Génesis 16

Agar e Ismael

1 Saray, la esposa de Abram, no le había dado hijos. Pero como tenía una esclava egipcia llamada Agar,

2 Saray le dijo a Abram:—El SEÑOR me ha hecho estéril. Por lo tanto, ve y acuéstate con mi esclava Agar. Tal vez por medio de ella podré tener hijos.Abram aceptó la propuesta que le hizo Saray.

3 Entonces ella tomó a Agar, la esclava egipcia, y se la entregó a Abram como mujer. Esto ocurrió cuando ya hacía diez años que Abram vivía en Canaán.

4 Abram tuvo relaciones con Agar, y ella concibió un hijo. Al darse cuenta Agar de que estaba embarazada, comenzó a mirar con desprecio a su dueña.

5 Entonces Saray le dijo a Abram:—¡Tú tienes la culpa de mi afrenta! Yo puse a mi esclava en tus brazos, y ahora que se ve embarazada me mira con desprecio. ¡Que el SEÑOR juzgue entre tú y yo!

6 —Tu esclava está en tus manos —contestó Abram—; haz con ella lo que bien te parezca.Y de tal manera comenzó Saray a maltratar a Agar, que esta huyó al desierto.

7 Allí, junto a un manantial que está en el camino a la región de Sur, la encontró el ángel del SEÑOR

8 y le preguntó:—Agar, esclava de Saray, ¿de dónde vienes y a dónde vas?—Estoy huyendo de mi dueña Saray —respondió ella.

9 —Vuelve junto a ella y sométete a su autoridad —le dijo el ángel—.

10 De tal manera multiplicaré tu descendencia, que no se podrá contar.

11 »Estás embarazada, y darás a luz un hijo,y le pondrás por nombre Ismael,^[a]porque el SEÑOR ha escuchado tu aflicción.

12 Será un hombre indómito como asno salvaje.Luchará contra todos, y todos lucharán contra él;y vivirá en conflicto con todos sus hermanos.

13 Como el SEÑOR le había hablado, Agar le puso por nombre «El Dios que me ve»,^[b] pues se decía: «Ahora he visto al^[c] que me ve».

14 Por eso también el pozo que está entre Cades y Béred se conoce con el nombre de «Pozo del Viviente que me ve».^[d]

15 Agar le dio a Abram un hijo, a quien Abram llamó Ismael.

16 Abram tenía ochenta y seis años cuando nació Ismael.

Génesis 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!

Footnotes

• [a]. En hebreo, "Ismael " significa "Dios escucha" .
• [b]. "El Dios que me ve" . Lit. "El Roí" .
• [c]. "he visto al" . Lit. "he visto la espalda del" .
• [d]. "Pozo del Viviente que me ve" . Lit. "Ber Lajay Roí" .

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.