remembrances,... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:1-16

BIRTH OF ISHMAELGenesis 16:1-16IN this unpretending chapter we have laid bare to us the origin of one of the most striking facts in the history of religion: namely, that from the one person of Abram have sprung Christianity and that religion which has been and still is its most formidable rival and enemy, Mohammedanism. To Ishmael, the son of Abram, the Arab tribes are proud to trace their pedigree. Through him they claim Abram as their father, and affirm that they are his truest... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 16:1-16

CHAPTER 16 Abraham and Hagar 1. Sarai’s suggestion (Genesis 16:1-3 ) 2. Abram’s action (Genesis 16:4 ) 3. Sarai and Hagar (Genesis 16:5-6 ) 4. Hagar in the wilderness (Genesis 16:7-9 ) 5. The birth of Ishmael announced (Genesis 16:10-14 ) 6. Ishmael born (Genesis 16:15-16 ) The fifteenth chapter may be called Abram’s faith chapter. The sixteenth is the chapter of unbelief. It was impatience which forced Sarai and Abram to act for themselves. Unbelief is impatience and impatience is... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:1-16

HUMAN EFFORT TO ACCOMPLISH GOD'S PROMISE Though Abram was a man of faith, Sarai his wife had not borne children, and she weakened his faith by making a mere fleshly suggestion that he should use Sarai's bondmaid, Hagar, by whom to bear a child for Sarai (v.2). Abram's experience with the Lord in chapter 15 ought to have strengthened him to realize that God's promise was sure even though they had to wait so long for its fulfilment. As to the fulfilling of the promise, Abram did not have to... read more