Genesis 21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:24

Verse 24 24.And Abraham said, I will swear. Although he had the stronger claim of right, he yet refuses nothing which belonged to the duty of a good and moderate man. And truly, since it is becoming in the sons of God to be freely ready for every duty; nothing is more absurd, than for them to appear reluctant and morose, when what is just is required of them. He did not refuse to swear, because he knew it to be lawful, that covenants should be ratified between men, in the sacred name of God. In... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:25

Verse 25 25.And Abraham reproved Abimelech. This complaint seems to be unjust; for, if he had been injured, why did he not resort to the ordinary remedy? He knew the king to be humane, to have some seed of piety, and to have treated himself courteously and honorably; why then does he doubt that he will prove the equitable defender of his right? If, indeed, he had chosen rather to smother the injury received, than to be troublesome to the king, why does he now impute the fault to him, as if he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:27

Verse 27 27.And Abraham took sheep. Hence it appears that the covenant made, was not such as is usually entered into between equals: for Abraham considers his own position, and in token of subjection, offers a gift, from his flocks, to king Gerar; for, what the Latins call paying tax or tribute, and what we call doing homage, the Hebrews call offering gifts. (443) And truly Abraham does not wait till something is forcibly, and with authority, extorted from him by the king; but, by a voluntary... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:28

Verse 28 28.And Abraham set seven ewe-lambs of the flock by themselves. Moses recites another chief point of the covenant; namely, that Abraham made express provision for himself respecting the well, that he should have free use of its water. And he placed in the midst seven lambs, that the king being presented with the honorary gift, might approve and ratify the digging of the well. For the inhabitants might provoke a controversy, on the ground that it was not lawful for a private man, and a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:31

Verse 31 31.Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba. Moses has once already called the place by this name, but proleptically. Now, however, he declares when, and for what reason, the name was given; namely, because there both he and Abimelech had sworn; therefore I translate the term ‘the well of swearing.’ Others translate it ‘the well of seven.’ But Moses plainly derives the word from swearing; nor is it of any consequence that the pronunciation slightly varies from grammatical correctness,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:33

Verse 33 33.And Abraham planted a grove. It hence appears that more rest was granted to Abraham, after the covenant was entered into, than he had hitherto enjoyed; for now he begins to plant trees, which is a sign of a tranquil and fixed habitation; for we never before read that he planted a single shrub. Wherefore, we see how far his condition was improved because he was permitted to lead (as I may say) a settled life. The assertion, that he called on the name of the Lord, I thus interpret; he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:1

And the Lord —Jehovah ; not because the verse is Jehovistic (Knobel, Bleek, et alii ) , but because the promise naturally falls to be implemented by him who gave it ( vide Genesis 18:10 )— visited —remembered with love (Onkelos), ἐπισκέψατο ( LXX .; cf. Genesis 1:24 ; Exodus 4:31 ; 1 Samuel 2:21 ; Isaiah 23:17 ); though it sometimes means to approach in judgment ( vide Exodus 20:5 ; Exodus 32:34 ). Alleged to be peculiar to the Jehovist (the term used by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:1-8

The son of promise, or a young child's biography. I. THE BIRTH OF ISAAC 1. A surprising phenomenon . "Who would have said that Sarah should have suckled sons?" " Motherhood at ninety was certainly unusual, especially when conjoined with paternity at a hundred. In a world presided over by a personal Deity there must always be room for surprises. 2. A miraculous production . That the conception and birth of Isaac were due to Divine interposition—that in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:1-8

Birth, circumcision and weaning of Isaac. Here, is— I. THE FAITIIFULNESS OF JEHOVAH . "As he had spoken. At the set time." "God hath made me to laugh." II. THE FAITH OF HIS SERVANT , which was evidenced in waiting, hoping, naming the son born unto him, obeying the commandment. III. THE GIFT of God was THE REVELATION of God: his love, his power, his purpose, his patience. IV. Taken TYPICALLY , the foreshadowing of the miraculous conception, the kingdom of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:2

For Sarah conceived ,—through faith receiving strength from God for that purpose ( Hebrews 11:11 ); the fruit of the womb, in every instance God's handiwork ( Isaiah 44:2 ), being in her case a special gift of grace and product of Divine power— and bare— the usual construction ( Genesis 29:32 ; Genesis 30:5 ) is here somewhat modified by the Jehovist (Kalisch); but the clause may be compared with Genesis 30:22 , Genesis 30:23 , commonly assigned to the Elohlst— Abraham ... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:24

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:25

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:27

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:28

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:31

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:33

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:2

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