Genesis 21:9-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 21:9-13

The casting out of Ishmael is here considered of, and resolved on. I. Ishmael himself gave the occasion by some affronts he gave to Isaac his little brother, some think on the day that Abraham made the feast for joy that Isaac was safely weaned, which the Jews say was not till he was three years old, others say five. Sarah herself was an eye-witness of the abuse: she saw the son of the Egyptian mocking (Gen. 21:9), mocking Isaac, no doubt, for it is said, with reference to this (Gal. 4:29),... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:9

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian ,.... That is, Ishmael, who is not expressed by name, but described by being a son of Hagar, a servant of Sarah's, and an Egyptian woman; all which seems to be observed by way of slight, both to Hagar and her son: which she had born unto Abraham ; not unto Sarah, as she proposed to herself, when she gave her maid to Abraham, Genesis 16:2 . This son of Abraham she saw mocking ; either at the entertainment made at the weaning of Isaac; or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:10

Wherefore she said unto Abraham, cast out this bondwoman and her son ,.... Hagar, Sarah's handmaid and bondservant, and her son Ishmael; by this it appears that Hagar was concerned in this affair, and set her son on to mock Isaac, at least she encouraged him in it, buoying: him up with his being the firstborn, and having a right to the inheritance; wherefore Sarah saw plainly that there would be no peace nor comfort for her and her son, unless Hagar and her son were turned out of doors, for... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:9

Verse 9 9.And Sarah saw the son of Hagar. As the verb to laugh has a twofold signification among the Latins, so also the Hebrews use, both in a good and evil sense, the verb from which the participle מצחק (metsachaik) is derived. That it was not a childish and innoxious laughter, appears from the indignation of Sarah. It was, therefore a malignant expression of scorn, by which the forward youth manifested his contempt for his infant brother. And it is to be observed, that the epithet which is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 21:10

Verse 10 10.Cast out this bondwoman. Not only is Sarah exasperated against the transgressor, but she seems to act more imperiously towards her husband than was becoming in a modest wife. Peter shows, that when, on a previous occasion, she called Abraham lord, she did not do so feignedly; since he proposes her, as an example of voluntary subjection, to pious and chaste matrons. (1 Peter 3:6.) But now, she not only usurps the government of the house, by calling her husband to order, but commands... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:8-21

The separation of the bondwoman's so, from the promised seed. It was necessary that this should take place for the accomplishment of the Divine plan. Human conduct is employed, as in so many other cases, as the instrument or occasion. There was mockery or unbelief in Ishmael. It was not personal merely, but a mockery of Jehovah and of his Church. Sarah saw it. The mother's keen affections were sharpened to detect the scorn of her joy. Abraham and Sarah were both severely tried. Their lack... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:9

And Sarah saw —at the feast already mentioned (Knobel, Keil); probably also on different occasions since the birth of Isaac— the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking . Παίζοντα μετὰ Ισαὰκ τοῦ υἰοῦ αὐτης ( LXX .), ludentem cum Isaaco filio sue (Vulgate), playing like a child (Aben Ezra, Knobel, Tuch, Ilgen), playing and dancing gracefully (Gesenius); but the stronger sense of the word, implying mockery, scoffing, irritating and deriding... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 21:9-14

The expulsion of Ishmael. I. THE CAUSE . 1. The persecution of Isaac . "Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian mocking." That this was no mere sportive pleasantry may be inferred from the deep feeling it aroused in Sarah, the summary chastisement it brought on Ishmael, and the' severe language in which it is characterized by Paul. The emphasis laid by Sarah on the heirship suggests the probability that Ishmael's offence partook of the nature of wicked, irritating laughter at the... read more

Group of Brands