tribes of Reuben and Gad on the east This account of Ishmael's death, as well of the Jordan, whose habits were pro- as that of Abraham's above, is inserted bably, from their local situation, more by anticipation, in order that the subsenomadic than those of their brethren in quent history of Isaac might not be inCanaan proper. It is natural to suppose, terrupted. In point of fact, though the however, that such villages or encamp- circumstance of his death is stated bements would, in process of time, be fore the birth of Jacob and Esau, yet it transformed to more stable and fixed did not happen till some years afterdwelling-places, and it may be that wards. Abraham lived till they were the word in the present case is in- fifteen years old, and Ishmael till they tended to be used in that sense.-T were sixty-three. His death occurred By their castles. Heb. betiroth. A. M. 2231, 573 years after the flood, The precise distinction between the im- 48 years after the death of Abraham, port of this term and the former is not and when Isaac was 123. There is, easily ascertained. The primary sense perhaps, no good reason to doubt that of the root toor is order, regularity ; order, regularity; Ishmael died in the faith of his father and though not used as a verb, yet as a Abraham, and was received to the noun it is employed to signify a row, same reward in another world. range, orderly disposition, as in Ex. 28. 18. And they dwelt. Gr. Karwanoɛ, he 17, 18. 1 Kings, 6. 36. 2 Chron. 4. 3, dwelt; as if the translators understood 13. The present term tirah is the term of Ishmael, but still taken colusually rendered either castle or pal- lectively, as including his descendants. ace, perhaps from the orderly rows or This is strictly according to the usus tiers of stones of which such buildings loquendi of the scriptures, and the verwere composed. Indeed, Parkhurst sion we regard as a good one. 'They,' suggests very plausibly that both the therefore, in this clause of the verse is, Eng. 'tier' and 'tower' as well as the we conceive, perfectly equivalent to Lat. 'turris,' are to be traced to this root'he' in the subsequent one, on which as their origin. The Gr. renders it by see note below. From Havilah unεñaνλış, which Michaelis and Rosenmul- to Shur. There are undoubtedly differler are inclined to interpret of stalls for ent countries referred to in scripture uncattle. But the leading usage of the der the name of Havilah. See Note on original rather favors the sense of towers, Gen. 2. 11. The allusion here seems to citadels, or fortified places, although with- be to a region lying on the west border out a more accurate knowledge of the of the Persian Gulf, and the statement ancient civil life of the Ishmaelitish no- of the sacred writer is, that Ishmael's mades, we may be unable to define pre-descendants spread themselves over the cisely the class of buildings intended. tract extending from this region in the ¶ Twelve princes according to their east, to the desert of Shur in the west, nations. That is, twelve chiefs or heads which was adjacent to the land of of tribes (Phylarchs) corresponding to the | Egypt. He died in the presence of number of tribes.

all his brethren. Heb. 5 naphal, he

17. These are the years of the life, &c. fell. As Ishmael's death has already

19 ¶ And these are the genera-|ian of Padan-aram, t the sister to tions of Isaac, Abraham's son: Laban the Syrian.

* Abraham begat Isaac:

20 And Isaac was forty years

21 And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren:

old when he took Rebekah to wife," and the LORD was entreated of him, and w Rebekah his wife conceived.

the daughter of Bethuel the Syr

W

t ch. 24. 29. u 1 Chron. 5. 20. 2 Chron. 33 13. Ezra 8 23. w Rom. 9. 10.

and if it include the general stock of his kindred, how can we suppose that they were all convened from distant regions on this occasion ?-especially as it was predicted that he and they should sus

19. And these are the generations, &c. That is, not only the history of his offspring, the genealogy of his descendants, but also of the leading occurrences and events that happened to him in the

4. It is a kind of inscription or title to the whole narrative, which runs on from this place to the end of ch. 35.

been mentioned, and as the terin 'fall' is seldom used in the Scriptures in reference to 'dying,' except in cases of sudden and violent death, as where one 'falls' in battle, the probability is that it here signifies that his territory or pos-tain a hostile relation to each other. sessions fell to him in the presence of his brethren, or immediately contiguous to their borders. Accordingly the Gr. and the Chal. both render it, And he dwelt before his brethren ;' evidently regarding it as the fulfilment of the prom-course of his life.--See Note on Gen. 2. ise, ch. 16. 12, ‘And he shall dwell in the presence of his brethren.' Moreover, as tribes and nations are often called by the names of their individual founders, as Israel, Moab, Midian, &c., and as the rest of the verse speaks solely of the posterity of Ishmael, we doubt not that 'he' is a collective term, referring not to Ishmael personally, but to the body of his descendants. We would therefore render the clause, 'They fell (i. e. their lot or inheritance fell to them) in the presence of all their brethren.' A similar usage of the term occurs Num. 34. 2, 'This is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance.' Josh. 23. 4, 'Behold I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain;' Heb. 'I have caused to fall unto you.' Ps.

21. Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, &c. The history having now returned to the son of promise, we should suppose, from the situation in which we left him, v. 11, that nothing was wanting to complete his earthly felicity. We should, at any rate, have supposed, that as the promise respected principally the multiplication of his seed, the great number of his children would have made a prominent part of his history. But God's thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor his ways as our ways. Though now possessed of the bulk of his father's property, confirmed by God as the sole and undisputed heir of the covenant 78. 55, 'Divided them an inheritance.' promise, and enjoying with Rebekah al1 Ps. 16. 6, The lines are fallen unto me the tender endearments of the most hal in pleasant places, and I have a goodly lowed union-yet one thing was wantheritage.' If the passage be taken lite-ing, in the lack of which, his conjugal rally as it reads, it is difficult to under- and domestic bliss still left his mind a stand what is meant by his dying in the prey to corroding anxieties. His wife presence of all his brethren.' Breth- was barren, and he was childless. ren' must be taken in the wide sense of While Abraham's other sons abounded kindred or relatives in general, for he in children, he whose seed was to be as had but one brother strictly so called, the stars of heaven for multitude, is

22 And the children struggled If it be so, why am I thus? x And together within her: and she said, she went to inquire of the LORD.

without the prospect of an heir. Though he had been now united to Rebekah for twenty years, yet no tokens of approaching paternity cheer his heart. The child of promise continues to be denied. In this manner God had before tried his father Abraham; and if he be heir to his blessings, he must expect to inherit a portion of his trials.

לנכח

|

original term, which is very strong, is employed to signify a violent concussion, or the impinging of one thing against another. She was conscious of extraordinary and painful sensations during her pregnancy, as if her children were wrestling within her. The circumstance filled her mind with perplexiYet ty, and prompted the exclamation and we do not find that in this emergency the inquiry immediately spoken of. he had recourse like Abraham in sim- The incident was no doubt supernatural, ilar circumstances, to any crooked poli- and intended to pre-intimate the future cy, to any doubtful expedient. He strife and variance that should subsist looks for relief to that source only between the respective lines destined to where he was accustomed to seek and descend from these two unborn children. to find the cure or the solace of all She is no less troubled with the strife his ills. 'He entreated the Lord for of the children in her womb, than behis wife; or rather as the Heb. ex-fore with the want of children. We presses it (5) lenokah ishto, know not when we are pleased: that before his wife: i. e. in her presence; which we desire, ofttimes discontents us united with her in joint supplication. more in the fruition: we are ready to ‘Under similar circumstances, the hus- complain both full and fasting: before band and the wife fast and pray, and Rebecca conceived, she was at ease: make a vow before the temple, that, before spiritual regeneration, there is should their desire be granted, they will all peace in the soul: no sooner is the make certain gifts, (specifying their new man formed in us, but the flesh conkind,) or they will repair the walls, or flicts with the spirit. There is no grace add a new wing to the temple; or that where is no unquietness. Esau alone the child shall be dedicated to the deity would not have striven: nature will of the place, and be called by the same ever agree with itself. Never any Rename. Or they go to a distant temple becca conceived only an Esau; or was which has obtained notoriety by grant- so happy as to conceive none but a Jaing the favors they require. I have cob: she must be the mother of both, heard of husbands and wives remaining that she may have both joy and exerfor a year together at such places, to cise. This strife began early; every gain the desire of their hearts!--Roberts. true Israelite begins war with his beThe Lord was entreated of him. How many actions, which we 'He asked a child, and his prayer is know not of, are not without preanswered by the gift of two sons, and sage and signification!'-Bishop Hall. thus Providence, often slower than ¶ If it be so, why am I thus? Heb. our wishes, frequently

ing.

im ken lammah zeh אם כן למה זה אנכי | compensates

that delay by greatly outdoing our re-anoki, if so, wherefore this to me? the quests and expectations.'-Hunter. meaning of which perhaps is, If it be 22. The children struggled together with-so that God hath heard our prayers, in her. Heb. yithrotzatzu, why am I in this painful condition? bruised themselves by struggling. The Why have I conceived. if such strange

VOL. II.

مه

6

the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and a the elder shall serve the younger.

z 2 Sam. 8. 14. a ch. 27. 29. Mal. 1. 3. Rom. 9. 12.

intestine strife which caused her pain and perplexity, was a pre-intimation of the continued hostility that should subsist between their respective posterities.

sensations be the result? The passage, however, is exceedingly obscure, nor do we obtain much light from the ancient versions. The Gr. has, 'If it shall be so with me, why is this unto Shall be separated from thy bowme?' Chal. 'If it was to be so, why els. Heb. 5 yipparedu, that is, did I conceive?' Arab. 'If I had known shall be separated from each other from that the thing would be so, I would not the time of their birth. The sense orhave requested it!' Vulg. 'If it should dinarily put upon the words, is that of be so with me, what need was there to issuing from the womb. But this is unconceive?'-——¶ She went to inquire of doubtedly incorrect, as the original is the Lord. There are very different opin- never used to signify that kind of physiions as to the manner in which she made cal separation implied in the removal of this inquiry Some think it was simply the child from the forming receptacle in by secret prayer; but the phrase to in- which it had reposed before birth. It quire of the Lord, in general usage signi- properly denotes separation in the sense fies more than praying, and from its being of parting, sundering, and thence of dissaid that she went to inquire, it is more persing or scattering, as may be seen probable that she resorted to some estab- from the following examples, which exlished place, or some qualified person for hibit its prevailing use; 2 Sam. 1. 23, the purpose of consultation. We are told, Saul and Jonathan were lovely and 1 Sam 9.9, that 'Beforetime in Israel pleasant in their lives, and in their death when a man went to inquire of God, thus they were not divided (1715).' Prov. he spake, Come and let us go to the seer; 19. 4, Wealth maketh many friends, for he that is now called a prophet, was but the poor is separated (5) from beforetime called a seer.' As Abraham his neighbor.' Neh. 4. 19, 'The work is was now living, and no doubt sustained great and large, and we are separated the character of a prophet, Gen. 20. 7,|(51) upon the wall.' Gen. 10 she may have gone to him, and inquir-5, 'By these were the isles of the Gened of the Lord through his means. The tiles divided (1775) in their lands.' Rabbinical writers, as usual, abound with fanciful conceits on this subject, &c. but they are not of sufficient importance to deserve recital; nor can any thing beyond conjecture be advanced upon the passage.

The one people shall be stronger,

The two people or nations intended were the Israelites and Edomites; and nothing is clearer from history than that these races were not only different in their dispositions, manners, customs, 23. Two nations are in thy womb. In and religion, but that after a long course what particular manner the response of hostilities, the seed of Isaac obtained was made to her inquiry, we are not the ascendancy, and reduced the Edominformed, any more than how the in-ites to complete subjection. See the dequiry itself was proposed; but the pur-tails of their history, as drawn out in port of it was, that two nations, i. e. the founders of two nations, were in her womb, and leaving her to infer that the

'Newton on the Prophecies.'- The elder shall serve the younger. That is, shall be subject to. Heb. 1198 795

24 T And when her days to be Esau's heel; and his name was delivered were fulfilled, behold there called Jacob: and Isaac was threewere twins in her womb. score years old when she bare them. 27 And the boys grew and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was f a plain man dwelling in tents.

25 And the first came out red, ball over like an hairy garment: and they called his name Esau.

26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on

C

b ch. 27. 11, 16, 23. c Hos. 12. 3.

d ch. 27. 36. 2. Ps. 37. 37.

e

e ch. 27, 3, 5. f Job 1. 1, 8. & g Hebr. 11. 9.

rab yaabod tzair, the great shall serve the shaggy, is derived the name of the prinlittle. That is, the greater in dignity; cipal range of mountains, Mt. Seir, lying which was a distinction pertaining to the in his territory Mal. 1. 3.————¶ They elder on the ground of the birthright. It called his name Esau. Heb. esav, is, however, constantly to be borne in which the Jewish commentators intermind, that what is here said of the chil- pret hy made, made up, perfected, i. ɩ dren, refers not so much to Jacob and not having a soft, smooth skin like other Esau personally, as to their posterity, infants, but covered with hair like a fullalthough in the former sense it still grown man; indicating the possession holds true. The Heb. rab is the of a constitutional vigor entirely out of root from which comes Rabbi, the Jew- the common course of nature. Others, sh term for great men and masters.

however, with great probability think Esau to be a dialectical variation from the Arabic root & atha, to be covered with hair, whence athai, hairy. The true etymology cannot perhaps be definitively settled.

25. The first came out red. Heb. admoni, rubicund or ruddy, a word of the same origin with Edom (T), another appellation by which Esau was called. It elsewhere occurs only twice, 1 Sam. 16. 12, and 17. 42, in both which cases 26. His name was called Jacob. Heb. it is spoken of the florid complexion of p yaakob, he shall hold by the foot, David, and is translated ruddy. But from akab, to supplant, to trip up here it is undoubtedly a term rather of the heels, to throw down by tripping up reproach than of commendation, and ap- the heels, and thence metaphorically plied to Esau to denote the fierce, cruel, to deceive, to defraud. The name was and sanguinary disposition by which he given to Jacob because it was found and his posterity should be character- that he had at birth laid hold on his ized. In proof of this, see Gen. 27. 40, | brother's heel, an act emblematical of 41. Obad. 1. 10. Ezek. 25. 12. Thus his subsequently supplanting and dethe cruel persecuting dragon of the frauding him in the matter of the birthApocalypse, Rev. 12. 3, is depicted of a right.

red color, for the same reason.over like an hairy garment. Heb

All 27. A cunning hunter. Heb. - UN ish yodea tzayid, a man knowing hunt

him as a mantle of hair. Gr. 'Wholly

10 1185 kullo keaddereth sear, all of ing; i. e. skilled or expert in hunting. ¶ A man of the field. Addicted to like a rough hide.' Vulg. All hairy or ranging the field. A plain man shaggy in manner of a skin.' Chal.' As dwelling in tents. Heb. ¬ ish a bristly garment.' Thus denoting his tam, literally a perfect or upright man ; strong, rough, fierce, and uncultivated but in what sense precisely the epithet character, with perhaps a secondary al- is to be understood in this connection, lusion to his licentious temperament. is not obvious. The ancient versions, From the epithet sear, hairy or most of them, especially the Chal., the