Thus hath the Lord dealt with me
In a very gracious and bountiful manner; in giving her strength
to conceive a son in her old age, and such an one that was to be
great, and so useful in his day; of which her husband had
doubtless informed her by writing, though he could not speak:
in the days wherein he looked on me;
with a favourable eye, with a look of love and mercy:
he took away my reproach
from among men; as barrenness was accounted, especially among the
Israelites, the seed of Abraham; to whom was promised a numerous
issue, as the stars in the sky, and as the sand on the sea shore,
and particularly the Messiah; see ( Genesis
30:23 ) ( Isaiah 4:1 ) .