EXCURSUS F: ON THE ANGEL, [HEB., “MESSENGER OF JEHOVAH”] (Genesis 16). It is in chapter 16 that we first meet with this term, and as in several places there is an apparent identification of Jehovah’s messenger with Jehovah Himself, and even with Elohim, it becomes necessary to say a few words upon... [ Continue Reading ]
XVI. THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN. (1) NOW SARAI. — The history of Abram is given in a succession of brief narratives, written possibly by the patriarch himself; and though papyrus was known at Ur (_Trans. Soc. Bibl. Arch.,_ i. 343, ii. 430), yet the absence of any convenient writing material for ordina... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I MAY OBTAIN CHILDREN BY HER. — Heb., _that I may be builded by her._ The words, _ben=_a son, _bath_ (originally _banth_)_=_a daughter, _baith_ (_banith_) =a house, and _bânâh=_to build, all belong to the same root in Hebrew, the idea being that the children build the house, and give a man the... [ Continue Reading ]
ABRAM HAD DWELT TEN YEARS IN THE LAND OF CANAAN. — He was now, therefore, eighty-five years of age (see Genesis 16:16 and Genesis 12:4), and this long delay had not only tried his faith, but brought him and Sarai to the conclusion that the promised seed was to be obtained by other means.... [ Continue Reading ]
HER MISTRESS WAS DESPISED. — Hagar, we are told in Genesis 16:3, was to be, not Abram’s concubine, but his wife. She was to be Sarai’s representative, and though now she would hold the highest place in the household next to Sarai, because of this relation to Abram, yet she would continue to be Sarai... [ Continue Reading ]
MY WRONG BE UPON THEE. — That is, _May the wrong done to me be avenged upon thee._ Sarai’s act had been one of self-denial for Abram’s sake, and now that it has led to her being treated insolently she makes Abram answerable for it.... [ Continue Reading ]
SARAI DEALT HARDLY WITH HER. — The verb is translated _afflicted_ in Exodus 1:11 and Isaiah 60:14; its more exact meaning is, _Sarai humbled her,_ that is, reduced her to her original condition. It was quite right that as Hagar had abused her elevation, Abram should make her yield to Sarai all due r... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD. — Heb., _of Jehovah._ (See Excursus at end of Book.) IN THE WAY TO SHUR. — Hagar evidently fled by the usual route leading from Hebron past Beer-sheba to Egypt. The wilderness was that of Paran, in which Kadesh was situated. The fountain by which Hagar was sitting was on the r... [ Continue Reading ]
WHENCE CAMEST THOU? — It is noteworthy that in these Divine communications God’s knowledge of all the circumstances is not presumed, but the person visited is led on to tell them. This adds very much to the freshness and poetry of the narrative. Here, however, in the address, _Hagar, Sarai’s maid,_... [ Continue Reading ]
SUBMIT THYSELF. — Heb., _humble thyself._ It is the verb translated _dealt hardly_ in Genesis 16:6. The angel therefore commands her to take the position which Sarai was forcing upon her; and by so doing proves to us that there had been no personal maltreatment. Commentators have taken this notion,... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL MULTIPLY THY SEED. — We have here the purpose of the Divine manifestation. Abram’s son must not be mixed up with and lost among the debased population of Egypt, but must be the father of a free people; and Hagar will now submit to her lot as a slave, that she may secure liberty for her offspr... [ Continue Reading ]
ISHMAEL. — That is, _God heareth._ Like Samuel, Ishmael received his name from the events of his mother’s life, and not from anything in his own. There was, however, no rule in this matter, and the naming of children in the Book of Genesis is very diversified.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WILL BE A WILD MAN. — Heb., _he will be a wild-ass man._ The wild ass of the Arabian deserts is a very noble creature, and is one of the animals selected in the Book of Job as especially exemplifying the greatness of God (Job 39:5). Its characteristics are great speed, love of solitude, and an un... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU GOD SEEST ME. — Heb., _Thou art El Boi,_ that is, a God of seeing. Not as Onkelos paraphrases it, “Thou art a God that sees all things,” but “Thou art a God that permits Himself to be seen.” For so Hagar proceeds herself to explain the name, _Do not I still see after seeing?_ With all the love... [ Continue Reading ]
BEER-LAHAI-ROI. — That is, _Well of the living-seeing_ (of God), the well where God has been seen, and the beholder still lives. It became afterwards a favourite dwelling-place of Isaac (Genesis 25:11), and was probably, therefore, surrounded by pastures, but its site has not been identified. For Ka... [ Continue Reading ]