Genesis 17:22

22 And he left off speaking with him, and God went up from Abraam.

Genesis 17:22 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 17:22

And he left off talking; with him
After he had finished all he had to say to him at this time. It was great condescension in the divine Being to talk with a creature; it was wonderful grace and kindness to make such promises to him, as he did, and indulge him with answers of prayer and communion with him; but the highest enjoyments of God here are not lasting; uninterrupted communion with him is reserved for another world:

and God went up from Abraham;
from the earth, where he had been with Abraham, and ascended above him up to heaven, in a visible, and very likely in an human form, in which he descended: the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan paraphrase it, "the glory of the Lord", the glorious Shechinah, the Lord of life and glory.

Genesis 17:22 In-Context

20 And concerning Ismael, behold, I have heard thee, and, behold, I have blessed him, and will increase him and multiply him exceedingly; twelve nations shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarrha shall bear to thee at this time, in the next year.

22 And he left off speaking with him, and God went up from Abraam.

23 And Abraam took Ismael his son, and all his home-born , and all those bought with money, and every male of the men in the house of Abraam, and he circumcised their foreskins in the time of that day, according as God spoke to him.

24 And Abraam was ninety-nine years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.