22 Abimelechs couenant with Abraham at Beer-sheba. 17 The Angel comforteth her. 26), but through this treaty, God was faithfully providing for Abrahams basic physical needs. Genesis 21 This chapter deals with three different topics. Its Gods job to meet out justice. No doubt, the king remembered their previous encounter when Abraham dealt falsely with him. IN ALL THAT THOU DOEST:_ So that place was called Beersheba,because the two men swore an oath there. Genesis 20:17 Genesis 26:28 College Press Bible Study Textbook Series, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible, George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly, John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible, Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible, Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible, Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible, Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible, Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh, Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary, Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith. Genesis 21 Commentary Birth of Isaac (21:1-21) When Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as commanded. Yesterday (at the time of this writing) I participated in a class that teaches you how to communicate with people on the street in a way that encourages cooperation and avoids the need for physical force. As you think about Abrahams life, you realize that he was a fairly ordinary man, except that he was a man of extraordinary faith and obedience to God. Will God forgive me for losing hope and the will to live? I like this. GENESIS 21:23. I. Neither didst thou toll me, neither yet heard I of it, but today. He felt I like this. 4 He is circumcised. You many Read Genesis 21:22-34 here: Bible Gateway. Youve never said anything to me about this before and I dont know who might have done it. Abimelech was impressed with Abraham's growing prosperity. _Isaac;_ that is, laughter or holy joy. 1 The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. So Abraham, to demonstrate his commitment to the treaty and to demonstrate his good will toward Abimelek, brings to Abimelek sheep and cattle. Abraham took care to have his title to the well allowed, to prevent disputes in future. All rights reserved. mll "speak," an ancient and therefore solemn and poetical word. 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the . This is one of the attributes of God to His people. of his host, spoke to Abraham saying, God is with you in all that Abimelech, on the other hand, acts generously as of old, and shows no signs of ill-will at the growing power of one whose expectation was that his race would possess the whole land. Bondwoman and her son cast out. Verse Genesis 21:22. _AT THAT TIME_] This may either refer to the captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in NOR WITH MY SON, NOR WITH MY SONS SON.] The next thing that happened was that the new cop pulled him through the window, arrested him, and took him down town to HQ. The driver of the vehicle wasnt given a graceful way out. We wont know Gods purpose until were in heaven. CHARACTERS: Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Hagar, Ishmael, Abimelech. Wheres the justice? You might be thinking. Abimelech, that is _Father-King,_ was Isaac's birth (Genesis 22:1) 2. 7. 20 God was with the boy as he grew up. And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken. If youre not dealing with your sin and seeking to live a life pleasing to God, then youd be better off not to let anybody know that you claim to be a Christian. The story of how Billy Graham extended Christs extraordinary love and grace toward a man who misrepresented Jesus to millions. Perhaps Abimelech had heard of how God had given Abraham and Sarah a son in their old age. CRITICAL NOTES. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt. B.C. Separate from the sheep and oxen he gave to Abimelech, and from those that were used in making the covenant. Checking his ticket which he hadnt used, he realized that if his earlier flight to Chicago had not been cancelled, he would have been on that flight. Genesis 20:2 Genesis 26:26 God. 14. . And, God provides for his need for water through this well. Sometimes we think that weve got to be perfect before God can use us as a witness. Weaned] in his second or third year, as is usual among Orientals. GODS ANCIENT PEOPLE 14. The satisfactory explanation. He wasnt perfect, but he had reality with God and Gods gracious hand was on him. Abraham's name of God, Jehovah El Olam; the two revelations, the God of nature and the God of grace. Though he was surrounded by pagans who had no scruples about murdering and plundering a wealthy mans belongings, Abraham could live securely because of Gods faithful protection, apart from any schemes on Abrahams part. Another step in Abrahams walk with God is seen in verse 33, where he plants a tree and calls on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. Planting the tree was an act to remind Abraham of Gods faithfulness, especially in the everyday matter of providing the well which supplied the water for this tree to grow. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Character of God, Discipleship, Ecclesiology (The Church), Empower, Spiritual Life, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. How aggressive should we be? By the way the new cops boss, the Police Chief, called him into his office the next day for what the new cop thought was going to be an atta-boy. But the problem is, most of us dont live in the realm of the spectacular. trial and utter ruin of the creature, with the revelation of divine And Abimelech said, I wet not who hath done this thing. The prince rather complains that Abraham had done him an injustice. Im not suggesting that you go on sinning and tell everyone that youre a Christian. So swear to me here before God that you wont deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Then this brand new cop said,Sir, step out of the car. V2 So Sarah became *pregnant. 4. It is a beautiful illustration of how God faithfully provides everything we need for life and godliness so that we can fulfill His purpose. This second conflict with Abimelech creates a bracket around the Isaac birth narrative. Genesis 21 Genesis 22 Genesis 23 Genesis 24 . army H6635 spoke H559 (H8799) Abraham H85 saying And so it was at that time that Abimelech, and Phicol the captain favourite of God, chap. you do. @#$ %^&*^$!, Im not doin it! This visit of the king and his vizier appears to have taken place some considerable time after the beginning of the sojourn of Abraham at Gerar; for the friendly feelings which then existed had evidently given way to a coolness, occasioned by the quarrels between their herdsmen. he understood what the sheep and oxen were for, that they were presents to him, at least some of them, and the rest were for the solemnizing and ratifying the covenant between them; but what these were for he could not devise. . Thus Abimelek narrowly averted sinning against the Lord which, the Lord informed him, would have cost him his life. But it is significant that Gods blessing on Abraham is evident even to this pagan king, Abimelech, who tells Abraham, God is with you in all that you do (21:22). Youre not backing us up! He checked his boots, they were shiny. The LXX. He wouldnt have had much exciting news to report in his monthly fund-raising letter. Ishmael made fun of the covenant family, as Sarah had feared. reasons for holding that J is here made up of two main sources ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH MAKE A COVENANT AT BEERSHEBA. A.M. 2118. I Wish Someone Had Told Me This When I Was Young, Genesis 21:1-21 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:6 KJV), You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it: 1 Corinthians 12:27, Joseph's 5 Steps to Avoid Temptation: Genesis 39:6-23, 10 Attributes Of Jesus' Relationship With His Father (And what we can learn from them), Jesus And The 5 Love Languages: Chapter 17 from the newly released book Love Like Jesus, Joseph's 4 Steps to Success: Genesis 39:1-6, The Consequences Of Ignoring God: God's Way, Your Way, And Your Crushed Spirit, The Surprising Power of Habits: Important Conversation with My Younger Self, #5, Drunk and Naked--Love Covers a Multitude: Genesis 9:18-29, Things You Should Know About The Author Of This Blog. Its our job to love God and to love people. 7. CHRISTI GENESISNOTE ON GENESIS 21:22 GOD IS WITH YOU IN ALL THAT YOU DO. Sarah's demand GENESIS 12:1 TO GENESIS 25:18. After this had gone on for several times, the businessman suddenly was struck with the simple truth of that verse. has Now Abraham and his descendants can dwell securely in the land. 1886. Ver. 22. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible - The Birth of Isaac 7. Around the mouth of the well is a circular course of masonry, topped by a circular parapet of about a foot high; and at a distance of ten or twelve feet are stone troughs placed in a concentric circle with the well, the sides of which have deep indentions made by the wear of ropes on the upper edges The second well, about 200 yards farther south, is not more than five feet in diameter, but is formed of equally good masonry, and furnishes equally good water". It records the conversation between Abraham and Abimelech and their mutual promise of kindness to each other. He walked in daily communion with God. The things of this world made a channel of higher blessings. 22 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol the He lived in the desert and became an archer. 22. A.M. 2118. CHAPTER 21 ISAAC AND ISHMAEL AND THE COVENANT WITH ABIMELECH Genesis 21:22-34 New International Version The Treaty at Beersheba 22 At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, "God is with you in everything you do. It is as much the duty of him who has a grievance to reveal it, as it is the duty of him who has caused the grievance to remove it. Copyright 1996, Steven J. Cole, All Rights Reserved. There he called on the name of the Lord, as the everlasting God; probably in the grove he planted, which was his place of prayer. God is Abimelechs proposal includes his offspring, but does not specifically include any offspring of Abraham. neit EXPOSITION Name signifies mouth of all, _i.e.,_ Abraham denies his relationship Abraham at with his wi AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THAT TIME,. Not when Ishmael was grown up _ALUN OWEN_ But other than that, Abrahams life was fairly routine. This may grow out of the previous encounter when God spoke to Abimelech, called Abraham a prophet, and answered Abrahams prayer (for the infertility of the women in his house). Related Commentaries of Genesis 21:22. THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 20 AND 21. 5. Genesis 21:1; Genesis 22:1 II. The angel relieves and comforts her. The greatest possible injury of a material kind that could be done to a nomads chief was the all faction of his water supplies. Give people youre in disagreement with a graceful way out. CHAPTER 21 ISAAC AND ISHMAEL AND THE COVENANT WITH ABIMELECH all that thou doest: Abimelech, the king who had inadvertently taken Sarah into his harem because Abraham had lied about her being his sister, pays a visit to Abraham, acknowledges that God is with him, and proposes a peace pact. _GOD IS WITH - The Birth of Isaac _mlel_ speak, an ancient and therefore solemn spokesman of all (Murphy), ruler of all (Gesenius); or "the distinguished" (Furst); believed to have been a titular designation of the Philistine monarch's grand vizier or prime minister (Lange, 'Speaker's Commentary'), who was alsothe chief captain of his host (i.e. @#$%^&* salary!. 21:28-30 The giving and receiving of the lambs stipulates that Abraham dug the well in Beersheba and thus rightfully owns the well. That led to an obsessive seven year deep dive. He wasnt a TV evangelist. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. Genesis 12:1-3 sets forth Gods purpose to make of Abraham a great nation, to bless him and make his name great so that he would be the channel of Gods blessing to all the families of the earth. Happy they who can do both in peace! The new cop and the driver of the car are both backed into a corner. Ishmaels expulsion. The name, Beersheba seems to play on them both. 1. 4 He is circumcised. Genesis 21:22-34 In-Context 20 God was with the lad, and he grew; and he lived in the wilderness and became an archer . He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More. mercy in Christ the Lord. GENESIS 21:22 The LXX. 3. God burned the words into his heart and gave him the faith to believe. 8. DISMISSAL OF HAGAR AND ISHMAEL. He spoke and the universe was created. Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not de Genesis 21 45-46). (See previous post about Abraham and Abimelek). 1 Kings 15:19; Isaiah 30:6; Isaiah 39:1). So Abimelek took Sarah into his harem. Its about relationships with people. If youre a Christian, and youre not a cop, then its not your job to come down on people. xx. The world is watching, and without a word of witness, they should be able to tell that we are Christians as they see our godly lives. Abimelech. The contemplated object. But we can have the comfort of knowing that both men were under Gods providential care. Abraham at Here God shows Abraham that not only would the people of the land not take his wife, they wouldnt even take his well. The palpable injury. Genesis 31 Genesis 32 Genesis 33 Genesis 34 Genesis 35 Genesis 36 Genesis 37 Genesis 38 Genesis 39 Genesis 40 Genesis 41 17:9-14). ALL CHRISTIAN PROSPERITY IS CONSCIOUSLY IDENTIFIED WITH GOD. Yet in spite of Abrahams sins and insensitivity, Abimelech here seeks him out because he recognized God in Abrahams life! _God is with thee in all tha 1 Isaac is borne. And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days. Abimelech was impressed with Abraham's growing prosperity. Genre The passage is narrative. Probably an official title. Wells of water are scarce and valuable in eastern countries. Sarah's joy. In seeking to bring about both of these promises, Abraham resorted to human schemes to help God out: with the son, he went in to Hagar and produced Ishmael; with regard to the land, his fears of being wiped out by the inhabitants of the land prompted him to lie about Sarah being his sister, not his wife. Its not our job to meet out justice anyway. His flight from New York was first delayed and then cancelled, so that he would have missed his meetings. *** Abimelech reenters the picture with his enforcer, Phicol. And alls well. In the Grant Study, 268 Harvard graduates (including John F. Kennedy by the way. God also took care of Hagar and Ishmael, remembering His promise to greatly multiply their descendants (see Birth of Isaac ). 3. Hes lying! . 4. He normally didnt attend church, but he was troubled about some matters and went to church, hoping to find some relief. Abimelech and PhicholHere a proof of the promise (Ge 12:2) being fulfilled, in a native prince wishing to form a solemn league with Abraham. In the immediately preceding verses, God has provided Isaac and dismissed Ishmael, so that Abraham would learn that Gods promises do not depend on human schemes and effort for their fulfillment. You, our leader and master, have pulled the rug out from under us! Which things are an allegory.- Galatians 4:22. This is the first use of everlasting (Hb. Thus, Beersheba can mean, well of oath, or well of seven. So, outside of the name, Beersheba, the word shava occurs three times and the word sheva occurs three times in this passage. There is no reason to question the sincerity of the Philistine monarch in disclaiming all knowledge of the act of robbery committed by his servants. He got down on his knees and wept in gratitude. He wasnt building a sprawling complex of buildings to house his international ministry. 2. AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THAT TIME,possibly in immediate sequence to Gen. 21:22-34 Locate the passage This passage chronicles a covenant between Abraham and Abimelech. the title not only of the king of Gerar, but of the kings of the A Beersheba in a heathen land. EXPOSITION. How Jesus loved his betrayer Judas, even to the very end. The proposal was reasonable, and agreed to [Ge 21:24]. 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: , saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. As a prince, Abimelech was afraid of Abraham's growing power; as a good man, he insures the safety of himself and his dominions not by resorting to war, but by forming an amicable treaty with his neighbornor with my son, nor with my son's son: (LXX. He felt He is not far from every one of us. 21:25-26 Interrupting the covenant-making ceremony, Abraham airs a grievance that he has with Abimelech related to Abimelechs servants taking possession of a well that Abraham previously dug. 6 Sarahs ioy. How to respond to critics the way Jesus did. with thee in all that At last in God's 'Set time," and in spite of all natural difficulties, Probably from JE. Wherefore he called that place Beersheba. Another wrong thing happens: An imperfect Christian concludes that he had better not say anything about his faith until he gets all his problems solved. But Abimelek said, I dont know who has done this. Abimelech protests that he is unaware of the situation regarding the disputed well and suggests that Abraham bears some of the blame for not telling him of the situation. 1. The question extends beyond how does God fit in with our ordinary schedules to, How does God fit in with ordinary people? After all, in the history of the church, not many of Gods people have been able to speak to packed stadiums around the world, like Billy Graham. 2. Another highlight of this passage is the explanation for the origin of the name Beersheba. 21:32-34 A place to call on the name of the Lord. the long-promised son was born. 7. Throughout Abrahams story run two great promises which God made to Abraham: a son, through whom Abraham would become a great nation, and through whose descendants all the nations would be blessed; and, the land of Canaan, where his descendants would live. The inducement to it was God's favour to Abraham (Gen. 21:22): ?God is with thee in all that thou doest, read more, Observe, 1. Wherever we sojourn, we must neither neglect nor be ashamed of the worship of Jehovah. It also signified a tranquil, settled life, under Gods providential care. Genesis 21:22-34 What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves? Ishmaels expulsion. that it could not be explained on merely natural grounds. Q. At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, God is with you in everything you do. The outcast. Wheres the balance between taking measures for our own safety versus trusting God to protect us? The mistaken charge. How Jesus demonstrated all five of Gary Chapmans love languages (and how you can too). Only before concluding the agreement there was a matter of a more personal character that required settlement. The covenant arising out of bodily wants a civil agreement. THAT ABIMELECH, AND PHICHOL, THE CHIEF CAPTAIN OF HIS HOST, SPAKE And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief 22 At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, "God is with you in everything you do. "The Lord visited Sarah as he had said." The Lord keeps His word. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. Note the significance of the word oath (Hb. The covenanting parties. So they conclude that Christians are hypocrites, and they fail to see God in our lives. law of Hebrew narrative, probably not Now the LORD visited Sarah as he had said (Genesis 21:1), Category: Sermon StructureTags: Genesis, Genesis 21, Old Testament Narrative, Home | Admissions | Academics | Campus Life | Alumni, All content copyright 2023 Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary It hadnt worked the two times they tried it. Do we badmouth the boss or other workers behind their backs? God is read more, John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary. Do we work hard or slack off? Finally he blurted out, Well, thats all it will hold anyway. As a planter of tamarisks, the patriarch has been styled the father of civilization; it is more important to remark that he never neglected to worship God himself and publish his salvation to others. Abraham. What modern monarchs mostly desire at the close of exhausting campaigns is here sought before campaigns begin. . See also Genesis 21:22-34 in other biblical comments: Adam Clarke Bible Commentary. The grocer later discovered that the scale was out of order. The league is proposed by Abimelech, and Phichol his prime-minister of state and general of his army. So the treaty is solidified. ALL CHRISTIAN PROSPERITY IS ALSO CONSCIOUSLY IDENTIFIED WITH God used the only Scripture this retarded young man knew to give eternal life to this sophisticated businessman (told by Martin & Deidre Bobgan, Competent to Minister [EastGate], pp. In that desert land, a well was essential for survival, both for a mans flocks and for his family. Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 139:16)! Because of that fear, before they left Haran, he and Sarah had worked out a deceptive scheme to pawn her off as his sister (20:13). Abimelek continued, I have treated you well all this time that youve resided here in my kingdom as a foreigner. One of Abrahams deeply rooted fears when God called him to leave his homeland and go to the land of Canaan was that the people of the land would see his wife and kill him in order to take her. They watch our attitudes, our words, and our actions. God's care for those beyond the covenant. He checked his uniform, it looked good. V2 So Sarah became *pregnant. Now the grace of God bears its most important fruit in the history of In the story of Hagar and Ishmael, we notice: Spiritual markers remind us of the goodness of the Lord in our lives. Abimelek avoids contention within his ranks. Do you call on the name of the Lord regardless of your circumstances. I.e. GENESIS But what about Abraham? I. 9 Hagar & Ishmael are cast forth. Genesis 21:1; Genesis 22:1 Youll be happier, people will be more cooperative toward you, and youll have healthier relationships. Abimelech could sense that in spite of Abrahams previous failure in the incident with Sarah, he was a man who walked with God. I like that, "as He had said, and as He had spoken." (1) that as the land of the Philistines had no fixed boundary toward the desert, Beersheba may at this time have been claimed for the kingdom of Gerar (Keil); or. Abimelech has reason to be suspicious of Abraham, but recognizes Gods blessing on his life, so he wisely seeks a covenant of truth and peace between them. and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken (Genesis 21:1). 14. The music and the sermon were okay, but didnt really help. But He doesnt just provide for our needs so that we can live comfy lives for our own happiness. As Abraham is the father of all the faithful, so the Phichol.] In that case Abraham went down to Egypt, whereas Isaac went only as far as Gerar, in the land of the Philistines, but the same place where we read of Abraham denying his relationship with Sarah. Abimelech's covenant with Abraham at Beersheba. I already did that during the night while I was watching over my sick child, she replied. As a tax payer Im your boss I pay your ! 4. transactions recorded in the preceding chapter, or to the time of Verse Genesis 21:22. Hagar and Ishmael sent away. He had to provide protection and give him the land, which He begins to do in a rather ordinary way through this peace agreement. laughed with the laughter of incredulity, now laughed with the _Abimelech, king of Gerara, who knew that Abraham was a prophet, and a ISAAC IN GERAR A famine occurs in the land, just as it had in the days of Abraham (ch.12:10). He did what he "The great well has an internal diameter at the mouth of twelve feet six inches, or a circumference of nearly forty feet. Asking their forgiveness is often the first step in that process. And you know what else? Philistines generally (Genesis 2 ISHMAEL AND ISAAC