Genesis 21:18-28

18 Rise up, and take the child, and hold him in thine hand, for I will make him a great nation.

19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of springing water; and she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the child drink.

20 And God was with the child, and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

21 And he dwelt in the wilderness, and his mother took him a wife out of Pharan of Egypt.

22 And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech spoke, and Ochozath his friend, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, to Abraam, saying, God is with thee in all things, whatsoever thou mayest do.

23 Now therefore swear to me by God that thou wilt not injure me, nor my seed, nor my name, but according to the righteousness which I have performed with thee thou shalt deal with me, and with the land in which thou hast sojourned.

24 And Abraam said, I will swear.

25 And Abraam reproved Abimelech because of the wells of water, which the servants of Abimelech took away.

26 And Abimelech said to him, I know not who has done this thing to thee, neither didst thou tell it me, neither heard I it but only to-day.

27 And Abraam took sheep and calves, and gave them to Abimelech, and both made a covenant.

28 And Abraam set seven ewe-lambs by themselves.

Genesis 21:18-28 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or, Gr. living.
• [b]. Not in the Heb. friend of bridegroom, or attendant at marriage.