And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son ,.... Moses, having given the genealogy of Ishmael and his posterity, returns to Isaac, the other son of Abraham, with whom and his children the following part of his history is chiefly, if not altogether concerned: Abraham begat Isaac ; for the further confirmation of his being his proper legitimate son this clause is added. read more
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife ,.... Which was three years after the death of his mother; Isaac was born when she was ninety, and therefore must be thirty seven when she died. The Jews say Rebekah was but fourteen, though it is highly probable she was older; who is described as the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian, of Padanaram ; so called to distinguish it from other Arams, as Aram of Damascus, &c.; this seems to be the same with Aram Naharaim, or... read more
And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife ,.... Was very earnest and constant in his supplications for her, as the word signifies, as is observed by Jarchi; or, "before his wife" F1 לנכח אשתו "praesente uxore sua", Munster, Fagins. , she being present, and joining with him in his prayers: the reason was: because she was barren ; which appeared by the length of time they had been married, which was near twenty years, see Genesis 25:26 . The Jewish writers F2 Pirke... read more
These are the generations of Isaac - This is the history of Isaac and his family. Here the sixth section of the law begins, called יעחק תולדת toledoth yitschak ; as the fifth, called שרה חיי chaiye Sarah , which begins with Genesis 23, ends at the preceding verse. read more
Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife - Isaac and Rebekah had now lived nineteen years together without having a child; for he was forty years old when he married Rebekah, Genesis 25:20 , and he was threescore years of age when Jacob and Esau were born, Genesis 25:26 . Hence it is evident they had lived nineteen years together without having a child. The form of the original in this place is worthy of notice: Isaac entreated Jehovah, אשתו לנכח lenochach ishto , directly, purposely,... read more
Verse 19 19.These are the generations of Isaac. Because what Moses has said concerning the Ishmaelites was incidental, he now returns to the principal subject of the history, for the purpose of describing the progress of the Church. And in the first place, he repeats that Isaac’s wife was taken from Mesopotamia. He expressly calls her the sister of Laban the Syrian, who was hereafter to become the father-in-law of Jacob, and concerning whom he had many things to relate. But it is chiefly worthy... read more
Verse 21 21.And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife. Some translate the passage, Isaac entreated the Lord in the presence of his wife; and understand this to have been done, that she also might add her prayers, and they might jointly supplicate God. But the version here given is more simple. Moreover, this resort to prayer testifies that Isaac knew that he was deprived of children, because God had not blessed him. He also knew that fruitfulness was a special gift of God. For although the... read more
§ 9. THE GENERATIONS OF ISAAC (Ge 25:19-35:29). And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son . The usual formula for the opening of a new section (cf. Genesis 2:4 ). Abraham begat Isaac . A reiteration in perfect harmony not only with the style of the present narrative, but of ancient historiography in general; in this instance specially designed to connect the subsequent streams of Isaac's posterity with their original fountain-head in Abraham. read more
The childless pair. I. THE DISAPPOINTED HUSBAND . 1. The grievous affliction . Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, was barren. Though neither uncommon nor unjust, this was to Isaac 2. The earnest intercession . "Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife." Isaac's supplication was 3. The gracious response . "The Lord was entreated of Isaac, and Rebekah conceived. Note the character of God as the Hearer of prayer, the habitual practice of God, which is to listen to his... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 25:19-28
We have here an account of the birth of Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah: their entrance into the world was (which is not usual) one of the most considerable parts of their story; nor is much related concerning Isaac but what had reference to his father while he lived and to his sons afterwards. For Isaac seems not to have been a man of action, nor much tried, but to have spent his days in quietness and silence. Now concerning Jacob and Esau we are here told, I. That they... read more