Genesis 21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:14

Took bread, and a bottle - By the word bread we are to understand the food or provisions which were necessary for her and Ishmael, till they should come to the place of their destination; which, no doubt, Abraham particularly pointed out. The bottle, which was made of skin, ordinarily a goat's skin, contained water sufficient to last them till they should come to the next well; which, it is likely, Abraham particularly specified also. This well, it appears, Hagar missed, and therefore... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:15

And she cast the child - הילד את ותשלך vattashlech eth haiyeled , and she sent the lad under one of the shrubs, viz., to screen him from the intensity of the heat. Here Ishmael appears to be utterly helpless, and this circumstance seems farther to confirm the opinion that he was now in a state of infancy; but the preceding observations do this supposition entirely away, and his present helplessness will be easily accounted for on this ground: Young persons can bear much less fatigue... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:19

God opened her eyes - These words appear to me to mean no more than that God directed her to a well, which probably was at no great distance from the place in which she then was; and therefore she is commanded, Genesis 21:18 , to support the lad, literally, to make her hand strong in his behalf - namely, that he might reach the well and quench his thirst. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:20

Became an archer - And by his skill in this art, under the continual superintendence of the Divine Providence, (for God was with the lad), he was undoubtedly enabled to procure a sufficient supply for his own wants and those of his parent. read more

Adam Clarke

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

He dwelt in the wilderness of Paran - This is generally allowed to have been a part of the desert belonging to Arabia Petraea, in the vicinity of Mount Sinai; and this seems to be its uniform meaning in the sacred writings. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:22

At that time - This may either refer to the transactions recorded in the preceding chapter, or to the time of Ishmael's marriage, but most probably to the former. God is with thee - דיי מימרא meimera daiya , the Word of Jehovah; see before, Genesis 15:1 . That the Chaldee paraphrasts use this term, not for a word spoken, but in the same sense in which St. John uses the λογος του Θεου , the Word of God, ( John 1:1 ;), must be evident to every unprejudiced reader. See on Genesis... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:23

Now therefore swear unto me - The oath on such occasions probably meant no more than the mutual promise of both the parties, when they slew an animal, poured out the blood as a sacrifice to God, and then passed between the pieces. See this ceremony, Genesis 15:18 ; (note), and on Genesis 15 (note). According to the kindness that I have done - The simple claims of justice were alone set up among virtuous people in those ancient times, which constitute the basis of the famous lex... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:25

Abraham reproved Abimelech - Wells were of great consequence in those hot countries, and especially where the flocks were numerous, because the water was scarce, and digging to find it was accompanied with much expense of time and labor. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:26

I wot not who hath done this thing - The servants of Abimelech had committed these depredations on Abraham without any authority from their master, who appears to have been a very amiable man, possessing the fear of God, and ever regulating the whole of his conduct by the principles of righteousness and strict justice. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:27

Took sheep and oxen - Some think that these were the sacrifices which were offered on the occasion, and which Abraham furnished at his own cost, and, in order to do Abimelech the greater honor, gave them to him to offer before the Lord. read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:20

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:25

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:26

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:27

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