Genesis 17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:10

Every man - child - shall be circumcised - Those who wish to invalidate the evidence of the Divine origin of the Mosaic law, roundly assert that the Israelites received the rite of circumcision from the Egyptians. Their apostle in this business is Herodotus, who, lib. ii., p. 116, Edit. Steph. 1592, says: "The Colchians, Egyptians, and Ethiopians, are the only nations in the world who have used circumcision απ ' αρχης , from the remotest period; and the Phoenicians and Syrians who... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:11

And it shall be a token - לאות leoth , for a sign of spiritual things; for the circumcision made in the flesh was designed to signify the purification of the heart from all unrighteousness, as God particularly showed in the law itself. See Deuteronomy 10:16 ; see also Romans 2:25-29 ; Colossians 2:11 . And it was a seal of that righteousness or justification that comes by faith, Romans 4:11 . That some of the Jews had a just notion of its spiritual intention, is plain from many... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:12

He that is eight days old - Because previously to this they were considered unclean, Leviticus 12:2 , Leviticus 12:3 , and circumcision was ever understood as a consecration of the person to God. Neither calf, lamb, nor kid, was offered to God till it was eight days old for the same reason, Leviticus 22:27 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:13

He that is born in thy house - The son of a servant; he that is bought with thy money - a slave on his coming into the family. According to the Jewish writers the father was to circumcise his son; and the master, the servant born in his house, or the slave bought with money. If the father or master neglected to do this, then the magistrates were obliged to see it performed; if the neglect of this ordinance was unknown to the magistrates, then the person himself, when he came of age, was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:14

The uncircumcised - shall be cut off from his people - By being cut off some have imagined that a sudden temporal death was implied; but the simple meaning seems to be that such should have no right to nor share in the blessings of the covenant, which we have already seen were both of a temporal and spiritual kind; and if so, then eternal death was implied, for it was impossible for a person who had not received the spiritual purification to enter into eternal glory. The spirit of this law... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:15

Thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah - See note on Genesis 17:5 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:16

I will bless her, etc. - Sarah certainly stands at the head of all the women of the Old Testament, on account of her extraordinary privileges. I am quite of Calmet's opinion that Sarah was a type of the blessed Virgin. St. Paul considers her a type of the New Testament and heavenly Jerusalem; and as all true believers are considered as the children of Abraham, so all faithful holy women are considered the daughters of Sarah, Galatians 4:22 , Galatians 4:24 , Galatians 4:26 . See also ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:17

Then Abraham - laughed - I am astonished to find learned and pious men considering this as a token of Abraham's weakness of faith or unbelief, when they have the most positive assurance from the Spirit of God himself that Abraham was not weak but strong in the faith; that he staggered not at the promise through unbelief, but gave glory to God, Romans 4:19 , Romans 4:20 . It is true the same word is used, Genesis 18:12 , concerning Sarah, in whom it was certainly a sign of doubtfulness,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:18

O that Ishmael might live before thee! - Abraham, finding that the covenant was to be established in another branch of his family, felt solicitous for his son Ishmael, whom he considered as necessarily excluded; on which God delivers that most remarkable prophecy which follows in Genesis 17:20 , and which contains an answer to the prayer and wish of Abraham: And as for Ishmael I have heard thee; so that the object of Abraham's prayer was, that his son Ishmael might be the head of a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 17:20

Twelve princes shall he beget, etc. - See the names of these twelve princes, Genesis 25:12-16 . From Ishmael proceeded the various tribes of the Arabs, called also Saracens by Christian writers. They were anciently, and still continue to be, a very numerous and powerful people. "It was somewhat wonderful, and not to be foreseen by human sagacity," says Bishop Newton, "that a man's whole posterity should so nearly resemble him, and retain the same inclinations, the same habits, and the same... read more

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