Genesis Chapter 16
Go into my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her: This was according to legal customs as witnessed in
legal codes and marriage contracts of the time. Ten years had elapsed since God's original promise of an heir (16:
3), and Abram and Sarai took matters into their own hands (note Gen. 30:3). The negative commentary concerning
this episode is written by Paul in Galatians 4 and contrasts the " the work of the flesh" and the product of the God" in
verse 29.
16:7-16 The angel of the Lord was likely the preincarnate appearance of the second person of the trinity as the
angel's character, deeds, and power confirm this interpretation. Ishmael: The name means "Gods Hears" and was
intended to remind Hagar of God's special intervention on her behalf.This is the first time that the Angel of the Lord
appears in the Old Testament.Hagar's son will be a wild man and ll dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
16:7-16 (continued) The Hebrew actually means "in defiance/disregard of" as shown in Genesis 25:18 and
Deuteronomy 21:16. The idiom and context denote a hostility on the part of Ishmael (and his descendants) toward
his brethren (Issac and his descendants) and even among Ishmael's own people. Thus began the Jewish and Arab
conflict, due to an act of the flesh on the part of Abram. When Hagar finally gave birth, Abram was 86 years old.
Eleven years had passed since God first promised an heir, and His promised was still unfulfilled.
Genesis chapter 17
17:1-8 Thirteen years had passed since the birth of Ishmael (verse 1). Almighty God (Hebrew El Shaday): El denotes
"power" and Shaddai may be derived from the Akkadian shadadu, to "overpower," portraying God as the
overpowering, almighty One who will supernaturally provide descendants for Abram when all other means fail. Thy
name shall be Abraham: Abram means "High Father," but he is now to be called Abraham, suggesting he will become
the father of a multitude (Hebrew ham 12:3). Everlasting covenant...I will give...the land: Since the covenant is
"everlasting" and includes possession of Canaan, it guarantees Israel the right of possession as an earthly
inheritance forever. God is the Landlord who gives the title deed to Israel, His son. Thus, the Jews have a rightful
claim to this land as long as the earth shall stand.
17:9-14 – Abraham’s part in the covenant-making process was circumcision, which God established as a sign of the
covenant to indicate that his offspring were uniquely dedicated to God (Ex. 4:24 -26; Rom. 4:11). A Hebrew who
failed to observe this rite would be cut off from the covenant community. Circumcision was to serve as an outward
sign of inward dedication to God. In itself, it was neither efficacious, nor unique to Israel .
17:15-22. Then Abraham…laughed: It seems strange that Abraham laughs at the idea of a hundred-year-old man
begetting a son, when his own father was 130 at the time of his birth. Sarah would die when he was 137, but he was
able to beget sons long after that (25:1-6). Paul states that when he was 100, “He considered not his own body now
dead” (Rom 4:19 ). This laughter is one of doubt as verse 18 reveals. His plea, O that Ishmael might live before
thee! Indicates his wish to adopt him as his heir (cf. 15:2, 3; Ps 2:7 and the law code of Hammurapi for the legal
statement of adoption expressed by “thou art my child,” and when God declared officially that Jesus was His Son, at
the Resurrection, Rom. 1:4). Thou shalt call his name Isaac: The name means “He Laughs” and was to serve as a
reminder to Abraham of the unlikely means by which he was brought into the world, and his response in 17:17 , and
Sarah’s reaction in 18:12 .
Genesis chapter 18
18:1-15 The three men who appeared to Abraham were the preincarnate Christ (Yahweh) and two angels (v. 22;19:
1). Here we find an example, not only of “entertaining angels unawares” (Heb. 13:2), but also of God becoming the
guest of one of His saints (cf. John 14:23 ; Rev. 3:20). Sara laughed within herself either because she did not know
of the promise of 17:19 or because she was unconvinced it would be fulfilled. In either case, one of the three men
was now clearly identified as Yahweh, who knew Sarah’s thoughts.
18:16-33 This section gives the basis for Abraham’s being called the friend of God (2 Chr 20:7; Is 41:8; James 2:23).
Because he was the friend of God and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him, he was allowed the high
privilege of learning something about God’s principles of dealing with those nations. The cry of Sodom and
Gomorrah is great: Their sins cried out for punishment (cf 4:10 ), Hos 7:2; Jonah 1:2). I will go down (cf 11:7)
indicates that God’s justice moved Him to demonstrate that He had full possession of the facts. Actually the two
angels went to Sodom and the Angel of the Lord stayed with Abraham. Abraham expressed concern for the people
(cf. 13:8, 9). Fifty righteous: Lot was one of them (2 Pet. 2:7), but there evidently were not even 10 righteous ( 19:14
). Therefore the city had to be destroyed. In all likelihood, backslidden Lot was the only “just” man there.
Genesis chapter 19
19:1-15 Sat in the gate implies that Lot was a leader in the city, possibly a judge (cf v. 9; 34:20). Pressed upon them
greatly: Lot knew what might happen to them if they did not stay with him. That we may know them: The word know is
to be interpreted in the light of Genesis 4:1 as carnal or sexual knowledge, here referring to homosexuality. We are
given a glimpse of the unspeakable possibilities of human depravity. The Scripture clearly denounces homosexuality
as sine (cf. Lev. 18:22 -30; 20:13 ; Rom 1:24 -27; 1 Cor 6:9; 1 Tim. 1:10 ). Later, the law would make homosexuality
a capital offense, grouped with incest and bestiality. I have two daughters was an absolutely amazing alternative to
be offered by a believer. Seemed as one that mocked: Evidently Lot’s testimony had degenerated to the point where
even his family did not believe he was serious.
19:16-38. I will not overthrow this city: That God not only spared Sodom until Lot was save, but also spared another
city (Bela) permanently because of his prayer, is one of the strongest Old Testament illustrations of eternal security
for backslidden believers. In spite of Lot ’s deep apostasy, the New Testament assures us that he was a righteous
man” (redeemed), and that his “righteous soul” was daily vexed with the unlawful deeds of his Sodomite neighbors (2
Pet. 2:8). Doubtless, Lot will be among those who “shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire”
(1 Cor. 3:15 ). She became a pillar of salt: Jesus used this incident as a warning to others not to look back (Luke 17:
21 -33). Lot ’s wife apparently lingered behind, continually and longingly looking back on her beloved possessions,
and now as buried by the explosion that resulted from the destruction of the city. Brimstone and fire may refer to a
meteorite shower that literally burned up the whole area.
Genesis chapter 20
20:1-18 She is my sister: The same thing had happened in Egypt (chapter 12). Now it occurred in Gerar with
Abimelech. God appeared to him in a dream, revealed Abraham's deception, and expressed His sovereignty in
withholding thee from sinning against me. He preached to Abraham in the morning and asked him why he had done
such a thing. Abraham had forgotten that God was his shield (15:1). Behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes:
Literally, "It is a covering for the eyes," apparently a method for diverting or forestalling suspicion. The phrase thus
she was reproved conveys the idea that she was vindicated. Several passages convey the idea of a similar legal or
disciplinary connotation (21:25; 31:42). Abimelech's large gift of a thousand pieces of silver (since no coins existed
at this time, pieces is not accurate; everything was weighed) was proof of his high esteem for Abraham and Sarah,
and would serve to stop any scoffing on the part of her household. God referred to Abraham as a prophet in verse
7. Abraham said he would pray for Abimelech (an absolutely amazing statement under the circumstances), and when
he did so, God healed Abimelech. Abraham's intercession (18:23-33) saved Abimelech's life and removed the
barrenness of his household--For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs (12:17).
Genesis chapter 22
22:1-14 God did tempt Abraham: The verb tempt is better rendered as "proved" or "tested" God does not tempt
anyone with evil (James 1:13); but in certain instances, He does test, try or prove us (James 1:2; 1 Peter 1:6, 7)
Therefore we must assume that the command to sacrifice Isaac was not evil. God knew what He would do in the end.
He had no intention to permit the murder of Isaac. The reason God prohibited the Israelites from following the
example of the Gentiles who offered their own children as sacrifices to their gods (Deut. 12:31) was that such
monstrous deeds were in contradiction to the character of the true God. Abraham's faith was being tried. This was
the entire purpose of the episode.
Moriah was in the general area that included the hills on which Soloman later built his temple in Jerusalem (2 Chr. 3:
1). The journey was about 50 miles. Come again to you: This was no empty phrase; it was his full conviction based
on "in Isaac shall thy seed bealled" (21:12) Hebrews 11:17-19 reveals he was expectingIsaac to be resurrected; thus
he would regard him as given back from the dead. God will provide is a phrase that would be immortalized in the
name of the place in rs 14. Now I Know that thou fearest God indicates that God was certain that Abraham feared
(reverenced) him more than anyone else, since he was willing to offer Him his son. So God provided a ram as a
substitute for Isaac.
Genesis chapter 23
23:1-20 Kirjath-arba: This older name for Hebron (Joshua 14:15; Judges 1:10) means "City of Four." Actually, it
commemorates a hero of the Anakim (Joshua 14:15). It is debatable whether the sons of Heth were real Hittites or
simply those who spoke their language. But such an encounter is illuminated by a knowledge of Hittite customs
illustrated by their laws. Hittite law required that the owner of a complete unit of land continue performing the king's
ilku (feudal services). Abraham would avoid transfer of these obligations to himself by purchasing only the cave
which is in the end of his field. However, Ephron insisted on selling the entire unit--the field, and the cave--as the
conclusion repeatedly notes (verses 17, 19, 20; 49:29-32, especially note verse 32). The prominent mention of trees
in the final agreement was another characteristic of the Hittite business documents (verse 17). Since the Hittites were
destroyed about 1200 B.C., the liberal critics' assertion of a late date for the composition of Genesis is rejected at
this point. Mighty prince as it appears in verse 6 is a term generally translated "prince of God," or "mighty prince."
The term nasi (17:20) designates an official who has been elevated in or by the assembly, hence elected. Here, it is
an honorific epithet. The Hittites were acknowledging that God (Elohim) had played a mighty part in Abraham's life.
This was after Abraham had lived in the area of 62 years (12:4; 17:17; 23:1). This term is similarly used in early texts
of the chiefs of the Midianites (Joshua 13:21; Numbers 25:18) and Shechem (Genesis 34:2). The title is later applied
to David and Solomon (1 Kings 11:34). The cave of the field of Machpelah became the burial spot for Sarah,
Abraham, Issac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob. Rachel is a notable exception (35:19).
Genesis chapter 24
24:1-12. Eldest servant may have been Eliezer of 15:2 and 3. He worshiped God (vv. 26, 27, 52); he was devoted to
Abraham (vv. 12b, 14d, 27); and he was dedicated to finishing the task (vv. 33, 56). If he was this Eliezer, them his
loyalty in serving the heir who had displaced him is all the greater. Thy hand under my thigh: Thigh is a euphemism
for the procreative organ. This act either symbolized that the yet-unborn children would avenge any violation of the
oath, or solemnized the oath in the name of the God who; gave circumcision as the sign of the covenant (cf. 47:29
for the only other instance). Daughters of the Canaanites: The command to marry only within God’s redeemed
community was given later through Moses, but here is an example of the godly Abraham desiring to be separate
from the pagans surrounding him (cf. Deut. 7:3, 4; 1 Kin. 11:4; Ezra 9; and Paul’s “only in the Lord," 1 Cor. 7:39).
Show kindness unto my master Abraham: The word kindness is chesed (cf. 20:13 ): he is entreating God to be
faithful to His servant Abraham. God had promised Abraham a seed, and He had given him one; now Abraham wants
to get a bridge for the promised seed in accordance with God’s standards of separation. He asks God to be faithful
to His servant Abraham and provide for him. Then, in verses 14,27, and 49, he testifies that God did show chesed,
covenant-faithfulness.
Genesis chapter 25
25:12-18 This gives the account of the sons of Ishmael. He had been the subject of particular divine promises made
to Hagar ( 16:10 -12) and Abraham ( 17:20 ; 21:13 ). The fulfillment of his descendants is noted before the history of
the Abrahamic kingdom proceeds.
25:19-34 The Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian: The word Syrian is translated best by
“Aramean” and does not refer to the Syria of which Damascus was the capital. It was called Mesopotamia in 24:10
and lay north and east of Palestine . Its chief city was Haran . And the children struggled together within her (womb):
The struggle was typical of the years to follow. Also, the elder shall serve the younger was a startling revelation; for it
went contrary to ancient Near Eastern custom. This forms the basis for our understanding of the New Testament
application of the term firstborn to the Lord Jesus Christ. It refers to rank, not origin. Normally, the eldest son was
given preferential treatment. He assumed more responsibility and was rewarded with honor and given two shares in
the family inheritance, instead of the single share that each of his younger brothers received. Occasionally, the
eldest fell out of favor and was replaced by a younger son, a brother. Notice some examples, Jacob replaced Esau;
Ephraim replaced Manasseh in 48:13-20; Joseph replaced Reuben 49:3, 4; (cf 1 Chr. 5:1, 2); and Solomon replaced
Adonijah in 1 Kings 1:5-53. Thus, the younger became the “firstborn,” that is, he attained first rank. This term is
applied in this sense to the nation of Israel (cf. Ex. 4:22 ; Amos 3:1, 2). And he sold his birthright unto Jacob: Thus
Esau impetuously forfeited important rights, responsibilities, and honors that were his by birth. He despised his
birthright; he considered the responsibilities and honors unimportant, or he was totally uninterested in them. The
agreement was solidified by a formal oath in verse 33. Hebrews 12:16 refers to Esau as a ‘profane person,” which
implied something unhallowed, something sacred made common. He took what God considered sacred and made it
common. Being so totally concerned with his temporary and material needs, he gave them priority over his rights as
the firstborn son and his responsibilities as heir to the blessing of the Abrahamic covenant. Every Christian must
beware lest he count as unimportant what God considers sacred.