Genesis 21:21

_AND HE DWELT IN THE WILDERNESS OF PARAN: AND HIS MOTHER TOOK HIM A WIFE OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT._ Paran. Paran, which was further south than the wilderness of Beer-sheba, corresponded generally to the desert now called Et-Tih, bounded on the north by the southern mountains of Canaan, on the west by the wilderness of Shur, on the south by Jebel et-Tih, and on the east by mount Seir. When Ishmael removed to the wilderness of Paran is not recorded; whether immediately on recovery, or he tarried for a time in the neighbourhood of the well (cf. Genesis 16:12; also Isaiah 48:19; 1 Peter 1:25). HIS MOTHER TOOK HIM A WIFE. On a father's death, the mother looks out for a wife for her son, however

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...

Verse Genesis 21:21. _HE DWELT IN THE WILDERNESS OF PARAN_] This is generally allowed to have been a part of the desert belonging to Arabia Petraea, in the vicinity of Mount Sinai; and this seems to be its uniform meaning in the sacred writings....

- 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 HE DWELT IN THE WILDERNESS OF PARAN,.... So called from Paran, a city in Arabia Petraea; it reached from the wilderness of Shur to Mount Sinai: the account Adrichomius q gives of it is this; Paran or "Pharan is a wilderness, very large, desolate, impassable, and without water, containing, from Mount Sinai to Kadeshbarnea, a journey of eleven days; its land can neither be ploughed nor sown, is wholly dry, barren, and uncultivated; uninhabitable to men, destitute of villages, houses, and cottages; where neither men are seen, nor beasts nor birds; yea, neither trees nor any grass, only rocks and high rough stony mountains; it is taken sometimes for the first part of the desert of Arabia, near Mount Sinai, and sometimes for the last part, towards the land of promise; sometimes it is called the desert of Sin, and sometimes the desert of Sinai, from the mount; but this name Pharan seems t...

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....

_the wilderness of Paran_ Mentioned in Numbers 10:12; Numbers 12:16; Numbers 13:3. It seems to have been the wild mountainous country south and east of Kadesh, and west of Edom, the modern _et-Tih_. _out of the land of Egypt_ Hagar herself was an Egyptian, cf. Genesis 16:1. For the parent taking a wife for the son, cf. Genesis 24:3; Genesis 34:4; Genesis 38:6;...

HIS MOTHER TOOK HIM A WIFE OUT OF THE LAND OF AEGYPT— One of her own countrywomen, as was most natural. It appears most likely that Abraham and Ishmael had an intercourse together in future life. Ishmael however, we read, as well as Isaac, took care of the patriarch's funeral. REFLECTIONS.—Abraham no longer hesitates, when God commands; though parental tenderness might plead, or Hagar's fate appear severe, it is enough for him to hear and obey. Thus he is trained by one exercise of obedience to the severer task preparing for him in Isaac. He gives them provision, and sends them away. _Note;_ Nature may struggle hard, but when God's glory requires, wife and children must be parted with. We have hereupon, 1. Hagar's distress with her son in the wilderness. Her provision exhausted, weary with wandering, fainting with drought, famished with hunger, her poor boy sinks down by her side; while...