Genesis 21:19 - Exposition

And God opened her eyes . Not necessarily by miraculous operation; perhaps simply by providentially guiding her search for water, after the administered consolation had revived her spirit and roused her energies. And she saw a well of water, בְּאֵר מַיִם , as distinguished from בּוֹר , a pit or cistern, meant a fountain or spring of living water (cf. Genesis 24:11 , Genesis 24:20 ; Genesis 26:19 , Genesis 26:20 , Genesis 26:21 ). It had not been previously observed by Hagar, either because of her mental agitation ( dolors quasi caeca . Rosenmüller), or because, as was customary, the mouth of the well was covered— and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink —which was certainly the first of the youth's necessities, being needful to the preservation of his life and the reviving of his spirits.