Genesis 16

Genesis 16:1

SArai bare him no children] Those, whom God most favoureth, are not alwaies most fruitfull, thouh the fruit of the wombe be his reward, Psalms 127:3. see vers. 10.

Genesis 16:2

restrained] She religiously acknowledgeth the restraint of her fruitfulnesse to be from God, but faileth in binding Gods power to the common order of nature, as though he could not give her children in her old age.

her maid] Her bondwoman, Galatians 4:22. whom she made choice of, rather then of a freewoman, because of such a one the issue should be as hers, as Rachel said of her hand-maid Bilhab, Genesis 30:3. Of such adopted issue see 2 Samuel 21:8. Esther 2:7.

gave her] Abraham set no affection upon her as a bed-fellow, before Sarai offered her for a wife; it was not then unlawfull lust, but a desire both of Abraham, and Sarai, that he might be the father, though she were not the mother of the promised seed; and this was practised by the Patriarchs in that time, though the first institution were otherwise, Genesis 2:24. Malachi 2:15.

to be his wife] That is, in stead of a wife as touching societie in the bed, but otherwise she was inferiour to a wife. See Annot. on Chap. 25. 1.

Genesis 16:4

And he went] The first promise God made to him, was for multiplication of his progeny but he told him not how, and he seemed after long expectation to conceive that it must be fulfilled by an adopted heire, Chap. 15. 3. God tels him, vers. 4. that he should have an heire of his owne loines, and having no such promise for Sarai, nor any hope by her contemned barrennesse, to have issue by her, he takes her offer for her maid, wherein they both failed through infirmitie of faith.

despised] This punishment declareth what they gaine, who attempt any thing against the word of God; evill counsell proveth worst to those that give it; and for Hagar we see in her a note of an il condition, which is to be proud, and scornfull, when she should have beene humble, and thankfull. See Proverbs 30:21.

Genesis 16:5

My wrong] I suffer wrong by the insolencie of my handmaid, who hath ill requited my kindnesse to thee, and her, and I must lay the blame upon thee, who shouldest make her to be of better behaviour towards me; or her wrong of me will be a wrong upon thee, since being one flesh with thee by marriage, her contempt of one must needs turne to the disparagement of both. Some take the words not so much for a complaint, as for a commination, as if Sarai should threaten to be meet with him, and to recompence his wrong with some ill requitall; howsoever herein she bewrayes more passion then either religion, or judgement, as the Israelites, Exodus 5:21. and the wife of Moses, Exodus 4:26.

Genesis 16:6

in thine hand] To correct her for her fault; though Sarai shewed too much wrath to her maid, and too little reverence to her husband, yet he gives her the respect of a wife, and the authoritie of a mistresse, without any returne of intemperance, or contumely towards her.

hardly] Geneva, hardle. Heb. afflicted her. Correction given in anger hath usually more of rigour, then of right.

Genesis 16:7

Angel] Which is Christ, as appeareth by vers. 10. 13. who is called an Angel, Exodus 14:19. & Chap. 23. 20 21. 23. Isaiah 63:9. Malachi 3:1. and who descendeth to the meanest in their miseries, to advis and comfort them.

to Shur] That was a Citie in the way from Canaan to Egypt, her native Countrey, according to her name which signifieth flying, Schindl. Pentaglot. Col. 422. she played the fugitive from her mistesse, her pride, and impatience of correction made her set light by the best family in the world, and so in effect to excommunicate her selfe from it, and in likelihood from Religion, to her Egyptian Idolatry.

Genesis 16:9

Returne] She should not have left her place for the displeasure of her mistresse, Ecclesiastes 10:4. nor have runne away with her masters child; but have submitted to the correction which she deserved, 1 Pet. 2. 18. and that is the counsell which the Angel giveth her.

Genesis 16:11

Ishmael] His name was given him by an Angel, and it signifieth as some render it the Lord shall heare; as others, the Lord hath heard; which is more agreeable to the reason rendered by the Angel for it, viz. because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.

Genesis 16:12

a wilde man] Or according to the Hebrew, a wilde asse man; That is, fierce and unruly, as a wilde asse among men; see Job 39. 5 6, 7, 8. Jeremiah 2:24. Hosea 8:9. A contentious man is like a wilde asse, without either wit, or manners; this is the condition of the Saracens the posteritie of the Ishmaelites, who have their name from Saric, which in the Arabian Tongue signifieth a thiefe. Schindl: col. 423. Such especially have their hands against every one for booty, and every ones hand against them for safety.

his hand shall be] He shall be a very quarrelsome man, shewing himselfe an enemy to many, and provoking many to be his enemies.

dwell in the presence] So did Ishmael, who is named with Isaac, as in a brotherly society coming to the funerall of his father, Genesis 25:9. and died in the presence of all his brethren, Gen. Chap. 25. ver. 18. And for the Ishmaelites (his posteritie) the meaning is, that they shall multiply, and inlarge their habitations about the borders of their brethren; who were some of them his brethren by the fathers side, as the sonnes of Keurah the Midianites, and others his neere kinsmen, as the Idumeans, Ammonites, and Moabites.

Genesis 16:13

here looked] To have a vision of God, or revelation from God in her holy masters family was no such great marvell, as that here in the wildernesse God would vouchsafe so much grace to so unworthy an handmaid, so insolent a servant to so gracious a mistresse, so transported first with pride of her favour, and then with impatience of deserved correction.

Looked after] That is, have I (after a vision of God, who sees me, and hath talked with me) power to look, and live? for the appearance of God, or of an Angel was conceived to be a forerunner of death; therefore these be words of wonder, that after that entercourse betwixt God, and her, she yet liveth, which must arise by comparison of mans sinfull frailty, with Gods omnipotent purity. See Genesis 32:30. Exodus 24:11. & Exodus 10:1. & Exodus 33:20. Deuteronomy 4:33. and Deuteronomy 5:24. Judg. 6. 22. 23. & Chap. 13. 22. Esai. 6. 5. Luke 5:8.

Genesis 16:14

Beer-lahai-roy] (1:) the well of the living that seeth me: Either because the angel of the living God saw her; or because she saw the Angel of the Lord, and yet lived, but the former interpretation is rather to be received.