Génesis 21

1 Nacimiento de Isaac
El Señor
cumplió su palabra e hizo con Sara exactamente lo que había prometido.

2 Ella quedó embarazada y dio a luz un hijo a Abraham en su vejez. Esto ocurrió justo en el tiempo que Dios dijo que pasaría.

3 Y Abraham le puso por nombre a su hijo, Isaac.

4 Ocho días después del nacimiento, Abraham circuncidó a Isaac, tal como Dios había ordenado.

5 Abraham tenía cien años de edad cuando nació Isaac.

6 Sara declaró: «Dios me hizo reír.
Todos los que se enteren de lo que sucedió se reirán conmigo.

7 ¿Quién le hubiera dicho a Abraham que Sara amamantaría a un bebé? Sin embargo, ¡le he dado a Abraham un hijo en su vejez!».

8 Abraham despide a Agar e Ismael
Cuando Isaac creció y estaba a punto de ser destetado, Abraham preparó una gran fiesta para celebrar la ocasión.

9 Pero Sara vio que Ismael —el hijo de Abraham y de su sierva egipcia Agar— se burlaba de su hijo Isaac.

10 Entonces ella se dirigió a Abraham y le exigió: «Echa fuera a esa esclava y a su hijo. Él no compartirá la herencia con mi hijo Isaac. ¡No lo permitiré!».

11 Esto disgustó mucho a Abraham, porque Ismael era su hijo;

12 pero Dios le dijo a Abraham: «No te alteres por el muchacho y tu sierva. Haz todo lo que Sara te diga, porque Isaac es el hijo mediante el cual procederán tus descendientes.

13 Yo también haré una nación de los descendientes del hijo de Agar, porque él también es hijo tuyo».

14 Así que a la mañana siguiente Abraham se levantó temprano, preparó comida y un recipiente de agua, y amarró todo a los hombros de Agar. Luego la despidió junto con su hijo, y ella anduvo errante por el desierto de Beerseba.

15 Cuando se acabó el agua, Agar puso al muchacho a la sombra de un arbusto.

16 Entonces se alejó y se sentó sola a unos cien metros de distancia.
Se echó a llorar y dijo: «No quiero ver morir al muchacho».

17 Pero Dios escuchó llorar al muchacho, y el ángel de Dios llamó a Agar desde el cielo: «Agar, ¿qué pasa? ¡No tengas miedo! Dios ha oído llorar al muchacho, allí tendido en el suelo.

18 Ve a consolarlo, porque yo haré de su descendencia una gran nación».

19 Entonces Dios abrió los ojos de Agar, y ella vio un pozo lleno de agua. Enseguida llenó su recipiente con agua y dio de beber al niño.

20 El muchacho creció en el desierto, y Dios estaba con él. Llegó a ser un hábil arquero,

21 se estableció en el desierto de Parán, y su madre arregló que se casara con una mujer de la tierra de Egipto.

22 Pacto de Abraham con Abimelec
En esos días, Abimelec fue con Ficol, el comandante de su ejército, a visitar a Abraham.
—Es obvio que Dios está contigo, ayudándote en todo lo que haces —dijo Abimelec—.

23 Júrame en nombre de Dios que nunca me engañarás ni a mí, ni a mis hijos, ni a ninguno de mis descendientes. Yo te he sido leal, así que ahora jura que tú me serás leal a mí y a esta nación donde vives como extranjero.

24 Abraham respondió:
—¡Sí, lo juro!

25 Entonces Abraham se quejó con Abimelec por un pozo que los siervos de Abimelec habían quitado por la fuerza a los siervos de Abraham.

26 —No sabía nada —respondió Abimelec—. No tengo idea de quién es el responsable. Nunca antes te has quejado de este asunto.

27 Entonces Abraham le dio a Abimelec algunas de sus ovejas y cabras, y cabezas de ganado, y los dos hicieron un tratado.

28 Pero Abraham además tomó otras siete corderas y las puso aparte.

29 Y Abimelec preguntó:
—¿Por qué has puesto estas siete separadas de los demás?

30 Abraham respondió:
—Por favor, recibe estas siete corderas en señal de que aceptas que yo cavé este pozo.

31 Luego Abraham puso por nombre a ese lugar Beerseba (que significa «pozo del juramento»), porque fue allí donde ambos hicieron el juramento.

32 Después de haber hecho el pacto en Beerseba, Abimelec partió junto con Ficol, el comandante de su ejército, y los dos regresaron a su hogar, en tierra de los filisteos.

33 Luego Abraham plantó un tamarisco en Beerseba, y allí adoró al Señor
, Dios Eterno.

34 Y Abraham vivió como extranjero en la tierra de los filisteos durante mucho tiempo.

Génesis 21 Commentary

Chapter 21

Birth of Isaac, Sarah's joy. (1-8) Ishmael mocks Isaac. (9-13) Hagar and Ishmael are cast forth, They are relieved and comforted by an angel. (14-21) Abimelech's covenant with Abraham. (22-34)

Verses 1-8 Few under the Old Testament were brought into the world with such expectations as Isaac. He was in this a type of Christ, that Seed which the holy God so long promised, and holy men so long expected. He was born according to the promise, at the set time of which God had spoken. God's promised mercies will certainly come at the time which He sets, and that is the best time. Isaac means "laughter," and there was good reason for the name, ch. ( 17:17 , 18:13 ) . When the Sun of comfort is risen upon the soul, it is good to remember how welcome the dawning of the day was. When Sarah received the promise, she laughed with distrust and doubt. When God gives us the mercies we began to despair of, we ought to remember with sorrow and shame our sinful distrust of his power and promise, when we were in pursuit of them. This mercy filled Sarah with joy and wonder. God's favours to his covenant people are such as surpass their own and others' thoughts and expectations: who could imagine that he should do so much for those that deserve so little, nay, for those that deserve so ill? Who would have said that God should send his Son to die for us, his Spirit to make us holy, his angels to attend us? Who would have said that such great sins should be pardoned, such mean services accepted, and such worthless worms taken into covenant? A short account of Isaac's infancy is given. God's blessing upon the nursing of children, and the preservation of them through the perils of the infant age, are to be acknowledged as signal instances of the care and tenderness of the Divine providence. See Ps. 22:9, Ps. 22:10 ; Ho. 11:1, Ho. 11:2 .

Verses 9-13 Let us not overlook the manner in which this family matter instructs us not to rest in outward privileges, or in our own doings. And let us seek the blessings of the new covenant by faith in its Divine Surety. Ishmael's conduct was persecution, being done in profane contempt of the covenant and promise, and with malice against Isaac. God takes notice of what children say and do in their play; and will reckon with them, if they say or do amiss, though their parents do not. Mocking is a great sin, and very provoking to God. And the children of promise must expect to be mocked. Abraham was grieved that Ishmael should misbehave, and Sarah demand so severe a punishment. But God showed him that Isaac must be the father of the promised Seed; therefore, send Ishmael away, lest he corrupt the manners, or try to take the rights of Isaac. The covenant seed of Abraham must be a people by themselves, not mingled with those who were out of covenant: Sarah little thought of this; but God turned aright what she said.

Verses 14-21 If Hagar and Ishmael had behaved well in Abraham's family, they might have continued there; but they were justly punished. By abusing privileges, we forfeit them. Those who know not when they are well off, will be made to know the worth of mercies by the want of them. They were brought to distress in the wilderness. It is not said that the provisions were spent, or that Abraham sent them away without money. But the water was spent; and having lost their way, in that hot climate Ishmael was soon overcome with fatigue and thirst. God's readiness to help us when we are in trouble, must not slacken, but quicken our endeavours to help ourselves. The promise concerning her son is repeated, as a reason why Hagar should bestir herself to help him. It should engage our care and pains about children and young people, to consider that we know not what great use God has designed them for, and may make of them. The angel directs her to a present supply. Many who have reason to be comforted, go mourning from day to day, because they do not see the reason they have for comfort. There is a well of water near them in the covenant of grace, but they are not aware of it, till the same God that opened their eyes to see their wound, opens them to see their remedy. Paran was a wild place, fit for a wild man; such as Ishmael. Those who are born after the flesh, take up with the wilderness of this world, while the children of the promise aim at the heavenly Canaan, and cannot be at rest till they are there. Yet God was with the lad; his outward welfare was owing to this.

Verses 22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham. It is wise to connect ourselves with those who are blessed of God; and we ought to requite kindness to those who have been kind to us. Wells of water are scarce and valuable in eastern countries. Abraham took care to have his title to the well allowed, to prevent disputes in future. No more can be expected from an honest man than that he be ready to do right, as soon as he knows he has done wrong. Abraham, being now in a good neighbourhood, stayed a great while there. There he made, not only a constant practice, but an open profession of his religion. 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. Abraham kept up public worship, in which his neighbours might join. Good men should do all they can to make others so. Wherever we sojourn, we must neither neglect nor be ashamed of the worship of Jehovah.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 21

This chapter gives an account of the conception, birth, circumcision, and weaning of Isaac, Ge 21:1-8; of the mocking of Ishmael, and of the casting out of him and his mother from Abraham's house, at the request of Sarah, which, though grievous to Abraham, he complied with at the direction of God, Ge 21:9-13; of the provision Abraham made for their departure, and of the supply they met with in the wilderness from God, where Ishmael was brought up, and where he married, Ge 21:14-21; and of a covenant between Abraham and Abimelech, king of Gerar, Ge 21:22-32; and of Abraham's planting a grove, and calling on the name of the Lord, Ge 21:33; and the chapter is closed with this observation, that Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many days, Ge 21:34.