Genesis 21:16

_AND SHE WENT, AND SAT HER DOWN OVER AGAINST HIM A GOOD WAY OFF, AS IT WERE A BOWSHOT: FOR SHE SAID, LET ME NOT SEE THE DEATH OF THE CHILD. AND SHE SAT OVER AGAINST HIM, AND LIFT UP HER VOICE, AND WEPT._ NO JFB COMMENTARY ON THIS VERSE....

14-21 If Hagar and Ishmael had behaved well in Abraham's family, they might have continued there; but they were justly punished. By abusing privileges, we forfeit them. Those who know not when they are well off, will be made to know the worth of mercies by the want of them. They were brought to distress in the wilderness. It is not said that the provisions were spent, or that Abraham sent them away without money. But the water was spent; and having lost their way, in that hot climate Ishmael was soon overcome with fatigue and thirst. God's readiness to help us when we are in trouble, must not slacken, but quicken our endeavours to help ourselves. The promise concerning her son is repeated, as a reason why Hagar should bestir herself to help him. It should engage our care and pains about children and young people, to consider that we know not what great use God has designed them for, and...

- 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 21:15 AND THE WATER WAS SPENT IN (literally, _from_)_ _THE BOTTLE,—so that the wanderers became exhausted, and were in danger of fainting through thirst—AND SHE CAST THE CHILD—a translation which certainly conveys an erroneous impression, first of Ishmael, who was not an infant, but a grown lad (_vide supra_, Genesis 21:14), and secondly of Ishmael's mother, whom it represents as acting with violence, if not with inhumanity; whereas the sense probably is that, having, as long as her rapidly diminishing strength permitted, supported her fainting son, she at length suddenly, through feebleness, released his nerveless hand as he fell, and in despair, finding herself unable to give

AND SHE WENT AND SAT HER DOWN OVER AGAINST [HIM], A GOOD WAY OFF,.... Not being able to bear the sight of her child in his agonies, and, as she apprehended, ready to expire, she went from the place where she had laid him, and sat down under one of the shrubs or trees to shade herself, right over against that where her child was, though at some distance, which is next expressed: AS IT WERE A BOWSHOT; about as far off from him as an arrow can be shot, or is usually shot out of a bow; according to the Jews this was about half a mile, for they say i two bowshots make a mile; here she sat waiting what would be the issue, whether life or death, which last she expected: FOR SHE SAID, LET ME NOT SEE THE DEATH OF THE CHILD; she could not bear to hear his dying groans, and see him in his dying agonies: AND SHE SAT OVER AGAINST [HIM], AND LIFT UP HER VOICE AND WEPT; on account of her desolate an...

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)

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, one connecting Abraham with Hebron, the other with Beersheba and the Negeb. The former associates Abraham with Lot. (For details, see ICC.) On the interpretation to be placed on the figures of Abraham and the patriarchs, see the Introduction. The interest, which has hitherto been diffused over the fortunes of mankind in general, is now concentrated on Abraham and his posterity, the principle of election narrowing it down to Isaac, Ishmael being left aside, and then to Jacob, Esau being excluded....

LIFT UP HER VOICE. _the boy lifted tip his voice and wept._ So Septuagint (see Genesis 21:17)....

_as it were a bowshot_ LXX ὡσεὶ τόξου βολήν, Lat. _quantum potest arcus jacere_. The child's strength had given out before the mother's. She could not bring herself to watch her child die of thirst, and she could not leave him. She remained within hearing. _and lift up her voice and wept_ The LXX probably preserves the right rendering "And the child lifted up its voice and wept," ἀναβοῆσαν δὲ τὸ παιδίον ἔκλαυσεν....

4. _The Expulsion of the Bondwoman and Her Son_ (Genesis 21:8-21) 8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne unto Abraham, mocking. 10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this handmaid and her son: for the son of this handmaid shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son. 12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy handmaid; in all that Sarah saith unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. 13 And also of the son of the handmaid will I make a nation, because he is thy seed. 14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, p