---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Genesis 21"
description: "CHAPTER 21   :-. BIRTH OF
ISAAC. 1. the Lord visited Sarah—The
language of the historian seems designedly chosen to magnify the
power of God as well as Hi"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/genesis/21"
---

![Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible](/images/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible.jpg)

 The Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
 
Include 66 books
 
Denomination: calvinism
 
 GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong Of SolomonIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation 1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950 

CHAPTER 21

. BIRTH OF
ISAAC.

**1. the Lord visited Sarah**—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].

**3, 4. Abraham called the name of his
son . . . Isaac . . . and circumcised**—God was acknowledged in
the name which, by divine command, was given for a memorial (compare
[Genesis 17:19](../../../kjv/genesis/17/19)), and also in the
dedication of the child by administering the seal of the covenant
(compare [Genesis 17:10-12](../../../kjv/genesis/17/10-12)).

**8. the child grew, and was
weaned**—children are suckled longer in the East than in the
Occident—boys usually for two or three years.
**Abraham made a great feast,**
&c.—In Eastern countries this is always a season of domestic
festivity, and the newly weaned child is formally brought, in
presence of the assembled relatives and friends, to partake of some
simple viands. Isaac, attired in the symbolic robe, the badge of
birthright, was then admitted heir of the tribe [ROSENMULLER].

**9. Sarah saw the son of Hagar . . .
mocking**—Ishmael was aware of the great change in his prospects,
and under the impulse of irritated or resentful feelings, in which he
was probably joined by his mother, treated the young heir with
derision and probably some violence ().

**10. Wherefore she said unto Abraham,
Cast out this bondwoman**—Nothing but the expulsion of both could
now preserve harmony in the household. Abraham's perplexity was
relieved by an announcement of the divine will, which in everything,
however painful to flesh and blood, all who fear God and are walking
in His ways will, like him, promptly obey. This story, as the apostle
tells us, in "an allegory" [], and the "persecution" by the son of the *Egyptian*
was the commencement of the four hundred years' affliction of
Abraham's seed by the *Egyptians.*

**12. in all that Sarah hath said**—it
is called the Scripture ([Galatians 4:30](../../../kjv/galatians/4/30)).

**13. also of the son of the bondwoman
will I make a nation**—Thus Providence overruled a family brawl
to give rise to two great and extraordinary peoples.
. EXPULSION OF
ISHMAEL.

**14. Abraham rose up early,**
&c.—early, that the wanderers might reach an asylum before
noon. Bread includes all sorts of victuals—bottle, a leathern
vessel, formed of the entire skin of a lamb or kid sewed up, with the
legs for handles, usually carried over the shoulder. Ishmael was a
lad of seventeen years, and it is quite customary for Arab chiefs to
send out their sons at such an age to do for themselves: often with
nothing but a few days' provisions in a bag.
**wandered in the wilderness of
Beer-sheba**—in the southern border of Palestine, but out of the
common direction, a wide extending desert, where they lost their way.

**15. the water was spent,**
&c.—Ishmael sank exhausted from fatigue and thirst—his mother
laid his head under one of the bushes to smell the damp while she
herself, unable to witness his distress, sat down at a little
distance in hopeless sorrow.

**19. God opened her eyes**—Had
she forgotten the promise ()? Whether she looked to God or not, He regarded her and
directed her to a fountain close beside her, but probably hid amid
brushwood, by the waters of which her almost expiring son was
revived.

**20, 21. God was with the lad,**
c.—Paran (that is, Arabia), where his posterity has ever dwelt
(compare [Genesis 16:12](../../../kjv/genesis/16/12) also [Isaiah 48:19](../../../kjv/isaiah/48/19);
[1 Peter 1:25](../../../kjv/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 young; and as Ishmael was now virtually deprived of his
father, his mother set about forming a marriage connection for him,
it would seem, among her relatives.
[1 Peter 1:25](../../../kjv/1-peter/1/25). COVENANT.

**22. Abimelech and Phichol**—Here
a proof of the promise ([Genesis 12:2](../../../kjv/genesis/12/2))
being fulfilled, in a native prince wishing to form a solemn league
with Abraham. The proposal was reasonable, and agreed to [[Genesis 12:2](../../../kjv/genesis/12/2)].

**25-31. And Abraham reproved
Abimelech because of a well**—Wells were of great importance to a
pastoral chief and on the successful operation of sinking a new one,
the owner was solemnly informed in person. If, however, they were
allowed to get out of repair, the restorer acquired a right to them.
In unoccupied lands the possession of wells gave a right of property
in the land, and dread of this had caused the offense for which
Abraham reproved Abimelech. Some describe four, others five, wells in
Beer-sheba.

**33. Abraham planted a grove**—*Hebrew,*
"of tamarisks," in which sacrificial worship was offered,
as in a roofless temple.

**34. Abraham sojourned in the
Philistines' land**—a picture of pastoral and an emblem of
Christian life.

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