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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:10-14

We may suppose that the angel having given Hagar that good counsel (Gen. 16:9) to return to her mistress she immediately promised to do so, and was setting her face homeward; and then the angel went on to encourage her with an assurance of the mercy God had in store for her and her seed: for God will meet those with mercy that are returning to their duty. I said, I will confess, and thou forgavest, Ps. 32:5. Here is, I. A prediction concerning her posterity given her for her comfort in her... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:15-16

It is here taken for granted, though not expressly recorded, that Hagar did as the angel commanded her, returning to her mistress and submitting herself; and then, in the fulness of time, she brought forth her son. Note, Those who obey divine precepts shall have the comfort of divine promises. This was the son of the bond-woman that was born after the flesh (Gal. 4:23), representing the unbelieving Jews, Gal. 4:25. Note, 1. Many who can call Abraham father are 608 yet born after the flesh,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:13

And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her ,.... Either she called on the name of the Lord, and prayed unto him, that he would forgive her sin and give her some fresh tokens of his love; and also gave him thanks for his gracious regards unto her, that he should look upon, and look after so mean a creature, and such a backslider as she was, and return her, and make such gracious promises to her; so the Targum of Onkelos,"she prayed in the name of the Lord;'and the Targum of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:14

Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi ,.... That is, the fountain where the angel found her, Genesis 16:7 ; this, from the appearance of God to her at it, was afterwards called by her and others by this name, which signifies "the well of him that liveth and seeth me"; that is, of the living and all seeing God, and who had taken a special care of her, and favoured her with a peculiar discovery of his love to her: or this may have respect to herself, and be rendered, "the well of her... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:15

And Hagar bare Abram a son ,.... Being returned to his house, and received by him, and reconciled to Sarai, she brought forth a son to Abram, according to the prediction of the angel: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael ; and this name Jarchi suggests he gave by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that dwelt in him: but it is highly reasonable to suppose, that Hagar upon her return reported to Abram the whole of the conversation she had with the angel; wherefore... read more

John Gill

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

And Abram was eighty years old when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram. Which is easily reckoned, for he was seventy five years of age when he left Haran, Genesis 12:4 ; and he had been ten years in Canaan when Hagar was given him by Sarai for his wife, Genesis 16:3 ; and so must be then eighty five years of age, and of course must be eighty six when Ishmael was born. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:13

And she called the name of the Lord - She invoked ( ותקרא vattikra ) the name of Jehovah who spake unto her, thus: Thou God seest me! She found that the eye of a merciful God had been upon her in all her wanderings and afflictions; and her words seem to intimate that she had been seeking the Divine help and protection, for she says, Have I also (or have I not also) looked after him that seeth me? This last clause of the verse is very obscure and is rendered differently by all the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:14

Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi - It appears, from Genesis 16:7 , that Hagar had sat down by a fountain or well of water in the wilderness of Shur, at which the Angel of the Lord found her; and, to commemorate the wonderful discovery which God had made of himself, she called the name of the well ראי לחי באר beer - lachai - roi , "A well to the Living One who seeth me." Two things seem implied here: A dedication of the well to Him who had appeared to her; and, 2.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:15

And Hagar bare Abram a son, etc. - It appears, therefore, that Hagar returned at the command of the angel, believing the promise that God had made to her. Called his son's name - Ishmael - Finding by the account of Hagar, that God had designed that he should be so called. "Ishmael," says Ainsworth, "is the first man in the world whose name was given him of God before he was born." In the preceding chapter we have a very detailed account of the covenant which God made with Abram, which... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 16:13

Verse 13 13.And she called the name of the Lord. Moses, I have no doubt, implies that Hagar, after she was admonished by the angel, changed her mind: and being thus subdued, retook herself to prayer; unless, perhaps, here the confession of the tongue, rather than change of mind, is denoted. I rather incline, however, to the opinion, that Hagar, who had before been of a wild and intractable temper, begins now at length to acknowledge the providence of God. Moreover, as to that which some... read more

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