Genesis 21:1

_AND THE LORD VISITED SARAH AS HE HAD SAID, AND THE LORD DID UNTO SARAH AS HE HAD SPOKEN._ The Lord visited Sarah. The phrase, "the Lord visited," when used in Scripture with reference to a person or a people, indicates some signal token of favour-some remarkable blessing (cf. Exodus 3:16; 1 Samuel 2:21; Luke 1:68). The language of the historian seems designedly chosen to magnify the power of God, as well as His faithfulness to His promise. It was God's grace that brought about that event, as well as the raising of spiritual children to Abraham, of which the birth of this son was typical (Calvin)....

1._And the Lord visited Sarah_. In this chapters not only is the nativity of Isaac related, but because, in his very birth, God has set before us a lively picture of his Church, Moses also gives a particular account of this matter. And first, he says that God visited Sarah, as he had promised. Because all offspring, flows from the kindness of God, as it is in the psalm, ‘The fruit of the womb is the gift of God;’ (Psalms 127:3;) therefore the Lord is said, not without reason, to visit those, to whom he gives children. For although the foetus seems to be produced naturally, each from its own kind; there is yet no fecundity in animals, except so far as the Lord puts forth his own power, to fulfill what he has said, Increase and multiply. But in the propagation of the human race, his special benediction is conspicuous; and, therefore, the birth of every child is rightly deem

1-8 Few under the Old Testament were brought into the world with such expectations as Isaac. He was in this a type of Christ, that Seed which the holy God so long promised, and holy men so long expected. He was born according to the promise, at the set time of which God had spoken. God's promised mercies will certainly come at the time which He sets, and that is the best time. Isaac means "laughter," and there was good reason for the name, ch. Genesis 17:17; Genesis 18:13. When the Sun of comfort is risen upon the soul, it is good to remember how welcome the dawning of the day was. When Sarah received the promise, she laughed with distrust and doubt. When God gives us the mercies we began to despair of, we ought to remember with sorrow and shame our sinful distrust of his power and promise, when we were in purs...

CHAPTER XXI _Isaac is born according to the promise_, 1-3; _and is circumcised when eight days old_, 4. _Abraham's age, and Sarah's exultation at the birth of their son_, 5-7. _Isaac is weaned_, 8. _Ishmael mocking on the occasion, Sarah requires that both he and his_ _mother Hagar shall be dismissed_, 9, 10. _Abraham, distressed on the account, is ordered by the Lord to_ _comply_, 11, 12. _The promise renewed to Ishmael_, 13. _Abraham dismisses Hagar and her son, who go to the wilderness of_...

- 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 שׁבע _b__e__êr_-_sheba‛_, Beer-sheba‘, “well of seven.” 22. פיכל _pı̂ykol_, Pikhol, “mouth or spokesman of all.” 23. נין _nı̂yn_ “offspring, kin;” related: “sprout, flourish.”...

EXPOSITION GENESIS 21:1 AND THE LORD_—Jehovah_;_ _not because the verse is Jehovistic (Knobel, Bleek, _et alii_)_, _but because the promise naturally falls to be implemented by him who gave it (_vide_ Genesis 18:10)—VISITED—remembered with love (Onkelos), ἐπισκέψατο (LXX.; cf. Genesis 1:24; Exo 4:31; 1 Samuel 2:21; Isaiah 23:17); though it sometimes means to approach in judgment (_vide _

AND THE LORD VISITED SARAH AS HE HAD SAID,.... To Abraham, Genesis 17:16; in a way of mercy and kindness, by fulfilling his promise, giving strength to conceive and bear a child; see 1 Samuel 2:21: AND THE LORD DID UNTO SARAH AS HE HAD SPOKEN; which intends the same thing in different words; and the repetition is made to cause attention to God's fulfilment of his promise, who is always faithful to his word, even in things very difficult and seemingly impossible, as in the present case: hence the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase it, God did a wonder or wonders for Sarah in causing her to conceive when she was so old, and in such circumstances as she was....

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 (Genesis 22:10) 5. God speaks to Abraham (Genesis 22:12) 6. Hagar and Ishmael cast out (Genesis 22:14) 7. The intervention of God (Genesis 22:17)

BIRTH OF ISAAC. Genesis 21:1_ b_ and Genesis 21:2 _b_ - Genesis 21:5 belong to P, the editor having changed Elohim into Yahweh in Genesis 21:1_ b_. To J Genesis 21:1_ a_, Genesis 21:2_ a_, Genesis 21:7 may be assigned, and Genesis 21:6 a to E....

THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4. AS. according as. SAID. Emphasis on "said" for our faith. SPOKEN. Figure of speech _Pleonasm_ (App-6), for emphasis....