Chapter XXV
Ver. 1-6. Sons of Abraham. 1. Abraham took a wife —rather, had taken; for Keturah is called Abraham's con-
Death of Abraham, GENESIS XXVI, XXVII, Sojourn in Oerar.
eubine, or secondary wife (1 Chronicles 1. 32); and as, from her bearing six sons to him, it is improbattle that lie married after Sarah's death ; and also as he sent them all out to seeli their own independence, during liis life-time, it is flear that this marriage is related here out of its chrono-
with his family and flocKs to migrate into the land of the Philistines, where he was exposed to personal danger, as his father had been on account of his wife's beauty; but througli the seasonable interposition of Providence he was preserved (Psalm 105. 14, 15). 12. Then Isaac sowed In that land— During his sojourn in that district he farmed a piece of land, which, by the blessing of God on his skill and industry, was very productive (Isaiah 65. 13;
logical order, merely to form a proper winding up of the
patriareli's history. 5, 6. Abralinm gave all tliat Ue liad onto I»a«c . . . unto the sons of the concubines . . . Abraliam gave gttts—While the chief part of the inheritance went to Isaac—the other sons Ishmael included, mi-
I salm 37. 19), and by his plentiful returns he increased so rapidly in wealth and influence, that the Philistines, afraid or envious of his prosperity, obliged him to leave the place (Proverbs 27.4; Eccleslastes 4.4). This ma.v receive Illustration from the fact that many Syrian sliepherds at this day settle for a j'ear or two in a place, rent some ground. In the produce of which they trade with the neighbouring market, till the peo'ple, through jealousy of their growing substance refuse to renew their lease, and compel them to remove elsewhere. 15. all the wells which his father's servants had digged . , . the Philistines liad stopped, &c—The same base stratagem for annoying those against whom they have taken an umbrage is practised still by choking the wells with sand or stones, or defiling them with putrid carcases. 17. valley of Gerar—torrent-bed or wady, a vast undulating plain, unoccupied and afl'ording good pasture. 18-22. Isaac digged again the wells of water—The naming of wells by Abraham, and the hereditary right of his family to the property—the change of the names by the Philistines to obliterate the traces of their origin—the restoration of the names by Isaac, and the contests between the respective shepherds to the exclusive possession of the water, are circumstances tliat occur amongst the natives in those regions as frequently in the present day as in the time of Isaac. 26-33. Then Ablmelech went to him—As there was a lapse of ninety years between the visit of Abraliam and of Isaac, the Abimelech and Phichol spoken of must have been different persons' official titles. Here Is another proof of the promise (ch. 12.2) being fullllled, in an overture of peace being made to him by the king of Gerar. By whatever motive the proposal was dictated— whether fear of his growing power, or regret for the bad nsage they had given him, the king and two of his courtiers paid a visit to the tent of Isaac (Proverbs 10.7). Ilia timid and passive temper had submitted to the annoyances of his rude neighbours—but now that they wish to renew the covenant, he evinces deep feeling at their conduct, and astonishment at their assurance, or art i lice, in coming near him. Being, however, of a pacific dispos-Ition, he forgave their ottcnce, accepted their proposals, and treated them to the lianquet by which the ratilicaiion of a covenant was usually crowned. 34:. Esau . . . tools to wife— If the pious feelings of Abraham recoiled from the Idea of Isaac forming a matrimonial connection with a Canaanitlsli woman, that devout patriarch himself would be equally oppo.sed to such a union on the part of his clilldr(>n ; and' we may easily Imagine how much his pious heart vva.s wounded, and the family peace destroyed, when his favourite iiut wayward son brought no less than two hlolatrous wives among them—an additional proof that Esau neither desired the blessing nor dreaded the curse of God. These wives never gained the atTeclions of his parents, and this estrangement was overruled by God
gratetl to "the East country," t. e., Arabia—received each a portion of the patrimony, perhaps in cattle and other things; and this settlement of Abraham's must have given satisfaction, since It la still the rule followed among the pastoral tribes.
7-11. Death of Abraham. 7. these are the days of . . . Abraham—His death is here related, though he lived till Jficobaud Esau were fifteen years,Just one hundred years after coming to Canaan, " the father of the faithful," "the friend of God," died; and even in his death, the promises were fulfilled (cf. ch. 15. 15). We might have wished some memorials of his deathbed experience; but the Spirit of God has withheld them—nor was it necessary; for (see Matthew 7. 16) from earth he passed into heaven (Luke
16. -22). Though dead he yet liveth (Matthew 22. 32). 9,10. his sons . . . burled him—Death often puts an end to
strife — reconciles those who have been alienated; and brings rival relations, as in this instance, to mingle tears oyor a father's grave.
I'i-lS. Descendants of Ishmael. Before passing to the line of the promised seed, tlie historian gives a l)rief notice of Ishmael, to show that the promises respecting that son of Abraham were fulfilled—first, in the gueatKESSOf his posterity (cf. ch. 17.20); and, secondly, in their Independence. 18. he died—rather, "it (their lot) fell in
tlie i)resence of his brethren" (cf. ch. 10. 12).
lO-'io. Htsrony of Is.\AC. 19. these are the generatioits—account of the leading events in his life. 'it. Isaac entrealcrt the Lord for his wife—Though tried in a sim-
ilar way to his father, he did not follow the same crooked policy. Twenty years he continued unblessed with offspring, whose seed was t;o be "a-s the stars." But in answer to their mutual prayers (1 Peter 3. 7) Ret)ekah was divinely informed, that she was to be the mother of twins, who should be tlie progenitors of two Indojiendent nations; that the descendants of the younger should act the more powerful and subdue those of the other (Romans
9.12; 2 Chronicles 21.8). 27. the boys grew—from the
first opposite to each other In character, manners, and
haliits. aw. The parents were divi<icd in their alfi ction ; and while the grounds, at lea.st of the father's partiality, were weak—the distinction made between the children
led, as such conduct always does, to unhappy consequences. 29. .Tacob aod pottage—made of lentiles or small lioans, which are common In Egypt and Syria. It
Is probable that it wius made of Kgyptian lieans, which Jacob had procured as a dainty; for Ksan was a stranger to It. It is very palatable; and to the weary hunter, faint with hunger, its odour must have been Irresistibly tempting. 31. .Tacob said, Sell me . . . thy birthright— i. p., the rights and privileges of the flrst-born—which were very Important—the chief being that t hey wen' th<' family priests (K.vodus 4. 22); and had a double [xirtion of tli(^ Inheritance (Deuteronomy 21. 17). Ksnu said ... I ain nt the point to die—t. c, I am running dally risk of my
for keeping the chosen family aloof from the dangers of heathen Influence.
• CHAPTER XXVII.
life; and of wli.at use will the birthright be to me: so he desplsod or cared little about U, In cotnparlson of gratifying his api)ellte—he threw away his religious privileges for a trifle; and thence he Is styled —"a proCani' person" (Hebrews 12. Hi; also .Tob 31.7, Ifi; (!. i;!; PhiUpiiiiins 3. l!l). "There wa.s never any meat, except the forbidden fruit,
V(>r. 1-27. Infirmity of Isaac. 1. -when Isaao was old, and his ryes were dim—He was In his l:!Vth year; and appri'liendlng death to lie near, he prepared to make his last will—an act of the gravest Importance, especially as It Included the conveyance through a, prophetic spirit
8<> dear bought, a,s this broth of Jacob." fBisiiof 11 ai^i,.]
ol the patriarchal blessing. 4. make . . . savoury meat — perhaps to revive and rttrengtlien him for the duly ; or rather "as eating and drinking" were used on all l ellgloua occasions, he could not convey the right, till he had enten of the meat provided for the purjiose by him who was to receive the blessing [Adam Clarke] (cf. ch. US. 7). that
CHAPTER XXVr. Veu. 1-3'). Sojourn in Gerar. 1. And there was a rnmiiic In the land . . . And Isaac went unto . . . 0«r«r—The pressure of famine In Caanan forced Isaac 30
.Th( Bkssin^ t^lL!VE^5rs xxvm. Jacob's Departure,
vowed revenge. The days of mourning for my father are at liand—a common Oriental phrase for the death of a parent. 4'i-45. these words <>l Ksan were told Rebeliali—Poor woman! she now eail.v liegins to reap the bitter fruits of her fraudulent device; she is obliged to part with her son, for whom .she planned it, never, probably, seeing him again ; and he felt the retriltutive Justice of heaven fall upon him heavily in his own future family. 45. Why should I be deprived of you both—This refers to the law of Goelism, by which the nearest of kin would be obliged to avenge the death of Jacob upon his brotlier. 46. Rebelcah said to Isaac—Another pretext her cunning had to devise to obtain her husband's consent to Jacob's journey to Mesopotamia; and she succeeded by touching the aged patriarch in a tender point, afflicting to his pious heart—the proper marriage of their youngest son.
mysonl may bless thee—It Is clifllcult to Imagine him Ignorant of the Divine purpose (cf. cn. 'Jo. ZVi. But natural
atTection, prevailing tlirougli age and infiruiity, prompted him to entail the honours and powers of tlie birthright on
his eldest son; and, perhaps, lie was not aware of what Esau liad done (ch. 25.34). 5-10. Rebekali «pa)c« unto Jacob—s!ie prized the blessing as iiivalual)le—she Ituew
that God intended it for the younger son ; and in her anx-
iety to secure its being conferred on the riglit ol)ject—on one who cared for religion—slie acted in tlie sincerity of
faith; but In crooked policy—with unenlightened zeal; on the false principle that the end would sanctify the means. 11. Jacob said, Esau my brother is an hairy tnan—It is remarliable that his scruples were founded not cn the evil of the act; but the risk and consequences of deception. 13-17. and his mother said, Upon me be thy curse—His conscience being soothed by his motherpreparations were hastily made for carrying out thede-