Genesis 16:3-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:1-3

I. The maker of this match (would one think it?) was Sarai herself: she said to Abram, I pray thee, go in unto my maid, Gen. 16:2. Note, 1. It is the policy of Satan to tempt us by our nearest and dearest relations, or those friends that we have an opinion of and an affection for. The temptation is most dangerous when it is sent by a hand that is least suspected: it is our wisdom therefore to consider, not so much who speaks as what is spoken. 2. God's commands consult our comfort and honour... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:4-6

We have here the immediate bad consequences of Abram's unhappy marriage to Hagar. A great deal of mischief it made quickly. When we do not well both sin and trouble lie at the door; and 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 story. I. Sarai is despised, and thereby provoked and put into a passion, Gen. 16:4. Hagar no sooner perceives herself with child by her master than she looks scornfully upon her mistress,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 16:7-9

Here is the first mention we have in scripture of an angel's appearance. Hagar was a type of the law, which was given by the disposition of angels; but the world to come is not put in subjection to them, Heb. 2:5. Observe, I. How the angel arrested her in her flight, Gen. 16:7. It should seem, she was making towards her own country; for she was in the way to Shur, which lay towards Egypt. It were well if our afflictions would make us think of our home, the better country. But Hagar was now out... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:3

And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian ,.... Took her by the hand, it is probable, and led her into the apartment where Abram was, and presented her to him; their characters are very exactly described, and the contrast beautifully given, that the affair might be the more remarkable and observable: after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan ; so that he was now eighty five years of age, for he was sventy five when he departed from Haran and came into Canaan,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:4

And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived ,.... The formality of the marriage being over, he enjoyed her as his wife, and she immediately conceived by him: and when she saw that she had conceived ; when she perceived that she was with child: her mistress was despised in her eyes ; she thought herself above her, and treated her as her inferior, with contempt, and reproached her for her barrenness, as Peninnah did Hannah, 1 Samuel 1:6 ; and it was the more ungrateful, as it was at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:5

And Sarai said to Abram ,.... Being affronted with the behaviour of her maid to her, she applies to Abram for the redress of her grievance, judging it, perhaps, below her dignity to enter into an altercation with her maid: my wrong be upon thee ; in her passion imprecating evil on him, as a just punishment upon him for suffering wrong to be done her by her maid; or, "is upon thee" F9 חמסי עליך "injuria mea super te est", Cocceius; so Ainsworth. ; pointing at his duty, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:6

But Abram said unto Sarai ,.... In a meek, mild and gentle manner: behold, thy maid is in thine hand ; though Hagar was Abram's secondary wife he still considers her as Sarai's maid, and as subject to her, and allows her to exercise authority over her; for he still retained the same love and affection for Sarai, his first and lawful wife, and showed the same respect he ever did, and supported her in her honour and dignity: do to her as it pleaseth thee : not giving her liberty to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:7

And the angel of the Lord found her ,.... This is the first time that mention is made of an angel in Scripture, but is not to be understood of a created angel, but of a divine Person, as appears from Genesis 16:10 , the uncreated angel, the Logos or Son of God, called the Angel of God's presence, and the Angel of the covenant, Isaiah 63:9 Malachi 3:1 ; who often appeared in an human form before his incarnation, being sent by his divine Father on one account or another; and hence called... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:8

And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid ,.... He calls her by her name, which might surprise her, and describes her by her character and condition, in order to check her pride, and put her in mind of her duty to her mistress; and to suggest to her, that she ought to have been not where she was, but in the house of her mistress, and doing her service: whence camest thou ? this question the angel asked, not as ignorant, for he that could call her by her name, and describe her character and state,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 16:9

And the angel of the Lord said unto her ,.... The same angel; though Jarchi thinks that one angel after another was sent, and that at every speech there was a fresh angel; and because this phrase is repeated again and again, some of the Rabbins have fancied there were four angels F18 Bereshit Rabba, ut supra. (sect. 45. fol. 41. 1.) , and others five, but without any reason: return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands ; go back to her, humble thyself before her,... read more

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