Genesis 21:8 - Exposition

And the child grew ,—καὶ ἠυξήθη τὸ παιδίον ( LXX .): imitated by Luke concerning Christ: τὸ παιδίον ηὔξανε ( Luke 2:40 )— and was weaned . The verb gamal originally signifies to do good to any one, to do completely; hence to finish, or make completely ready, as an infant; hence to wean, since either at that time the period of infancy is regarded as complete, or the child's independent existence is then fully reached. The time of weaning is commonly believed to have been at the end of the second or third year (cf. 1 Samuel 1:22-24 ; 2 Chronicles 31:16 ; 2 Macc. 7:27; Josephus, 'Ant.,' 2.9, 6). And Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. Literally, in the day of the weaning of Isaac ; probably, therefore, when Isaac was three years old and Ishmael seventeen. "It is still customary in the East to have a festive gathering at the time a child is weaned. Among the Hindoos, when the time for weaning has come, the event is accompanied with feasting and religious ceremonies, during which rice is formally presented to the child".

HOMILETICS