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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Genesis 21:25

Abraham reproved Disputes about wells are some of the most common causes of strife among the Bedouin tribes. Abraham's complaint is that his servants had dug wells; that Abimelech's servants had taken violent possession of them; that there had been no redress. The occasion of the treaty favoured a settlement of the dispute.

The verbs in Genesis 21:25 are best rendered as frequentatives = "as often as Abraham complained to Abimelech, Abimelech used to reply he was entirely ignorant." Gesen. Hebr. Gr. § 112 rr.

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See also Genesis 21:25 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 21:25. _ABRAHAM REPROVED ABIMELECH_] Wells were of great consequence in those hot countries, and especially where the flocks were numerous, because the water was scarce, and digging to f...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - The Birth of Isaac 7. מלל _mı̂lēl_ “speak,” an ancient and therefore solemn and poetical word. 14. חמת _chêmet_ “bottle,” akin to חמה _chāmâh_, “surround, enclose,” and הוּם _chûm_ “black. באר

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 21 ISAAC AND ISHMAEL AND THE COVENANT WITH ABIMELECH _ 1. Isaac's birth (Genesis 22:1) 2. His circumcision (Genesis 22:4)_ 3. Ishmael mocking (Genesis 22:9) 4. Sarah's demand ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 12:1 TO GENESIS 25:18. THE STORY OF ABRAHAM. In this section the three main sources, J. E, P are present. Gunkel has given strong reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH MAKE A COVENANT AT BEERSHEBA. Probably from JE. The analysis is uncertain; perhaps Genesis 21:25 f., Genesis 21:28; Genesis 21:32 belong to J, the rest to E. One narrative repres...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    VIOLENTLY, &C. Compare Genesis 26:19; Genesis 26:20; Exodus 2:17; Judges 5:11. This explains...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    ABRAHAM REPROVED ABIMELECH, &C.— Abraham was very ready to enter into a covenant with Abimelech, and to assure him of his friendship and protection, but thought it necessary first to settle a right un...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND ABRAHAM REPROVED ABIMELECH BECAUSE OF A WELL OF WATER, WHICH ABIMELECH'S SERVANTS HAD VIOLENTLY TAKEN AWAY._ Abraham reproved ... because of a well. Wells were of great importance to a pastoral...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BIRTH OF ISAAC. DISMISSAL OF HAGAR AND ISHMAEL. COVENANT BETWEEN ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH 8. Weaned] in his second or third year, as is usual among Orientals....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 21 ISAAC IS BORN V1 The *Lord had promised that he would visit Sarah. He did what he had promised to her. V2 So Sarah became *pregnant. A son was...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ הֹוכִ֥חַ אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶת ־אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ עַל...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    ISHMAEL AND ISAAC Genesis 21:1; Genesis 22:1 Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. Which things are an allegory.- Galatians 4:22. "Abraham stretched forth his hand,...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH COVENANT Genesis 21:22 Abimelech was impressed with Abraham's growing prosperity. He felt that it could not be explained on merely natural grounds. “God is with thee in all that...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    At last in God's 'Set time," and in spite of all natural difficulties, the long-promised son was born. Sarah who at an earlier point had laughed with the laughter of incredulity, now laughed with the...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have had hitherto God's account of that which He had made; then the trial and utter ruin of the creature, with the revelation of divine mercy in Christ the Lord. We have had in fine the judgment of...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    25._And Abraham reproved Abimelech_. This complaint seems to be unjust; for, if he had been injured, why did he not resort to the ordinary remedy? He knew the king to be humane, to have some seed of p...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 20 AND 21. In Chapter s 20, 21 we have the question of the heir and of the path of faith in another point of view. Abraham denies his relationship with his wi...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND ABRAHAM REPROVED ABIMELECH BECAUSE OF A WELL OF WATER,.... Before he swore and entered into covenant with him, he thought it advisable to inform him of an affair that had happened concerning a wel...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away. Ver. 25. _And Abraham reproved Abimelech._] Inferiors may reprove their superiors, so t...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Isaac is borne. 4 He is circumcised. 6 Sarahs ioy. 9 Hagar & Ishmael are cast forth. 15 Hagar in distresse. 17 The Angel comforteth her. 22 Abimelechs couenant with Abraham at Beer-sheba. 1 AN...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away. That was a grievance which required adjustment before any pact could be made....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The Covenant Between Abraham and Abimelech...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    NINTH SECTION _The birth of Isaac. Ishmael’s expulsion. The Covenant of peace with Abimelech at Beer-sheba_ GENESIS 21:1-34 1And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PROMISE FULFILLED IN ISAAC Now the grace of God bears its most important fruit in the history of Abraham. Sarah, at the unlikely age of 90 years, gives birth to Isaac, at the time God Himself had...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham. It is wise to connect ourselves with those who are blessed of God; and we ought to requite kindness to those who have...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    That the foundation of true friendship might be firmly laid, and the peace inviolably observed, he removes an impediment to it, an occasion of quarrel and just exception on Abraham's part. A WELL OF W...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    And the Lord visited Sarah, as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken." Here we have accomplished promise the blessed fruit of patient waiting upon God. None ever waited in vain. Th...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 21:25 Abraham H85 rebuked H3198 (H8689) Abimelech H40 because H182 well H875 water H4325 Abimelechs H40 servants...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of the well of water which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.' The well, clearly fed by a powerful spring, must have been of great importance for it...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 21 In the story of Hagar and Ishmael, we notice: I. The outcast. As Abraham is the father of all the faithful, so the Arab Ishmael is the father of all our outcasts. He was an impudent boy, w...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Birth of Isaac. Bondwoman and her son cast out. Abraham at Beersheba. CHARACTERS: Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Hagar, Ishmael, Abimelech. CONCLUSION: Behind every promise of God is the purpose a...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 21:3. _Isaac;_ that is, laughter or holy joy. Luke 6:21. Sarah had once laughed through unbelief; now being ashamed of that, she could sing with Mary, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spi...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me_ ABRAHAM THE FRIEND OF MAN I. ABRAHAM YIELDS READILY TO THE REQUEST FOR HIS FRIENDSHIP. Abimelech’s motives in seeking the friendsh...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 21:25 Before sealing the treaty, Abraham raises the controversial issue of ownership of a WELL. The COVENANT or treaty was designed to prevent conflict between the two parties....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 21:22. Phichol.] Name signifies “mouth of all,” _i.e.,_ all-commanding. Probably an official title. GENESIS 21:23. NOR WITH MY SON, NOR WITH MY SON’S SON.] The LXX. has “neit...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 21:22 AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THAT TIME,—possibly in immediate sequence to the incident of the preceding chapter, but, "according to the common law of Hebrew narrative, probably not...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now the LORD visited Sarah as he had said (Genesis 21:1), I like this. and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken (Genesis 21:1). I like that, "as He had said, and as He had spoken." I've got that...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    reproved. Genesis 26:15 Genesis 29:8 Exodus 2:15 Judges 1:15 Proverbs

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