Genesis 21:9-21

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 21:14-21

Here is, I. The casting out of the bond-woman, and her son from the family of Abraham, Gen. 21:14. Abraham's obedience to the divine command in this matter was speedy?early in the morning, we may suppose immediately after he had, in the night's visions, received orders to do this. It was also submissive; it was contrary to his judgment, at least to his own inclination, to do it; yet as soon as he perceives that it is the mind of God he makes no objections, but silently does as he is bidden, as... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:11

And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight ,.... The motion that Sarah made to turn out of his house Hagar and Ishmael was not agreeable to him, but the reverse; it seemed an ill thing to him; it was greatly displeasing to him, and he was unwilling to come into it: because of his son ; his son Ishmael; not grieved and uneasy for what he had done; not for committing idolatry, as the Targum of Jonathan suggests, or for mocking at Isaac; but for what was proposed to be done to him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:12

And God said unto Abraham ,.... Either by an articulate voice, or by an impulse on his mind, suggesting to him what he should do, being no doubt in great perplexity how to conduct between his wife and his son, but God determines the case for him, and makes him easy: let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of the bondwoman : that is, let not the motion displease thee, which Sarah has made, to turn out the bondwoman and her son; let not thine affection to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:13

And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation ,.... A great nation, as is promised, Genesis 17:20 ; and such the Ishmaelites and Saracens have been, and the Turks now are, the descendants of Ishmael. The Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it, a people of thieves, or a thieving people; as were the Saracens, and who are thought to have that name from the Arabic word "sarac" F25 "furatus fuit, furto abstulit", Golius, col. 1167. Castel. col. 2626. , to thieve; though they would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:14

And Abraham rose up early in the morning ,.... It was in the night the Lord spoke to him, and bid him hearken to the voice of Sarah; and, as soon as it was morning, he arose, and was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; for, though the thing he was directed to was disagreeable to flesh and blood, and contrary to his natural affection, yet, it being the will of God, he readily complied with it: and took bread and a bottle of water ; a loaf of bread very probably, and a leathern or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:15

And the water was spent in the bottle ,.... It was all drank up by them, being thirsty, having wandered about some time in a wilderness, where they could not replenish their bottle: the Jewish writers say F5 Pirke Eliezer, ut supra. (c. 30.) Targ. Jon. in loc. that when Hagar came into the wilderness, she began to wander after the idols of the house of Pharaoh her father, and immediately the water ceased from the bottle, or was drank up by Ishmael, being seized with a burning fever: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 21:16

And she went and sat her down over against him , a good way off ,.... Not being able to bear the sight of her child in his agonies, and, as she apprehended, ready to expire, she went from the place where she had laid him, and sat down under one of the shrubs or trees to shade herself, right over against that where her child was, though at some distance, which is next expressed: as it were a bowshot ; about as far off from him as an arrow can be shot, or is usually shot out of a bow;... read more

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