Genesis 25

Genesis 25:1

VVIfe Keturah] Whether she were taken in Sarahs life time (as some hold) is uncertaine, she is called here a wife, but vers. 6. she is implicitely, and in the 1 Chron. 1. 32. expressely called a concubine, and Hagar is called a wife, Chap. 16. vers. 3. and it may be she being an handmaid of Abrahams family, and Sarah dead, and Hagar dismist if not dead also, was taken to wife; and therein her condition was better then Hagars, for the wife (whether first or second) was taken with more solemnitie of marriage, and might not be cast off as the concubine; but she was called a Concubine, because her issue could not inherit as the Concubines could not. See Annot. on Genesis 22:24. and because if taken during the life of the first wife, she was not Lady or Mistresse of the family, as the husband was Master.

Keturah] This Keturah is not the same woman with Hagar, (her name changed) for Hagars name is continued, vers. 12. nor is it likely that Abraham would make a bondwoman heire to her Mistresse (for the right of his person) whom he dearely loved, and honoured, who would not indure either her, or her sonne to dwell in his family; and though Sarah were now dead, and could not make any quarrell of the matter as before; yet he would not give such an occasion of discontent to Isaac; who could not but take the returne of Hagar to his fathers bed with offence; nor is it like that Hagar being now about 80 yeares old, that he would take her for a wife, who married for the increase of his posteritie; nor that she should (being so old) be the mother of sixe sonnes, as Keturah was, vers. 2. nor is it probable that Keturah was taken to wife while Sarah lived, since there is no mention of her at all till after her death; and it is probable not till three years after, for he was no doubt as mindfull of his wife, as Isaac of his mother, and as mournfull, and so would not marry before him; and (according to the order of the story) it is most like, that he marryed afterwards: and it was convenient that Isaac being a young man, and mature for mariage, (for he was now fourtie yeares of age, Genesis 25:20.) should have one wife before his old father had two.

Genesis 25:2

she bare him] It is no marvell that Keturah should beare sixe sonnes, for we read not she was old, and by her present fruitfulnesse, we may conceive she was young; but that Abraham, who fourtie yeares before (that is before Isaac was borne) was held too old to be the father of a child, his body (not Sarahs onely) being then as dead, Romans 4:19. in respect of impotence to procreate, should be the father of so many children, is very strange and in appearance improbable. Answ. It was not by vertue of Abrahams naturall abilitie, which a good while before was dead, but by a new strength given him by God, who had promised him a multiplyed posteritie, Genesis 17:5. (which had a ratification not only in Sarahs issue, but in Keturahs also) and was able to make his promise good, as well in old as in young Abraham, either by continuing or renuing the masculine vigour (restored to him at the begetting of Isaac) in his conjugall societie with Keturah: and his blessing was the more apparent by how much, by the course of nature, he was more impotent.

Genesis 25:4

the sonnes of Mian] Were five the founders of so many royall families, whence it is that five Kings of Midian are reckoned, Numbers 31:18. of which five, foure are mentioned, Judg. 7. 25. & Chap. 8. 5.

Genesis 25:5

all to Isaac] That is, all the estate he had at the time of his death; for before that he had given portions to the sonnes of his concubines and sent them away; and that was so little in respect of his maine estate, that Isaac had (in a manner) all given to him, as it is said, Chap. 24. 36. before his marriage with Rebekah.

Genesis 25:6

Concubines] See Annot. on vers. 1. and on Chap. 22. vers. 24.

sent them away] Because Isaacs posteritie was to inherit the Land of Canaan, and that would be too little for the numerous progeny of all Abrahams children.

East countrey] That is, in respect of the Land of Canaan, as Arabia, Syria, and other places of like situation. See Judges 6:3. & Chap. 7. vers. 12. Job 1:3.

Genesis 25:8

good old age] (Genesis 15:15. Judg. 8. 32.) when he was 175. yeares old. See the Annot. on Chap. 24. vers. 1.

full] (1 Chronicles 29:28. Job 42:17.) The Originall hath no more, for sometimes the word is left out in the Hebrew which by the sence is easily supplyed; as Psal. 73. vers. 10. Waters of a full are wrung out unto them, that is, waters of a full cup, or vessell. So here Abraham was full, that is, of dayes, or yeares; or full in the fulfilling of his desires for this life, not much caring for any more of the world.

gathered to his people] The like phrase is used of Ishmael, vers. 17. and hereby the ancients signified that man by death perished not wholly, but as the soules of the godly lived after in perpetuall joy, so the soules of the wicked in perpetuall paine; and though the godly soule departing hence, be separated from humane societie, it is not destitute of very good company. See Heb. 12. 23 24.

Genesis 25:9

Isaac and Ishmael] Ishmael was elder, but Isaac is set before him, as being a better man, and better borne, for his mother was a free-woman, Ishmaels a bond-woman; and he was borne in a better state, for he was borne of a lawfull wife, Ishmael of a concubine; and to a better estate, for he was heire of the principall promise of God made to Abraham.

Ishmael] Ishmael, though he were not againe received into Abrahams family, dwelt not at so great distance but that he might heare of his death, and so come to his buriall.

Genesis 25:11

Lahai-roi] See the Annot. on Chap. 24. vers. 62.

blessed Isaac] As he was the seed rather of faithfull beliefe then of fleshly abilitie, Romans 4:19. So the blessing was rather spirituall, then temporall; for Isaac was an husband twentie yeares before he was a father; whereas Ishmael was sooner, and was the progenitor of twelve Princes, vers. 16. according to the promise of God to Abraham, Chap. 17. 20.

Genesis 25:13

generations] Or genealogy, as their pedegree hath been set down in Registers and Records.

Genesis 25:14

Dumah] Of this Dumah the sonne of Ishmael, the Idumeans are thought by some to have descended; by others the Idumeans are held to be the posteritie of Esau or Edom, called Idumeans for Edomeans.

Genesis 25:15

Tema] Of whom was the countrey and citie of Tema or Teman bordering upon the South of Idumea, of which countrey was Jobs friend Eliphaz, Job 2:11. and some say King also.

Genesis 25:16

townes and] By the places where they sorted together for cohabitation or dwelling, and their Castles or strong holds against their enemies, which haply bare the name of some eminent person of their family or kindred.

Genesis 25:17

gathered to his people] From which place the Hebrews collect the repentance and salvation of Ishmael. See the Annot. on vers. 8.

Genesis 25:18

Havilah] An ample Region of Arabia reaching from the Persian gulph to the red Sea, and to Egypt, whereof mention is made, Chap. 2. vers. 8. not that Havilah of India, or any Region in Africa.

died in the presence of] His brethren all surviving him, and by their vicinitie, if not present at his death yet taking notice of it; the Hebrew word Naphal signifying to fall is referred by some to a lot, that is, so they take the sense to be the allotting of his portion in the presence of his brethren, Chap. 16. vers. 2. See the Annot. on that verse.

Genesis 25:20

Padan Aram] The name not of the citie of Bethuel, for that was Charran or Haran, but of the countrey called also Syria, where that citie stood; which Syria in Hebrew is called Aram, from Aram the sonne of Sem, Genesis 10:22. whence some Translations have the words Aram, and Aramites, whereas others use the words Syria, and Syrians; and both names signifie the same countrey, and people; and it is sometimes called Aram-Naharaim, Psal. 60. title. That is, Aram of two Rivers, for Naharaim is the duall number of Nahar a River; and it is called Padan Aram, Padan in the Chaldee and Syriak tongue signifieth a couple; thence it is called Padan-Aram and Naharaim, because it is situate betwixt a couple of Rivers, Tygris and Euphrates; and for the same reason it is called Mesopotamia in Greeke, which word signifyeth in the middest of Rivers Bethuel is here called a Syrian of Padan Aram for distinction from the other Syria, called Syria Zobah, or Aram-Zobah, Psal. 60. tit. Adrich. Delph. Theatr. Ter. Sanct. pag. 94, 95.

Genesis 25:21

Isaac intreated the LORD] The Lord had promised to make good the promises made to Abraham in Isaac, Genesis 21:12. yet he prayeth to God, and continued to pray unto him many yeares, and at last was heard in that he prayed for; of whom we are to learne neither to presume upon Gods promises, without doing our duties, nor to be weary of praying, if God be not speedy in granting what we pray for; For being without a child for twentie yeares after he was married (for he was fourtie yeares old when he was married, vers. 20. and sixtie when these twins were borne, vers. 26.) so soone as he conceived that Rebekah was barren, not seekng a more fruitfull Bed-fellow, nor she offering any such unto his choice, he often, and a long time importuned God to make her the mother, as he hoped himselfe should be the father of many nations.

for his wife] Heb. against his wife. Because (as some take it) she had no mind to be a mother, or, because of the pains of childbirth which were against her; but the meaning may be that they prayed in such a posture, as that one was placed over against the other. Or against his wife, that is, as David prayed against Achitophel, that is, not against his person, but against his policie, so Isaac prayed not against the person of Rebekah, but her barrennesse.

barren] It is noted of many worthy women, that their fruitfulnesse hath been restrained for a long time, as Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah the mother of Samuel in the Old Testament, and Elizabeth the mother of John Baptist in the New; whose long waiting hath been recompensed (at last) with an happy birth of a worthy person. In such examples God sheweth his power over nature to make it fruitlesse, or fruitfull, as he pleaseth; and thereby tempereth the affection, that it may not be too much set upon a beautifull person, as Rebekah was, Chap. 24. 16. and increaseth the devotion of prayer for the blessing.

Genesis 25:22

Children strugled] It is not strange for a woman with child with twins, to feele some painfull spruntings of them within her, especially towards the birth, where each striveth first to come forth, but this was more then ordinary, and therefore it was not onely a misery to her, which she could not beare without complaint, but a mysterie also, figuring the conflict of two nations, vers. 23.

to inquire of the LORD] She went apart to some private place by prayer to entreat the Lord to acquaint her with the cause of such extraordinary commotion within her.

Genesis 25:23

two Nations] That is, two persons vertually including two nations, as in their root, and originall, as all mankind was radically contained in Adam, because all proceeded from his loynes; these two nations are those which in after time were called Israelites, and Edomites or Idumeans; of these the people descended from the younger brother shall prevaile above the posteritie of the elder; and the Israelites which are (if true Israelites) the true Church Militant, shall be the Triumphant Church above the malignant Idumeans.

the lder shall serve] Upon this place the Apostle grounds the Doctrine of Free-Grace in the election of some, and reprobation of others before the doing of good, or evill, Romans 9:12-13. ?Malachi 1:2; ?Malachi 1:3. But for clearer explication of this place, we must note that the words may be taken in respect of the persons of these contending twins, or in respect of their posterities; in respect of their persons, the preeminence of Jacob the younger above Esau the elder, consisted in the prerogative of the birthright, (which gave him authoritie over his brethren and the rest of the household under his father) devolved from Esau to Jacob. 2. In the promise of the Land of Canaan. 3. In the holy Covenant of Religion with God, whereby his Church was propagated in Jacobs posteritie, not in Esaus, and to that Church humble subjection is prophesied, Esa. 49. 23. see also Galatians 4:25-26. Revelation 3:9. But otherwise in respect of temporall preeminence Jacob might be said to serve Esau, for he called himselfe his servant, Genesis 32:18. 20. and Esau his Lord, Genesis 33. vers. 13, 14. and did him homage, bowing himselfe to the ground many times before him, Genesis 33:3. yet did the posteritie of Jacob subdue the posteritie of Esau, when in Davids time the Idumeans or Edomites that came of Esau (who was called Edom) were subdued by the Israelites, (who descended of Jacob and bare his name, for he was also Israel, Genesis 32:28.) and under their subjection were brought, 2 Samuel 8:14. and though for their sinnes afterwards the Edomites broke their yoke, as Isaac prophecied, Genesis 27:40. yet the Israelites never served the Idumeans, or Edomites. See the Annot. on Genesis 27:40.

Genesis 25:25

red like an hairy garment] With red haire all over his body, a strange and extraordinary birth, importing that Esau would prove a cholericke, cruell, and brutish man, and of monstrous ill manners; in whose person God prefigured the bloody and barbarous disposition of such as persecute his Church, and children, Ezekiel 3:5. Obad. 10.

Esau] The word signifieth either made, or perfect, by which was meant the strength of his constitution, as if he were already rear’d, or nurst, and rather like a man with a beard, then a new borne babe without teeth: and that name might be given him, with a purpose to please the mother, who being a beautifull woman, would be apt to take discontent at a deformed, or unhandsome child, as Esau was, being very hairy, as Jacob said of him, my brother is an hairy man. See Genesis Chapter 27. vers. 11.

Genesis 25:26

tooke hold] A Divine presage that Jacob should supplant him, and bring down his head as by tripping up his heeles; which came to passe in his getting of the preeminence of the birth-right and in other matters, whereof see Annot. on vers. 23.

Jacob] Hebr. Jaghnakob. His name beares the remembrance of the act, for it signifieth a supplanter, or taker up of the heele, from Ghnekeb, which in Hebrew signifieth the heele, or the sole of the foot; or from Ghnakab which signifieth to deceive by supplanting, or taking hold of the sole of the foot.

Genesis 25:27

hunter] The different disposition of the godly and the wicked is figured in these two sonnes: the one like Nimrod, Genesis 10:9. are of harsh, rough and fierce natures, and give themselves to exercises of violence, as Esau did; the other more disposed to civill societie and benignitie, as Jacob was.

Genesis 25:28

Isaac loved Esau] Isaac loved Esau better then Jacob, as Rebekah loved Jacob better then Esau; and he loved him because he did eate of his venison; it was then a fleshly love, and so an infirmitie in Isaac; but withall Esau being cunning not onely in hunting for the prey, vers. 27. but otherwise, might insinuate into the affections of his father; and by being very officious to please his palate might make himselfe as great a favourite with Isaac, as Jacob was with Rebekah.

Genesis 25:29

Jacob sod pottage] Household services in those dayes were no so distinguished as now they be, so that the sonnes might dresse meat, as well as the daughters; and the daughters carry upon their shoulders as Rebekah did, Chap. 24. 15. as well as sonnes.

Genesis 25:30

red pottage] Heb. with that red, with that red. Red by some herbes, as lentiles, whereof they were made see vers. 34. or, by somewhat put into them which might give them that colour, as Safron. The word red is doubled because the portage was very red, as the good good, Judg. 11. 25. emphatically signifieth very good, and naught naught, Proverbs 20:14. very naught.

therefore was his name called Edom] For that signifieth red; and that name might be given him not onely because he was greedy of this red pottage, doubling the word red, as it appeared to his sense, and omitting the word pottage, vers. 30. but also because he was red in complexion and colour of his body, vers. 25. being overgrowne with red haire. And it is to be noted that by the better sort he was more commonly called by his worse name Edom, then by his better name Esau, (which signifieth made, or perfect) and rather from the rednesse of the pottage whereabout he offended, then the rednesse of his body which was without his fault, as appeareth, vers. 25. He had (as some thinke) a third name, which was Seir, from his haitinesse; for Seir signifieth hairie; but in the Scripture it is not given him as a proper name, as Edom and Esau were, but as an appellative, or a common name, or title; for he was hairie Esau, as his father was blind Isaac, whose proper name was Isaac, and blind an appellative title added to it.

Genesis 25:31

sell me thy birth-right] The birthright contained a fatherly preeminence over the brethren, the Office of the Priesthood, before the Law written, and a double portion of the fathers estate; Deuteronomy 21:17. but for the Priesthood it was otherwise before the Law of Moses then afterward, for before Moses time the Priesthood was not limited to the elder brother, for Abel offered sacrifice as well as Caine, and the father of the family while he lived was ordinarily the Priest, and when he died his eldest sonne succeeded in that office, as well as in the government of the family; but in Moses time there was a law for the first-borne of man and beasts, the one as a Priest to offer, the other as a sacrifice to be offered, Exodus 13:2. In denying Esau reliefe in his hunger except upon such hard termes, Jacob had shewed himselfe an uncharitable man, and a very unkind brother; but it is like his mother, who received the prophecie of his preeminence, vers. 23. directed her younger sonne (as by an especiall providence of God) how to deale with the elder.

Genesis 25:32

at the point to die] Heb. goint to die. No great danger of death, but this was an expression noting the greedinesse of his appetite, and greatnesse of his passion.

Genesis 25:33

sweare] An oath is more then a promise, and so much as may oblige the conscience of a profane person, who cares not to violate or breake his word if he be no further bound.

this day] It is probable that this was not the first time that Esau, and Jacob had parley about the primogeniture; Esau was not a man fitly qualified for it, because he had more mind to be among unreasonable creatures in the field, then reasonable men in the family: for the Priesthood he was too profane, and under that title he is taxed, Hebrews 12:16. and here it is said, that he despised it, vers. 34. and for the double portion the priviledge of the first-borne, Deuteronomy 21:17. he had no need of it, for he could carve himselfe a competent maintenance with his sword, as his father foretold of him, Genesis 27:40. therefore having often, as it is like, made light of it, and promised to give it up unto his brother, he now tooke advantage of his present hunger to make a firme, and finall bargaine for it to be ratified with an oath, wherein he did unkindly in denying reliefe to his brother in necessitie, unjustly in requiring too great a price of that he sold, and impiously in tempting him to so profane a contempt, if he had not some secret instinct, or some revelation (by his mother consulting with God, or some other way) for the carriage of the contract in this sort; howsoever the great wisdome of God can order small occasions, as this was, to great purposes, and can convert the weaknesse, and wickednesse of men to his owne glory; yet this must not embolden any to doe as Jacob did, unlesse upon such warrant as Jacob had.

Genesis 25:34

despised] Neither before nor after the sale of his birthright die he thinke or care how bad his bargaine was by selling so pretious a thing for so poore a price, but did eat and drinke and goe away without any repentance for what he had done: See Hebrews 12:16. Yet he might have a purpose to recover that againe by force which he conceived was gotten by fraud.