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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:34

And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days. Even many years, days being sometimes put for years; having entered into covenant with Abimelech, the king of the country, and settled a good correspondence with him, and having his friendship and good will, which commanded respect from his subjects, Abraham sojourned very quietly and comfortably for many years, chiefly at Beersheba; the Jewish writers say F1 Jarchi & Bereshit Rabba, sect. 54. fol. 48. 4. he sojourned here... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21

Isaac is born according to the promise, Genesis 21:1-3 ; and is circumcised when eight days old, Genesis 21:4 . Abraham's age, and Sarah's exultation at the birth of their son, Genesis 21:5-7 . Isaac is weaned, Genesis 21:8 . Ishmael mocking on the occasion, Sarah requires that both he and his mother Hagar shall be dismissed, Genesis 21:9 , Genesis 21:10 . Abraham, distressed on the account, is ordered by the Lord to comply, Genesis 21:11 , Genesis 21:12 . The promise renewed... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:1

The Lord visited Sarah - That is, God fulfilled his promise to Sarah by giving her, at the advanced age of ninety, power to conceive and bring forth a son. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:3

Isaac - See the reason and interpretation of this name in the note on Genesis 17:7 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:4

And Abraham circumcised his son - See note on Genesis 17:10 , etc. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:6

God hath made me to laugh - Sarah alludes here to the circumstance mentioned Genesis 18:12 ; and as she seems to use the word to laugh in this place, not in the sense of being incredulous but to express such pleasure or happiness as almost suspends the reasoning faculty for a time, it justifies the observation on the above-named verse. See a similar case in Luke 24:41 , where the disciples were so overcome with the good news of our Lord's resurrection, that it is said, They believed not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:8

The child grew and was weaned - Anglo-Saxon Version. Now the child waxed and became weaned. We have the verb to wean from the Anglo-Saxon awendan , to convert, transfer, turn from one thing to another, which is the exact import of the Hebrew word גמל gamal in the text. Hence wenan , to wean, to turn the child from the breast to receive another kind of ailment. And hence, probably, the word Wean, a young child, which is still in use in the northern parts of Great Britain and Ireland,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:9

Mocking - What was implied in this mocking is not known. St. Paul, Galatians 4:29 , calls it persecuting; but it is likely he meant no more than some species of ridicule used by Ishmael on the occasion, and probably with respect to the age of Sarah at Isaac's birth, and her previous barrenness. Jonathan ben Uzziel and the Jerusalem Targum represent Ishmael as performing some idolatrous rite on the occasion, and that this had given the offense to Sarah. Conjectures are as useless as they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:10

Cast out this bondwoman and her son - Both Sarah and Abraham have been accused of cruelty in this transaction, because every word reads harsh to us. Cast out; גרש garash signifies not only to thrust out, drive away, and expel, but also to divorce; (see Leviticus 21:7 ;); and it is in this latter sense the word should be understood here. The child of Abraham by Hagar might be considered as having a right at least to a part of the inheritance; and as it was sufficiently known to Sarah... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:12

In Isaac shall thy seed be called - Here God shows the propriety of attending to the counsel of Sarah; and lest Abraham, in whose eyes the thing was grievous, should feel distressed on the occasion, God renews his promises to Ishmael and his posterity. read more

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