_A.M. 2151. B.C. 1853._ The sacred historian in this chapter, ( 1,) _ Takes his leave of Abraham with an account, 1, Of his children by another wife, Genesis 25:1; Genesis 25:2, Of his last will and testament, Genesis 25:5; Genesis 25:3, Of his age, death, and burial, Genesis 25:7._ (2,) He takes... [ Continue Reading ]
Five and thirty years Abraham lived after the marriage of Isaac, and all that is recorded concerning him during that time lies here in a very few verses; we hear no more of God's extraordinary appearances to him or trials of him; for all the days even of the greatest saints are not eminent; some sli... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac_ As he was bound to do, not only in justice to Sarah his first wife, but also to Rebekah, who married Isaac upon the assurance of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abraham gave gifts_ Or portions. Abraham may be an example to us in almost every circumstance of life: we find him, with great prudence: making, in his lifetime, proper provision for his sons by his secondary wives, Hagar and Keturah, and sending them away from Isaac; whereby, in all probability, h... [ Continue Reading ]
_These are the days of Abraham_ He lived just a hundred years after he came to Canaan; so long he was a sojourner in a strange land.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He died in a good old age_ As God had promised him; good, _through grace_, his hoary head being found in the way of righteousness; and _naturally_ good, he being free, it seems, from many of the infirmities and calamities of old age. _Full of years Of years_, is not in the Hebrew, it is only, _an o... [ Continue Reading ]
_God blessed Isaac_ For the blessing of Abraham did not die with him, but was perpetuated to his posterity, and especially to the children of the promise. _The generations of Ishmael_ God had made some promises concerning him, and this account of his posterity is given that we may know the accomplis... [ Continue Reading ]
_He lived a hundred and thirty-seven years_ Which is recorded to show the efficacy of Abraham's prayer for him, Genesis 17:18, _O that Ishmael might live before thee!_ Then he also was _gathered to his people. And he died in the presence of all his brethren_ With his friends about him. Who would not... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Isaac was forty years old_ Not much is related concerning Isaac, but what had reference to his father, while he lived, and to his sons afterward; for Isaac seems not to have been a man of action, nor to have been much _tried_, but to have spent his days in quietness and silence.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife_ Though God had promised to multiply his family, he prayed for it; for God's promises must not supersede, but encourage our prayers, and be improved as the ground of our faith. Though he had prayed for this mercy many years, and it was not granted, yet he d... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children struggled within her_ In an unusual and painful manner; a presage of the enmity of these two sons and their posterities. _If it be so_, or since it is so, _why am I thus?_ That is, as some interpret it, “If I am with child, what is the reason of this unusual commotion I feel?” Or, as o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Two nations are in thy womb_ The fathers of two nations, namely, of the Edomites and Israelites; two manner of people, which should not only greatly differ from each other in religion, laws, manners, but should contend with each other, and the issue of the contest should be, that _the elder should... [ Continue Reading ]
_Red, like a hairy garment_ With red hair all over his body, as if he had been already a grown man, whence he had his name, _Esau, made_, reared already. This was an indication of a very strong constitution, and gave cause to expect that he would be a very robust, daring, active man. But Jacob was s... [ Continue Reading ]
_His hand took hold on Esau's heel_ This signified, 1st, Jacob's pursuit of the birthright and blessing; from the first he reached forth to have caught hold of it, and if possible to have prevented his brother. 2d, His prevailing for it at last: that, in process of time, he should gain his point. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jacob was a plain man_ This probably means, that he was of a mild and gentle nature, of a contemplative turn of mind, and delighting in a pastoral life.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Isaac loved Esau_ The conduct of both these parents was blameable: they had but these two children, and the father was peculiarly attached to the one, and the mother to the other. And this improper partiality gave occasion to that strife which once threatened their being deprived of them both. Such... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sod_ That is, boiled. _Edom_, or _red. Sell me this day thy birthright_ He cannot be excused in taking advantage of Esau's necessity; yet neither can Esau be excused, who was profane, Hebrews 12:16, because _for one morsel of meat he sold his birthright._ Various have been the opinions what this bi... [ Continue Reading ]
_He did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way_ Without any serious reflections upon the ill bargain he had made, or any show of regret. _Thus Esau despised his birthright_ He used no means to get the bargain revoked, made no appeal to his father about it; but the bargain which his necessity h... [ Continue Reading ]