Genesis 16

Ge 16:1-16.

BESTOWMENT OF

HAGAR.

1. Now, Sarai . . . had a handmaid--a female

slave--one of those obtained in Egypt.

3. Sarai . . . gave her to . . . Abram to be his

wife--"Wife" is here used to describe an inferior, though not

degrading, relation, in countries where polygamy prevails. In the case

of these female slaves, who are the personal property of his lady,

being purchased before her marriage or given as a special present to

her, no one can become the husband's secondary wife without her

mistress consent or permission. This usage seems to have prevailed in

patriarchal times; and Hagar, Sarai's slave, of whom she had the entire

right of disposing, was given by her mistress' spontaneous offer, to be

the secondary wife of Abram, in the hope of obtaining the

long-looked-for heir. It was a wrong step--indicating a want of simple

reliance on God--and Sarai was the first to reap the bitter fruits of

her device.

5. And Sarai said . . . My wrong be upon thee--Bursts

of temper, or blows, as the original may bear, took place till at

length Hagar, perceiving the hopelessness of maintaining the unequal

strife, resolved to escape from what had become to her in reality, as

well as in name, a house of bondage.

7. And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain--This well,

pointed out by tradition, lay on the side of the caravan road, in the

midst of Shur, a sandy desert on the west of Arabia-Petræa, to

the extent of a hundred fifty miles, between Palestine and Egypt. By

taking that direction, she seems to have intended to return to her

relatives in that country. Nothing but pride, passion, and sullen

obstinacy, could have driven any solitary person to brave the dangers

of such an inhospitable wild; and she would have died, had not the

timely appearance and words of the angel recalled her to reflection and

duty.

11. Ishmael--Like other Hebrew names, this had a signification,

and it is made up of two words--"God hears." The reason is

explained.

12. he will be a wild man--literally, "a wild ass man,"

expressing how the wildness of Ishmael and his descendants resembles

that of the wild ass.

his hand will be against every man--descriptive of the rude,

turbulent, and plundering character of the Arabs.

dwell in the presence of all his brethren--dwell, that is, pitch

tents; and the meaning is that they maintain their independence in

spite of all attempts to extirpate or subdue them.

13. called the name--common in ancient times to name places from

circumstances; and the name given to this well was a grateful

recognition of God's gracious appearance in the hour of Hagar's

distress.