Genesis 21
21
Birth of Isaac
1Then Adonai visited Sarah just as He had said, and Adonai did for Sarah just as He had spoken.
2So Sarah became pregnant and gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time that God had told him.
3Abraham named his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore for him—Isaac.
4Then Abraham circumcised Isaac, his eight-day-old son, just as God had commanded him.
5Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac his son was born to him.
6So Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me! Everyone who hears will laugh with me.”
7She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham, ‘Sarah has nursed children’? For I have given birth to a son in his old age!”
Ishmael Banished, Yet Delivered
8The child grew and was weaned—Abraham made a big feast on the day Isaac was weaned.
9But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian whom she had born to Abraham—making fun.
10So she said to Abraham, “Drive out this female slave and her son, for the son of this female slave will not be an heir with my son—with Isaac.”
11Now the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s eyes on account of his son.
12But God said to Abraham, “Do not be displeased about the boy and your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For through Isaac shall your seed be called.
13Yet I will also make the son of the slave woman into a nation, because he is your seed.”
14So Abraham got up early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away. She went and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
15When the water from the skin was finished, she abandoned the child under one of the bushes.
16Then she went and sat herself down opposite, about a bowshot away, for she had said, “I can’t bear to see the child dying!” So she sat down opposite and lifted up her voice and wept.
17Then God heard the boy’s voice and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and He said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid, because God has heard the boy’s voice where he is.
18Get up! Lift the boy up, and hold on to him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”
19Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water, and she went and filled the water skin, and gave the boy a drink.
20God was with the boy and he grew. He dwelled in the wilderness and became an archer.
21He dwelled in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Covenant of Abimelech and Abraham
22Now it came about at that same time that Abimelech—with Phicol the commander of his army---said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.
23So now, make a pledge to me here, by God, that you will not violate your word with me or with my descendants or with my offspring. As I have shown loyalty to you, show the same to me, and to the land in which you have lived as an outsider.”
24Abraham said, “I make a pledge.”
25Now Abraham had rebuked Abimelech because of the well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized.
26So Abimelech said, “I don’t know who did this thing. Nor did you tell me, nor did I hear about it until today.”
27Then Abraham took a flock of sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant.
28Abraham set seven young ewe-lambs apart from the flock of sheep by themselves.
29Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe-lambs that you’ve set by themselves mean?”
30He said, “You are to accept the seven ewe-lambs from my hand, so that they may be a witness for me that I dug this well.”
31That is why that place is named Beer-sheba, because there both of them made a pledge,
32and they made a covenant in Beer-sheba. Then Abimelech got up, with Phicol the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines.
33Then he planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba and called there on the Name of Adonai, the Everlasting God.
34He lived as an outsider in the land of the Philistines for many days.
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Genesis 21: TLV
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Genesis 21
21
Birth of Isaac
1Yahweh visited Sarah, # 21:1 We are not told if the Lord appeared to Sarah or visited her in a dream, but it is clear that Yahweh came to her to confirm his promise. just as he said he would, and fulfilled his promise to her. 2And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the exact time God had promised them. 3Abraham named his son Isaac, the miracle son, whom Sarah bore him. 4When Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him. 5Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born. 6Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh # 21:6 This verse contains a double allusion to the name Isaac, which means “he laughed.” Every time Abraham and Sarah spoke Isaac’s name, they acknowledged the miracle of God. The name Yitzhak (Isaac) is the word for “laughter” but in the past tense. It could be translated “delayed laughter.” If you had a baby after turning one hundred, you might laugh too! Notice the details of Isaac’s birth and how they foreshadow the birth of our Lord Jesus: (1) Both sons were the promised seed—Gen. 17:6; Isa. 7:14. (2) Both were long awaited—Gen. 12:5–6; 21:1–3; Gal. 4:4. (3) Both had mothers who asked questions—Gen. 18:13–14; Luke 1:34–37. (4) Both had names given before birth—Gen. 17:19; Matt. 1:21. (5) Both births were miraculous—Gen. 21:2; Matt. 1:18. (6) Both sons were a delight to their father—Gen. 22:2; Matt. 3:17. with me.” 7And she added,
“Who would ever have told Abraham
that Sarah would one day nurse children!
Even though Abraham is an old man,
look—I have given him a son!”
Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away
8Isaac grew and was weaned; and on the day Sarah weaned him, Abraham prepared a great feast. 9But Sarah noticed the son of Hagar, the Egyptian, was mocking # 21:9 The Hebrew word used here is built on the root stem from the name Isaac. It is possible to translate it “jesting,” “playing,” or “making fun of [Isaac].” Regardless, Sarah saw it as a threat to her son. See Gal. 4:21–31. her son Isaac. # 21:9 The italicized words are found in both the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate. 10So she said to Abraham, “Get rid of this slave woman and her son. Banish them, for the son of that slave woman must not become a coheir with my son Isaac!”
11Abraham was very upset over Sarah’s demand, for Ishmael was his son too. 12God spoke to Abraham, # 21:12 Perhaps God spoke to Abraham in a night vision or dream. God still speaks to his prophets today, as he spoke to Abraham. “Don’t be distressed over the slave woman and her son. Listen to every word Sarah says to you, and do it, for it will be through Isaac your promise of descendants will be fulfilled. # 21:12 Or “through Isaac your seed will be counted.” See Rom. 9:7; Gal. 3:16; Heb. 11:18. 13Rest assured, I will make the son of your slave woman into a nation too, because he is your son.”
14Abraham rose up early the next morning, bundled up some food and a skin of water, and strapped them to Hagar’s shoulders. Then he gave her his son and sent them away. So, Hagar and her son Ishmael departed and wandered off into the wilderness of Beersheba.
15When the water was gone, she grew desperate, so she left her son # 21:15 Ishmael was not an infant, for he had been circumcised at thirteen (see Gen. 17:25), and Isaac was born a year afterwards. It was common to wean children at the age of four or five, so Ishmael was at least a teenager when Hagar was sent away. under a bush. 16Then she walked about the distance of a bowshot and sat down, for she thought, “I can’t bear to watch my son die.” As she sat nearby, she broke into tears and sobbed uncontrollably.
17And God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called out to Hagar from the heavenly realm # 21:17 Both Ishmael and Isaac were saved by a voice from heaven (see Gen. 22:11). and said, “What’s the matter, Hagar? Don’t be afraid, for God has heard the voice of your son crying as he lies there. 18Get up! Help the boy up and hold him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19Then God opened her eyes to reveal a well of water. She went over to the well and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a long, cool drink.
20God was with Ishmael as he grew up in the wilderness of Paran. He became an expert archer, 21and his mother, Hagar, arranged a marriage for him with an Egyptian woman.
Abraham’s Oath to Abimelech
22At that time, King Abimelech and Phicol, # 21:22 Phicol means “strong.” his army commander, came to Abraham and said, “It is obvious that God is with you and blesses everything you do. # 21:22 It was not simply the wealth of Abraham that impressed them; it was also the supernatural healings that took place when Abraham prayed. 23Now swear to me here before God that you will not deceive me, my children, or my descendants, but as I have shown you loyal friendship, so you will treat me—and the land in which you live as a foreigner—with loyal friendship.”
24“I give you my oath,” Abraham answered.
25But Abraham voiced a complaint about a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized by force. 26Abimelech responded, “This is the first time I’ve heard about this; you never told me before now. I don’t know who has done this.” 27So Abraham took sheep and cattle, gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant.
28Then Abraham set apart from his flock seven ewe lambs, 29and Abimelech asked him, “What are you doing with these seven ewe lambs you have set apart?”
30He replied, “I am giving them to you, and by accepting these seven ewe lambs, you acknowledge the proof that I dug this well and it belongs to me.” 31That place was called Beersheba, # 21:31 Beersheba can be translated either “well of seven [lambs]” or “well of the oath.” because it was there that both men swore an oath to one another.
32After completing their pact at Beersheba, King Abimelech and Phicol, his army commander, departed and returned to Philistine country. 33Abraham planted a tamarisk tree # 21:33 A tamarisk tree is a type of evergreen that can grow up to fifty feet. Abraham did not plant the tamarisk tree for landscaping; it was a statement proclaiming his faith. Planting the tree revealed Abraham’s faith and endurance until the time of fruitfulness (see Isa. 65:21–22). in Beersheba, and there he worshiped Yahweh, the everlasting God. # 21:33 Or “El Olam,” which means “God Eternal,” “the Hidden God,” or “the Always God” (see Ps. 90:2). This name proclaims that God is God over Eternity and God over eternal things. Abraham’s heart and focus were turning to the God of Eternity. The things of the earth were growing meaningless to him (see 1 John 2:15–17). El Olam was preparing Abraham to yield his greatest treasure, his son. Only one whose heart is fixed on eternity can ever make sacrifices pleasing to God (see Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:16). When we see the Eternal One, we can let go of temporary things. Abraham touched eternal life as he dwelt by the tamarisk tree and the well. This was his true preparation for giving up Isaac. 34And Abraham lived many years in peace as a foreigner in Philistine country.
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