Genesis 16:6

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 16:6

dealt hardly. Hebrew afflicted her. The Code of Khammurabi (119) forbade her being sold. Sarah could only lay tasks on her. See App-15 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 16:5-6

"And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I gave my handmaid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: Jehovah judge between me and thee. But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her that which is good in thine eyes. And Sarai dealt hardly with her, and she fled from her face."Abram's house was troubled indeed with this situation; but as Dods said it: "This is the common fate of all who use others to satisfy their own... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 16:6

Genesis 16:6. Abram said, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand— i.e.. in thy power, ch. Genesis 24:10. Genesis 39:4. REFLECTIONS.—We have here, 1. Hagar's insolence. No sooner with child, than she forgets her station, and begins, in conceit perhaps of the promised seed, to usurp over the mistress of the family. 2. Sarai's ill-humour: as jealous of her husband, as angry with her maid. Though Abram appears to have been quite blameless, respecting Hagar's pride, she lays the blame at his door, and then... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 16:1-6

Sarai and Hagar 16:1-6Using a woman other than one’s wife (Genesis 16:2) was a method of providing an heir in the case of a childless marriage apart from adoption. [Note: Speiser, p. 130; T. Frymer-Kensky, "Patriarchal Family Relationships and Near Eastern Law," Biblical Archaeologist 44 (1981):209-14.] Hagar was Sarai’s personal servant, not a slave girl. Abram also had at least one personal servant (Genesis 24:2)."It was a serious matter for a man to be childless in the ancient world, for it... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:1-16

The Circumstances connected with the Birth of Ishmael1, 2. Abraham was now eighty-five years old, Sarah was seventy-five, and the promise of an heir seemed no nearer fulfilment. Despairing of offspring herself, Sarah persuades Abraham to take her Egyptian maid Hagar as a secondary wife, intending, according to ancient custom, to regard the issue as her own. But her lack of faith in God’s promises was productive of very unhappy consequences. 4. Hagar] The Arabs claim descent from Hagar through... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 16:6

(6) Sarai dealt hardly with her.—The verb is translated afflicted in Exodus 1:11 and Isaiah 60:14; its more exact meaning is, Sarai humbled her, that is, reduced her to her original condition. It was quite right that as Hagar had abused her elevation, Abram should make her yield to Sarai all due respect and submission; but in making her resume her old position as a slave, Sarai was possibly dealing unkindly with her (but see on Genesis 16:9). In running away Hagar not only showed the untamable... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 16:1-16

A Particular Providence As Revealed in the Gospel Genesis 16:13 God beholds thee individually, whoever thou art. He 'calls the by thy name'. He sees thee, and understands thee, as He made thee. He knows what is in thee, all thy own peculiar feelings and thoughts, thy dispositions and likings, thy strength and thy weakness. He views thee in thy day of rejoicing, and thy day of sorrow. He sympathizes in thy hopes and thy temptations. He interests Himself in all thy anxieties and remembrances,... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:1-16

BIRTH OF ISHMAELGenesis 16:1-16IN this unpretending chapter we have laid bare to us the origin of one of the most striking facts in the history of religion: namely, that from the one person of Abram have sprung Christianity and that religion which has been and still is its most formidable rival and enemy, Mohammedanism. To Ishmael, the son of Abram, the Arab tribes are proud to trace their pedigree. Through him they claim Abram as their father, and affirm that they are his truest... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 16:1-16

CHAPTER 16 Abraham and Hagar 1. Sarai’s suggestion (Genesis 16:1-3 ) 2. Abram’s action (Genesis 16:4 ) 3. Sarai and Hagar (Genesis 16:5-6 ) 4. Hagar in the wilderness (Genesis 16:7-9 ) 5. The birth of Ishmael announced (Genesis 16:10-14 ) 6. Ishmael born (Genesis 16:15-16 ) The fifteenth chapter may be called Abram’s faith chapter. The sixteenth is the chapter of unbelief. It was impatience which forced Sarai and Abram to act for themselves. Unbelief is impatience and impatience is... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:1-16

HUMAN EFFORT TO ACCOMPLISH GOD'S PROMISE Though Abram was a man of faith, Sarai his wife had not borne children, and she weakened his faith by making a mere fleshly suggestion that he should use Sarai's bondmaid, Hagar, by whom to bear a child for Sarai (v.2). Abram's experience with the Lord in chapter 15 ought to have strengthened him to realize that God's promise was sure even though they had to wait so long for its fulfilment. As to the fulfilling of the promise, Abram did not have to... read more

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