Chuàngshìjì 16

1 Yàbólán de qīzi Sālái bú gĕi tā shēng érnǚ . Sālái yǒu yī gè shǐnǚ , míng jiào Xiàjiǎ , shì Āijí rén .

2 Sālái duì Yàbólán shuō , Yēhéhuá shǐ wǒ bùnéng shēngyù . qiú nǐ hé wǒde shǐnǚ tóngfáng , huòzhĕ wǒ kĕyǐ yīn tā de háizi ( de háizi yuánwén zuò beì jiànlì ) . Yàbólán tīng cóng le Sālái de huà .

3 Yúshì Yàbólán de qīzi Sālái jiāng shǐnǚ Āijí rén Xiàjiǎ gĕi le zhàngfu wéi qiè . nàshí Yàbólán zaì Jiānán yǐjing zhù le shí nián .

4 Yàbólán yù Xiàjiǎ tóngfáng , Xiàjiǎ jiù huái le yùn . tā jiàn zìjǐ yòu yùn , jiù xiǎokàn tāde zhǔ mǔ .

5 Sālái duì Yàbólán shuō , wǒ yīn nǐ shòu qū . wǒ jiāng wǒde shǐnǚ fàng zaì nǐ huái zhōng , tā jiàn zìjǐ yòu le yùn , jiù xiǎokàn wǒ . yuàn Yēhéhuá zaì nǐ wǒ zhōngjiān pànduàn .

6 Yàbólán duì Sālái shuō , shǐnǚ zaì nǐ shǒu xià , nǐ kĕyǐ suíyì daì tā . Sālái kǔdaì tā , tā jiù cóng Sālái miànqián taó zǒu le .

7 Yēhéhuá de shǐzhĕ zaì kuàngyĕ Shūĕr lù shǎng de shuǐ quán páng yùjiàn tā ,

8 Duì tā shuō , Sālái de shǐnǚ Xiàjiǎ , nǐ cóng nǎli lái , yào wàng nǎli qù . Xiàjiǎ shuō , wǒ cóng wǒde zhǔ mǔ Sālái miànqián taó chūlai .

9 Yēhéhuá de shǐzhĕ duì tā shuō , nǐ huí dào nǐ zhǔ mǔ nàli , fú zaì tā shǒu xià .

10 Yòu shuō , wǒ bì shǐ nǐde hòuyì jíqí fán duō , shènzhì bùkĕ shèng shǔ .

11 Bīng shuō , nǐ rújīn huáiyùn yào shēng yī gĕ érzi , kĕyǐ gĕi tā qǐmíng jiào Yǐshímǎlì , yīnwei Yēhéhuá tīngjian le nǐde kǔ qíng . ( Yǐshímǎlì jiù shì shén tīngjian de yìsi )

12 Tā wéirén bì xiàng yĕ lü . tāde shǒu yào gōngdǎ rén , rén de shǒu yĕ yào gōngdǎ tā . tā bì zhù zaì zhòng dìxiōng de dōngbiān .

13 Xiàjiǎ jiù chēng nà duì tā shuōhuà de Yēhéhuá wéi " kān gù rén de shén " . yīn ér shuō , zaì zhèlǐ wǒ yĕ kànjian nà kān gù wǒde ma .

14 Suǒyǐ zhè jǐng míng jiào Bìĕrlāhǎilái . zhè jǐng zhèngzaì Jiādīsī hé Bāliè zhōngjiān .

15 Hòulái Xiàjiǎ gĕi Yàbólán shēng le yī gĕ érzi . Yàbólán gĕi tā qǐmíng jiào Yǐshímǎlì .

16 Xiàjiǎ gĕi Yàbólán shēng Yǐshímǎlì de shíhou , Yàbólán nián bá shí liù suì .

Chuàngshìjì 16 Commentary

Chapter 16

Sarai gives Hagar to Abram. (1-3) Hagar's misbehaviour to Sarai. (4-6) The Angel commands Hagar to return, The promise to her Birth of Ishmael. (7-16)

Verses 1-3 Sarai, no longer expecting to have children herself, proposed to Abram to take another wife, whose children she might; her slave, whose children would be her property. This was done without asking counsel of the Lord. Unbelief worked, God's almighty power was forgotten. It was a bad example, and a source of manifold uneasiness. In every relation and situation in life there is some cross for us to bear: much of the exercise of faith consists in patiently submitting, in waiting the Lord's time, and using only those means which he appoints for the removal of the cross. Foul temptations may have very fair pretences, and be coloured with that which is very plausible. Fleshly wisdom puts us out of God's way. This would not be the case, if we would ask counsel of God by his word and by prayer, before we attempt that which is doubtful.

Verses 4-6 Abram's unhappy marriage to Hagar very soon made a great deal of mischief. We may thank ourselves for the guilt and grief that follow us, when we go out of the way of our duty. See it in this case, Passionate people often quarrel with others, for things of which they themselves must bear the blame. Sarai had given her maid to Abram, yet she cries out, My wrong be upon thee. That is never said wisely, which pride and anger put into our mouths. Those are not always in the right, who are most loud and forward in appealing to God: such rash and bold imprecations commonly speak guilt and a bad cause. Hagar forgot that she herself had first given the provocation, by despising her mistress. Those that suffer for their faults, ought to bear it ( 1 Peter. 2:20 )

Verses 7-16 Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest with in Abram's tent. It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought to consider who have this advantage. Whither wilt thou go? Thou art running into sin; if Hagar return to Egypt, she will return to idol gods, and into danger in the wilderness through which she must travel. Recollecting who we are, would often teach us our duty. Inquiring whence we came, would show us our sin and folly. Considering whither we shall go, discovers our danger and misery. And those who leave their space and duty, must hasten their return, how mortifying soever it be. The declaration of the Angel, "I will," shows this Angel was the eternal Word and Son of God. Hagar could not but admire the Lord's mercy, and feel, Have I, who am so unworthy, been favoured with a gracious visit from the Lord? She was brought to a better temper, returned, and by her behaviour softened Sarai, and received more gentle treatment. Would that we were always suitably impressed with this thought, Thou God seest me!

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 16

This chapter gives an account of Abram's marrying his maid, at the instance of his wife Sarai, Ge 16:1-3, who, upon conceiving, despised her mistress; of which complaint is made to Abram, who leaving his maid to his wife, to deal with her as she pleased, dealt harshly by her, and therefore fled from her, Ge 16:4-6; when she was met by an angel, who advised her to return and submit herself to her mistress, and told her her seed would be greatly multiplied, gave a name to the child she went with, and described his temper and disposition, Ge 16:7-12; and then we have the name of God that spoke to her, and of the place where the discourse passed between them, Ge 16:13,14; and the chapter is concluded with the birth of Ishmael, and the age of Abram at his birth, Ge 16:15,16.