Genesis 21:7

_AND SHE SAID, WHO WOULD HAVE SAID UNTO ABRAHAM, THAT SARAH SHOULD HAVE GIVEN CHILDREN SUCK? FOR I HAVE BORN HIM A SON IN HIS OLD AGE._ Who would have said unto Abraham - [Hebrew, _ MILEEL_ (H4448)] This is a poetical word; and this effusion of Sarah is quoted by Lowth ('Prelect.,' 4:) as being in rhythm. It is a fragment of a thanksgiving song, and the clause as we have it may be rendered: _ `WHO WOULD HAVE UTTERED IN SONG - WHO WOULD HAVE RECITED IN JOYOUS STRAINS UNTO ABRAHAM - THAT SARAH SHOULD HAVE GIVEN CHILDREN SUCK? -_ For I have born him a son in his old age.' Cf. 2 Samuel 23:2; Psalms 19:4; Psalms 106:2;...

7._Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck _? I understand the future tense to be here put for the subjunctive mood. And the meaning is, that such a thing would never have entered into the mind of any one. Whence she concludes, that God alone was the Author of it; and she now condemns herself for ingratitude because she had been so slow in giving credit to the angel who had told her of it. Now, since she speaks of children in the plural number, the Jews, according to their custom, invent the fable, that whereas a rumor was spread, that the child was supposititious, a great number of infants were brought by the neighbors, in order that Sarah, by suckling them, might prove herself a mother. As if, truly, this might not easily be known, when they saw Isaac hanging on her breast, (435) and as if this was not a more clear and distinct proof, that the milk,...

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...

- 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 SHE SAID, WHO WOULD HAVE SAID UNTO ABRAHAM,.... No one a year ago could ever have thought of such a thing, much less have come and told Abraham that he should have a child or children by Sarah; the thing was incredible, and next to impossible; none but God himself, or an angel from him, could have declared this, as none but he could bring it about, the thing is so marvellous and astonishing: THAT SARAH SHOULD HAVE GIVEN CHILDREN SUCK? that she who was ninety years of age should bear a child, and suckle it, as she did; and in doing which she set an example to her daughters to do the like, since neither age nor grandeur, nor the business of her family, were any objection to this duty of nature; and her being able to do this was a clear proof that this was truly a child of her own. The plural number may be put for the singular, as it often is, see Genesis 46:23; or Sara

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....

SUCK.. proof that "God", the Creator, had renewed her youth, showing why Abimelech should have taken her (Genesis 20:2). Sarah's Magnificat may be compared with Mary's. The scenes of both near to each other. Mary's words (Luke 1:54; Luke 1:55) connect her "mercy" with that shown to "Abraham and his seed",...

HAVE GIVEN CHILDREN SUCK— The plural (_children_) is put for the singular; and possibly Sarah might flatter herself that she should have more children after this. Hence we learn, as well as from many other instances in antiquity, that women of the highest distinction did not disdain the duty of suckling their children. Modern luxury has introduced a different practice; but she who is able and omits to suckle her own child, is, without all question, deficient in one of the first and most essential duties of a mother....