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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 21:1-8

Few under the Old Testament were brought into the world with such expectation as Isaac was, not for the sake of any great person eminence at which he was to arrive, but because he was to be, in this very thing, a type of Christ, that seed which the holy God had so long promised and holy men so long expected. In this account of the first days of Isaac we may observe, I. The fulfilling of God's promise in the conception and birth of Isaac, Gen. 21:1, 2. Note, God's providences look best and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:4

And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, being eight days old as , God had commanded him. Genesis 17:12 , and was the first that we read of that was circumcised on that day, according to the divine precept, which Abraham strictly observed; for though this was the son of the promise, and of his old age, for whom he had the most affectionate regard, yet he administered this bloody ordinance on him; nor did he defer it beyond the time, and was himself the operator, as it seems; all which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:5

And Abraham was an hundred years old when son Isaac was born unto him. So that this was years after his departure from Haran, and coming into the land of Canaan, for then he was seventy five years of age, Genesis 12:4 ; and this exactly agrees with the account of Demetrius, as related by Polyhistor, an Heathen writer F15 Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 21. p. 425. , who makes Isaac to be born just twenty five years from Abraham's coming into the land of Canaan, and who must be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:6

And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh ,.... This she said on occasion of the name of her son Isaac, which name her husband had given him by divine direction, and to which she assented. This doubtless brought to her mind her former laughing, when she first heard that she should have a son, which was in a way of diffidence and distrust; but now God having given her a son, laid a foundation for laughter of another kind, for real, solid, joy and thankfulness: so that all that hear will... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:7

And she said, who would have said unto Abraham ,.... No one a year ago could ever have thought of such a thing, much less have come and told Abraham that he should have a child or children by Sarah; the thing was incredible, and next to impossible; none but God himself, or an angel from him, could have declared this, as none but he could bring it about, the thing is so marvellous and astonishing: that Sarah should have given children suck ? that she who was ninety years of age should... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:4

Verse 4 4.And Abraham circumcised his son. Abraham pursued his uniform tenor of obedience, in not sparing his own son. For, although it would be painful for him to wound the tender body of the infant; yet, setting aside all human affection, he obeys the word of God. And Moses records that he did as the Lord had commanded him; because there is nothing of greater importance, than to take the pure word of God for our rule, and not to be wise above what is lawful. This submissive spirit is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:5

Verse 5 5.And Abraham was an hundred years old. Moses again records the age of Abraham the better to excite the minds of his readers to a consideration of the miracle. And although mention is made only of Abraham, let us yet remember that he is, in this place, set before us, not as a man of lust, but as the husband of Sarah, who has obtained, through her, a lawful seed, in extreme old age, when the strength of both had failed. For the power of God was chiefly conspicuous in this, that when... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:7

Verse 7 7.Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck ? I understand the future tense to be here put for the subjunctive mood. And the meaning is, that such a thing would never have entered into the mind of any one. Whence she concludes, that God alone was the Author of it; and she now condemns herself for ingratitude because she had been so slow in giving credit to the angel who had told her of it. Now, since she speaks of children in the plural number, the... read more

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