Genesis 17:1-27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:16

And I will bless her ,.... The Targum of Jonathan adds, "in her body", with fruitfulness, who before was barren, and in her soul with spiritual blessings, and in both with the blessing of eternal life: and give thee a son also of her ; as he had given him one of Hagar: God had before promised Abraham a son that should be his heir, but he had not till now told him that he should be born of Sarah his wife: yea, I will bless her ; which is repeated for the confirmation of it, and for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:17

Then Abraham fell upon his face ,.... In reverence of the divine Being, and as amazed at what was told him: and laughed ; not through distrust and diffidence of the promise, as Sarah did, for he staggered not at that through unbelief, but for joy at such good news; and so Onkelos renders it, "and he rejoiced", with the joy of faith; it may be our Lord refers to this in John 8:56 ; he saw Christ in the promise of Isaac, and rejoiced that he should spring from his seed: the Targums of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:18

And Abraham said unto God ,.... Being told he should have a son by Sarah, that should be his heir, he is concerned for Ishmael what would become of him; and who, being grown up, had doubtless a large share in his affections, and it is highly probable he began to think he was the promised seed, since he had lived to such an age, and had no other son, and Sarah was past bearing children: but now perceiving it would be otherwise, he puts up a petition for Ishmael, whom he did not neglect upon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:19

And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed ,.... This is repeated for the confirmation of it, and thus expressed to remove all doubt about it, if any there were, that hung upon Abraham's mind; as well as to let him know that the promise of a son by Sarah was not to be superseded by his prayer for Ishmael, for whom he might have a greater flow of natural affection than for his unborn son, in whom his seed should be called: and thou shall call his name Isaac ; which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:20

And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee, &c.; Took notice of his prayer for him, and accepted of and would answer him, and did, as follows: behold, I have blessed him ; determined in his mind to bless him, promised to bless him, Genesis 16:10 ; had blessings laid up and in reserve for him: and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly ; as he did, many of the Arabian nations, the Hagarenes, Saracens, and Turks, all springing from him: twelve princes shall he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:21

But my covenant will one establish with Isaac ,.... The covenant of circumcision; for though Ishmael was circumcised, and his posterity practised that rite, yet it was not enjoined them of God; nor was it to them, or served the same purpose as to the Israelites; and particularly the promise of the land of Canaan, made in that covenant, belonged only to the posterity of Isaac, and to those only in the line of Jacob, and especially that of the Messiah springing from him, which circumcision had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:22

And he left off talking; with him ,.... After he had finished all he had to say to him at this time. It was great condescension in the divine Being to talk with a creature; it was wonderful grace and kindness to make such promises to him, as he did, and indulge him with answers of prayer and communion with him; but the highest enjoyments of God here are not lasting; uninterrupted communion with him is reserved for another world: and God went up from Abraham ; from the earth, where he had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:23

And Abraham took Ishmael his son ,.... To circumcise him; he took his son first, to set an example to his servants, and that they might the more readily comply when they saw that Abraham's son, and at that time his only son, was circumcised before their eyes: and all that were born in his house ; which were three hundred and eighteen when he rescued Lot from the kings, Genesis 14:14 ; and perhaps they might be now increased: and all that were bought with his money ; how many those... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:24

And Abraham was ninety years old and nine ,.... See Genesis 17:1 . This circumstance of his age is observed the more to commend his faith and obedience, that though he was an old man, he did not consider his age, or make that an objection; that he was unable to bear the pain, or it would be shameful for a man of his years to be uncovered before his servants: when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin ; who circumcised him is not said, very probably Eliezer his head servant:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:25

And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. Hence the Arabians, as Josephus F23 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 12. sect. 2. relates, circumcise their children when at thirteen years of age, because Ishmael, the founder of their nation, was circumcised at that age; and Origen F24 Philocalia, c. 23. p. 77. asserts the same; and with which agrees what an Arabic writer says F25 Ebnol Athir apud Pocock. Specimen Arab. Hist. p. 319. of the... read more

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