GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 21

GRIFFIN COMMENTS—GEN 21

(Gen 21:1) And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

Twice God had visited Abraham and Sarah to personally let them know that within a year she would have a child. So now twice God lets us know He “visited as He said,” and “did as He had spoken.” He did what He said and spoke.

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY 2Co_3:14*F. THE LIFE OF ISAAC Gen_21:1

a) BIRTH OF ISAAC

God kept promising Abraham a sonGen_12:2 I will make of you a great nationGen_15:2 I go childlessGen_16:1-5; Gen_16:6-10 Abram and Sarah help God outGen_17:2 I will multiply you exceedinglyGen_18:10 Sarah shall have a son

Isaac's birth is the second great step toward the fulfillment of Jehovah's plan of redemption. His purpose and plan was to—(1) Have a people as His own, separate from the

surrounding nations.(2) A people to entrust with the Holy oracles.(3) A people through whom a Savior would come.(4) A people who would ultimately bless the whole world.

Rom_9:4-54 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption {other places called election}, and the glory {the privilege of being God’s special people}, and the covenants {Abrahamic, Palestinian Davidic and New especially, though the covenant of Sinai is included in this context}, and the giving of the law {on two tables of stone}, and the

GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 21—PAGE 1

service of God {priesthood}, and the promises{Holy Ghost, eternal righteousness and peace};5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Isaac's birth was the second great step toward the fulfillment of Jehovah's plan of redemption. What four things were involved in Jehovah's purpose and plan?

The first great step had been the selection of Abraham to be the father of the chosen nation, the call that separated him from the idolatrous people among whom he lived, and the migration unto the land Jehovah promised to give him. (Gen_12:1-2)The most important thing in a woman’s marriage relationship is the need for security. Abraham destroyed Sarah’s security. He persuaded her to say that she was his sister [to save his neck]. He had a child by Hagar.

Abraham had introduced into his family the seeds of discord and disturbance, and speedily the fruit is born. Ishmael was 14 at Isaac’s birth, and possibly 16 to 18 at the time of the weaning feast. Like a teen-ager he mocked this young puny child, Isaac.His mocking Isaac left a poison in Sarah’s blood that infuriated her. She had watched Abraham’s part in clinging to Ishmael. She now made a decision in simple maternal jealousy. The act of expulsion was itself unaccountably harsh. Abraham could have sent them under escort back to Egypt to her family and friends. He could have provided sufficient possessions for his livelihood. Instead they are merely cast out. It is what happens when one person with


a little authority stretches it to the utmost in vindictive maltreatment of another.Sarah happened to be mistress, and, instead of using her position to make those under her happy, she used it for her own convenience, for the gratification of her own spite, and to make those beneath her conscious of her power by their suffering. She breathed freely when Hagar and Ishmael were out of sight. A smile of satisfied malice betrayed her bitter spirit. No thought of the sufferings to which she had committed a woman who had served her well for years and who had no other protection but her would cause Sarah to relent. It mattered not to her what became of the woman and her son. This story is often repeated in employers who let their employees go after years of long service without any feeling of debt to them.Yet this severance was necessary. Ishmael was too much for the more supine and meek Isaac. It was probably plain to Abraham that Ishmael possessed what he would later see Isaac lacked. In spite of his insolence and turbulence, there was a natural force and independence of character in Ishmael, which could be useful in the patriarchal household. No wonder Abraham said, “Would that Ishmael live in your sight.” (Gen_17:18)

What would Abraham like more about Ishmael than Isaac?

On the other hand, such self-possessed warlike power would be disastrous to the purity of a religious quest, which Abraham must follow, and thus there must be a separation. It would be impossible for Ishmael to occupy a subordinate, dependent position toward Isaac, which would be necessary to fit into God’s plan. So the separation was necessary for both Abraham and Ishmael.Isaac was closely attached to his mother. At his marriage it was said, “Isaac brought her [Rebekah] into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his


wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death (Gen_24:67).”This is not the normal idea of a young man—to find a woman to “take the place of his mother.” Of course nothing would please Isaac more than that someone else handle these matters for him.Remember also that Abraham waited three years after Sarah’s death to take a wife for Isaac. It was customary to take a wife for a son when he was 20, and Isaac was 40. Abraham knew what Sarah’s reaction would be to another woman, especially one who would take her son away from her. Genesis 24 records the obtaining of the bride, Rebekah, for Isaac.Abraham knew he could not trust Isaac to go to Mesopotamia, so he told the servant to make sure he never went there. Others too easily influenced him. Isaac delighted in letting others make his decisions.You cannot read of Rebekah’s lively, bustling, almost forward, but obliging and generous conduct at the well, nor of her prompt, impulsive departure to an unknown land, without seeing that this was exactly the woman for Isaac. In this eager, ardent, active, enterprising spirit, his own retiring and contemplative, if not somber disposition found its appropriate relief and stimulus. Hers was a spirit which might indeed, with so mild a husband take more of the management of affairs than was befitting; and when the wear and tear of life had tamed down the girlish vivacity with which she spoke to Eliezer at the well, and leaped from the camel to meet Isaac, her active-mindedness does appear in the disagreeable shape of the clever scheming of the mother of a family. In her sons you see the qualities exaggerated: from her, Esau derived his activity and open-handedness; and in Jacob, you find that her self-reliant and unscrupulous management had become a self-asserting craft which leads him into much trouble, if it also sometime gets him out of difficulties. But such as Rebekah was, she was quite the woman to attract Isaac and supplement his character.


The fact that Isaac was of a supine temperament did not help matters. He was easily led and would do anything to avoid a confrontation. When he was mocked by Ishmael there is no record that he retaliated (Gen_21:9). However his mother took up for him. He redug the wells which his father had dug before and the Philistines had filled up. He did this without any sign of complaint (Gen_26:18-22). He kept moving until he was left unmolested. He could have easily brushed his elderly father aside, but instead submitted meekly to being placed on an altar as a sacrifice though he was probably about 20 years old (Gen_22:9). It would have been a different story with Ishmael.The importance of Isaac is that he was the son of Abraham. He is the link between Abraham and Jacob. He did nothing heroic, he lived off of his father’s greatness and under the shadow of his father’s significance.He loved Esau because we usually do love what we lack in our own lives (Gen_25:28). He was not an outdoorsman himself, but was more domestic like his son Jacob. Thus he loved the venison of his rough and muscular son Esau. He was easily deceived by his family and seemed to know nothing of their actions behind his back. Jacob and Esau apparently hid the fact of the buying of the birthright, and Rebekah knew they could fool him to obtain the blessing. He saw through the disguise of Jacob, but did so love peace that he fell for it anyway.

What type of person was Isaac?

(Gen 21:2) For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

There was no doubt that this was a fulfillment of prophecy for it turned out exactly as prophesied.

The birth of Isaac illustrated the power of God to fulfill His word and perform the miraculous. It also illustrated His


faithfulness to His promise. Though the promise was made many years before, and the circumstances seemed to proclaim that it could never happen, yet it came to pass exactly as prophesied. It also illustrated the faith of the man who placed his entire confidence in God and staggered not at the promise through unbelief (Rom_4:20).

(Gen 21:3) And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

That was not of course their decision and choice. God Himself had given the name as He had done so many times with His own.

The birth of Isaac was to be typical of Jesus birth1. Both births were announced long before.2. Both occur at the time fixed by God.3. Both persons were named before their birth.4. Both births were supernatural.5. Both births were the occasion of great joy.6. Both births are associated with the life beyond.(T. H. Leale.)

(Gen 21:4) And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

The rite of circumcision had been given to Abraham as a token of the covenant, and this was the covenant child so he had to be circumcised on the eighth day. This insured him of all the rights and blessings of his father.

[God had commanded him] Gen_17:12, and was the first that we read of that was circumcised on that day, according to the divine precept, which Abraham strictly observed. (Gill)

(Gen 21:5) And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.


He had staggered at the promise of God in the past but now that he was a hundred, he knew that this child had to be of God for neither he nor his wife could by nature have children (Rom_4:20), so being a hundred years old he staggered not at the promise. His trust in God restored his body however and he went on to have six more. He was like Hannah. She was barren a long time but once God answered her prayer and healed her body she had several more children.

(Gen 21:6) And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.

Before, she laughed because it seemed so impossible, now she laughed with joy of what God could do. Not only that, but she knew now that all who knew them would laugh with them, and the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Man is the only creature endowed with the power to laugh. Is he not also the one that deserves to be laughed at? (Greville)

(Gen 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.

She was right because nobody in the world would have believed them, if they had not seen it with their own eyes. We could not believe it ourselves were it not for our confidence in a God who would tell nothing but the truth. God does wonders that leave us in awe at His power and wisdom in orchestrating the affairs of men.

In the fourth chapter of Romans, Paul writes that Abraham "… considered not his own body now dead … neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb" (Rom_4:19). Out of death God brings forth life: this is a miraculous birth. We need to call attention to the fact that God did not flash the supernatural birth of Christ on the world as being something new. He


began to prepare men for it, and therefore way back here at the birth of Isaac we have a miraculous birth. (McGee)

(Gen 21:8) And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.

It is said that often a child in those days was five years old before weaning, and thus Sarah would have been about 95 years old by that time if she did indeed wait that long. Abraham wanted to celebrate and this opportunity to do so was both sweet and bitter because of his first child, Ishmael. It would be sweet because he now had the promise, but bitter in showing him the consequences of his doubt.

(Gen 21:9) And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

He was an adolescent boy and it would be quite natural to tease and mock his young brother, and especially a boy who was not of the nature to fight back.

BIRTH OF ISAAC(Gen_21:9)

1. Before he was born the power and activities of nature were ended.

Sarah's womb was dead (Rom_4:19).Dead must be brought to life.Man is "alienated from the life of God" (Eph_4:18).Sinner is dead in trespasses and sins.Prodigal: "This my son was dead and is alive" (Luk_15:24)Joh_5:24 New birth is "passing from death to life."

2. Miracle had to be performed before there could be a birth.


Receiving of the Holy Ghost is a supernatural operation of God.Not merely turning over a new leaf.Here are people who want a son.What can they do? Nothing!

3. The birth aroused opposition and produced a conflict (Gen_21:9; Gal_4:29).

Ishmael is one born of the flesh; Isaac is the one born of the Spirit.When Isaac was born the true nature of Ishmael came out (Gal_5:17).New Birth is not an improving of the old nature."It is enmity against God and is not subject to God"New Birth is receiving a new nature and receiving a new one does not improve the old.Instead, they are in antagonism now.

4. It was the birth of Isaac which revealed the true nature of Ishmael.

We know practically nothing about Ishmael before this.He has been quiet and orderly.Now he mocks Isaac.That is why we are commanded to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts.

5. Isaac was circumcised on the eighth day (Gen_21:4)

Col_2:10-11; compare Col_3:9.

6. Child grew and was weaned (Gen_21:8).

We grow by feeding on the milk (1Pe_2:2).

7. At last the older son is sent away (Gen_21:9-14).

At last the conflict is over.


Persecutions are now over and the persecutor is cast out (Gal_4:29; Phi_3:21; Joh_3:2).

Course of Israel in Genesis 21

1. Gen_21:14 Ishmael becomes a wanderer.Jews become wanderers.

2. Gen_21:15 Water spent.Spirit left Israel.

3. Gen_21:16 She wept.Jerusalem bemoaned her desolations

4. Gen_21:17 Heard a voice.Hope comes again (Hos_5:15).

5. Gen_21:19 Water found.Spirit returns to Israel.

6. Gen_21:20, Gen_21:18 Becomes a great nation.Israel rises to power again.

7. Gen_21:21 Dwelt in Paran (beauty, glory)Israel will dwell in the millennium.

8. Gen_21:21 Wife of Egypt.Israel allied with Egypt (Isa_19:24)

9. Gen_21:22 Gentiles seek him, acknowledge GodZec_8:23

10. Gen_21:33 Planted a grove - possession.Isa_64:12

11. Gen_21:33 Everlasting GodKingdom in power and glory.

12. Gen_25:16 Twelve sons.Twelve tribes restored to royalty

(Gen 21:10) Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

Sarah vented her rage and jealousy now even more than when Hagar became pregnant with Ishmael. What she did was what others in the same predicament would do, but that does not justify it. No one should be so cruel as to cast someone out without a means of support and without any


provision, into a howling wasteland of desert miles from any civilization. But anger and jealousy raged.

(Gen 21:11) And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

Abraham could see very clearly that this was very harsh treatment, and not only that; he had a son involved and would not want to do such a cruel thing.

Beyond all question, the thing here done is felt, at first sight, on all hands to be harsh; and the manner of doing it perhaps even harsher still. Now, it is not necessary to acquit Sarah of all personal vindictiveness, or to consider her as acting from the best and highest motives, merely because God commanded Abraham to hearken unto her voice. This may be only another instance of evil overruled for good. (R. S. Candlish, D. D.)

(Gen 21:12) And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Then the Lord stepped in to intervene in behalf of Ishmael and for His friend Abraham. He would take care of them, so Abraham could let them depart. There are times when God's servant feels frustrated at circumstances and God helps them out of their distress. This same thing happened when Israel wanted a king and Samuel did not want to yield to their wishes, but Jehovah told him to go ahead for He would work out the details (1Sa_8:7-9).

(Gen 21:13) And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

Notice that the reason God would honor this lad was not for his own righteousness, but because he was the seed of Abraham. Many come under the umbrella of other’s blessings, not for their own merit, but because God shows


favor with one and someone else enjoys the benefits. Laban was blessed for Jacob’s sake; Potiphar was blessed for Joseph’s sake.

(Gen 21:14) And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.The last time she had come out into this wilderness it was her own fault. This time it was her son. She was alone in a desolate world and had not found out yet that God would be her only source of sustenance and life’s necessities over the next few years.

HAGAR THE HELPLESS(Gen_21:14-19)

"What aileth thee Hagar?"Human ailments are very manyThey overtake us so unexpectedlyToday—happy nursing the son of AbrahamNow wandering in the wilderness

1. DIVINE QUESTION (Gen_21:17) "What aileth thee?"

How timely and tender is the sympathy of GodNo formal question of curiosityLoving inquiry of One whose heart years to help the needy

Luk_18:41 "What will you that I shall do to you?Opening the door of His Divine fullness

A. SHE WAS AN OUTCAST(Gen_21:10) "Cast out this bondwoman"(Gen_21:14) "Abraham sent her away"

Shut out from the Master's house and presence


Why? Because her son mocked at Isaac—the gift of God.Those who disregard God's Word are always put out

Luk_8:54 "And He put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise."

Sin always separates and leads from the house of blessing to the desert of sorrow and misery.

B. SHE WAS DESTITUTE (Gen_21:15) "The water was spent in the bottle."

The resources of the outcast are quickly exhaustedThe Prodigal Son's fortune was soon spent (Luk_15:14)When the sinner gets to an end of himself he has nothing left but prayer.His wit's end is often his best end.It is when all self-created streams are dried up that the longing eye seeks the Living Fountain.

C. SHE WAS HELPLESS AND HOPELESS (Gen_21:16) "She went a good way off, and said, Let me not see the death of the child."

She now sees nothing but the grim face of death before her.

Her parting with the lad must have been like the wringing the last drop of blood out of her heart.It is possible to see and feel the greatness of our needs, so that we are afraid to listen to their voice.

STIFLING THEIR CRY does not improve our condition.

She is a picture of one "without strength."Rom_5:6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."


2. DIVINE WORD OF COMFORT "The angel of God said, Fear not, for God hath heard."

What a beautiful fulfillment of "He knows hot to speak a word in season to them that are weary." (Isa_50:4).

Man's extremity is God's opportunity.It was "while we were yet sinners" that Christ died"Isa_41:10 "Fear not," is accompanied with fullness

A. PROVISION (Gen_21:19) "She saw a well of water"

She was sitting perishing in the agony of thirst while a well of salvation was close at hand.

Spiritually, this is the state of many perishing for lack of knowledge while the Word of Truth is lying at their side, and even ringing in their ears.

B. THE PREPARATION "God opened her eyes."

Not enough that the well is thereHer eyes must be opened

C. THE ACCEPTANCE "She went and filled the bottle with water"

God does His part then you must do yoursHe opens eyes—revealsYou fill bottles

D. RESULTS "She gave the lad drink"

In accepting the Divine provision she saved both herself and her son.

(Gen 21:15) And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.


What a lonely, desolate and frustrating feeling she must have had at this moment; a child dying, all provisions gone and having been rejected by the only family she had known for many years. Now her one last drastic act of desperation, she cast her son under the shrub and was resigned that she had nothing else she could do but let him die.

(Gen 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.

What a picture of a distraught soul, lost in a wilderness, with hope all gone. She had no idea how close God was to her.

God is at all times present with us. This should

1. Comfort us in our sorrows.

2. Restrain us from all sin.

3. Stimulate us to a true life.

(Homilist.)

(Gen 21:17) And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

But then came that familiar voice that always turns our curses into blessings; that changes our night to day; that brings us out of impossible situations. God had heard and He would rescue. She had heard that voice many years before before this child was even born. He had promised then to take care of her and proved that He was still near.

(Gen 21:18) Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.


Lift him up and hold him in your hand. I feel God is saying that to us about a lot of dying souls. Lift them out of their despair and hold them close. Give them a hand. Let them know that they can lean on you for support. Or another such image is that of Elisha who put his face on the face of the child, his eyes on his eyes, and prayed for him to rise out of death (2Ki_4:34). We should meet them where they are with what we have to bring them to life.

(Gen 21:19) And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

We will die if God does not open our eyes. We will not die because there are no resources. There are resources all around us but we cannot see them without a revelation from the one who opens eyes.

Life is full of hidden wells, stored-up blessings, ready at the right moment to supply the answer to prayer. God foresees our prayers as well as our necessities. (E. R. Conder, D. D.)

(Gen 21:20) And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.He became something that fitted him and his environment. He would live in the wilderness where archery would be needed both in providing food and for warfare. Had he lived in the city he probably would have been a mechanic. In either place it would be God who made him successful, and not his own skill.

And God was with the lad. Not simply in the ordinary sense in which he is with all men (Psa_139:3-9; Act_17:27-28); not, certainly, in the spiritual sense in which he had promised to be with Isaac (Gen_17:21), and in which he is with believers (Gen_26:24; Isa_41:10; Mat_28:20); but in the particular sense of exercising towards him a special providence, with a view to implementing the promise made concerning him to Abraham and Hagar. (Pulpit Commentary)


(Gen 21:21) And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

His mother had come from Egypt and it would be quite natural for her to go back to her old homeland to find a wife for her son. But he would not live there. He would come back to this barren land and forever claim that as his inheritance as has his descendents ever since.

Between God blessing a man's labor and God doing a man's labor for him there is a wide difference. God won't pasture the sheep, but God will multiply the flock. God won't dig the ground, but He'll water it with rain and dew. (A. W. Potts.)

(Gen 21:22) And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

Apparently Abraham kept in contact with Abimelech and neither of them let the bad experience of the past influence their friendship. Now Abimelech realized that this was an extraordinary man. Most likely Abimelech was also a great man like Abraham, but had been chosen by God to fill this type of role. But each is to fill the role God gives, and each should be just as happy as the other that they are privileged to do a work for God.

(Gen 21:23) Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

We see here another great character trait of Abimelech in his desire to develop a good fellowship with someone of like precious faith. The more you see this man’s attitude the more likeable he is.


Had Abimelech's successors always acted on this principle towards Israel, it had been better for them; for whether they knew it or not, God, in blessing Abraham, had promised to "bless them that blessed him, and to curse them that cursed him." (A. Fuller.)

(Gen 21:24) And Abraham said, I will swear.

He should have been the one making the overtures to fellowship, but at least he could swear to enter such an agreement.

It is a dictate of prudence very common among magistrates to require men to swear by a name that the party holds sacred. In this view Abimelech certainly acted a wise part; for whoever made light of God's name, the party here concerned would not. (A. Fuller.)

(Gen 21:25) And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.

But then Abraham took advantage of the situation and reproved Abimelech about the water problem, something that Abimelech was totally unaware of.

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.(JFB)

(Gen 21:26) And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.It is obvious that had a man of Abimelech’s stature known of the problem he would have handled it immediately upon finding it out. We can tell that by the way he handled every situation that he encountered so far.


He had not heard of it from others, as the Targum of Jonathan rightly adds, by way of explanation, but that very day, and very probably not till the moment he had it from Abraham himself. (Gill)

(Gen 21:27) And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.

This is the way all stories should end. Men with differences and disagreements should somehow work them out and adjust to develop a fellowship. All of us will have differences, but they can be worked out if we are willing to tolerate one another. That is why Jesus spent the entire eighteenth chapter of Matthew on the subject of solving offenses.

(Gen 21:28) And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

Water was always a problem in that part of the world and it was heavy on Abraham’s mind. He had accepted Abimelech’s apology and realized that the man simply did not know, but Abraham wanted to be sure that in the future there would be no misunderstanding. So he brought a sacrifice so that it might be known that he dug the well.

(Gen 21:29) And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

Of course, Abimelech had no idea what Abraham was doing. As far as he was concerned the water problem was over. He now knew the well was Abraham’s and he would see to it that his servants left it alone. But he now saw that with Abraham there was still an unsolved problem that had to be taken care of before they parted.

(Gen 21:30) And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.This way there could be no more controversy. Both Abraham and Abimelech could go home happy that they


could expect good relationship with each other in the future because all things had been worked out.

Abraham presented the king with sheep and oxen, as a material pledge that he would reciprocate the kindness shown, and live in friendship with the king and his descendants. (K&D)

(Gen 21:31) Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.

It was the well of the oath because of the oath they made with each other, and the one was as willing to make it as the other. There was mutual understanding between them and a promise of continued fellowship. The Psalmist declared that it is pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity (Psa_133:1-2). We need to find more wells like this.

(Gen 21:32) Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

It is too bad that these good relationships were not kept alive from that part of the world and especially between these two parties. By the time of the kings of Israel the Philistines were a thorn in the flesh and fought with Israel continually. There never was another time in the history of either one that there was real harmony.

(Gen 21:33) And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.

In a land of hardly any trees, a grove was a very precious commodity. It came to be after awhile that groves became a special place of heathen worship apparently because of their value. It is believed by some that the wood Abraham later put on Isaac to make the sacrifice of his son came from this grove he planted (Gen_22:3).


(Gen 21:34) And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.

There were two particular places where Abraham seemed to linger, one is here with Abimelech and the other was around Hebron. He associated with the people in both areas more than anywhere else. Usually when we find him in some other area he is not making any alliances, but he does with these friends in these two places.


GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 21

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