not improbable, (fee ch. 15.15.) it being faid that he died in a good old age. Was gathered: i. e. He paffed into the ftate of the dead, following his deceased Ancestors.

9. And his fons, Ifaac and Ifhmael, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the fon of Zobar the Hittite, which is before Mamre:

9. Ishmael: Who though he were fent away from Abraham's family,and might not inherit; yet was not fo far removed, but

that he was at hand to attend upon his Father's funeral. Machpelab: See cb. 23.9.

10. The field which Abraham purchased of the fons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. 11. And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God bleffed bis fon Ifaac, and Ifaac dwelt by the well Labai-roi.

Labai-roi: See ch. 16. 14. 12. Now thefe are the generations of Ifhmael, Abraham's fon, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's hand-maid, bare unto Abraham:

11. Bleffed his Son: i. e. He entailed upon him the bleffing and promise made to his Father, ch. 17.19. and ch.24.62.

12. Generations :

Or, the account of the Off-fpring of Ishmael; as alfo of the fulfilling the promise

made to his Father Abraham, ch. 17. 19.

13. And thefe are the names of the fons of Ishmael by their names, according to their generations; the first born of Ishmael, Nebaioth, and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibfam,

pare Ezek. 27. 14. And Mifhma, and Dumab, and Maffa,

15. Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

13. Nebaioth Whence the Region Nabathaa was fo called. His Pofterity dwelt in Arabia, Ifa. 60.7, Kedar: Com21. Ïsa. 21.16.

J

14. Dumah: Ifa,

21. II.

15. Tema: Hence the people called Temanites, Job 2. II. Jetur: 1 Chron. 5. 19.

16. These

16. These are the fons of Ishma el, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles, twelve princes according to their

nations.

and Castles thus they were called, cording to the promise, ch. 17. 20.

16. By: Or, in which agrees well and is confirmed by with the Hebrew, and is confirmed by

the Greek; i. e. in their feveral Towns Twelve Princes: Ac

17. And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and feven years and he gave up the ghoft, and died, and was gathered unto his people.

18. And thy dwelt from Havilab unto Shur, that is before E. gypt, as thou goeft towards Affyria: and he died in the presence of all

his brethren.

18. From Havi

Lah unto Shur: Ha vilah feems to be fo the Son of Cush, ch called from Havilah,

10.7. Of Shur: See extreme borders of the

ch. 16.7. Thefe two are put for the Sons of Ishmael, 1 Sam. 15. 7. As thou goeft: Or, as one goes from Egypt toward Affyria. He died: Or, fell, as it is in the Hebrew; i. e. His lot or country was in the prefence of his brethren. We have an account of Ishmael's death before, (v. 17.) and here of the Country where he dwelt. The ancient Verfions render the word to this sense. He fell i. e. He dwelt, fay the Chaldee and the Greek. The Hebrew word is ufed in this fenfe elsewhere, Judg. 7. 12. Numb. 34. 2. 1 Sam. 29. 3. Pfal. 78.55. According to this fenfe that is fulfilled, which was fore-told of Ishmael, that he should dwell in the prefence of all his brethren, ch. 16. 12. He might therefore be faid there to fall where his dwelling or inheritance happened. See Ezek. 47. 22. As the words lie in the Hebrew. Compare Pfal. 16. 6.

19. And these are the generations of Ifaac, Abraham's fon: Abrabam begat Ifaac.

happened to him.

20. And Ifaac was fourty years old when he took Rebekah te wife,

19. The generations: i.e. The hiftory not onely of his Offfpring, but of what Compare ch. 5. I.

20. Syrian: Aramite, according to

the

the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan- Aram, the fifter to Laban the Syrian.

the Hebrew, which fignifies a a Syrian. Compare Luk. 4. 27. with 2 King. 1. 1. Of

Padan Aram: i.e. Of that part of Syria which was called Padan-Aram. This is the fame with Mefopotamia, ch. 24. 10. and called onely Padan, ch. 48. 7. and feems to be the most cultivated part of that Country, it being called the Country or Field of Aram or Syria. Compare Hof.

12. 12.

21. And Ifaac intreated the LORD for his wife, becaufe fhe was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

21. For his Wife: The Hebrew Text feems to imply that his Wife joined with him in his prayer.

22. If it be fo, why am I thus? q. d. If fo, that God hath why am I in this dif heard our prayers

22. And the children strugled together within her; and fhe faid, If it be fo, why am I thus? And The went to enquire of the LORD. order? Went to enquire: Either by prayer, or to fome holy Man, and poffibly to Abraham, who was now living, (v.7. with v. 26.)

23. And the LORD faid unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people fhall be separated from thy bowels: and the one people fhall be stronger then the other people: and the elder fhall ferve the younger.

ject to the Ifraelites, (2 Sam. 8. 14.

23. Two Nations: i.e. The heads of two Nations, the EdoThe Elder shall ferve: Rom. 9. 12. This was. in great measure fulfilled, when the Edomites were made fubwith 2 Chron. 25. 11,

mites and Ifraelites.

12.) which fubjection continued fome confiderable time, 2 Kings 8.20.

24. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, bebold, there were twins in her womb.

25. And

2168. 25. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment: and

1836. they called his name Efau.

25. Efau: i.c. Made or perfected, according to the He brew, as if born more

like to a Man, than to a Babe. This Birth of Efau and Jacob, though it be mentioned after the Death of Abra ham; yet it came to pass about fifteen years afterwards, as will evidently appear to the diligent Reader. The Order of Time is not always obferved in thefe Books. See chap. XX. v. 1. As alfo chap. XXVI.

26. Jacob: i.e. A Supplanter. His taking hold of his Brother's heel was the

26. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Efau's heel, and his name was called Jacob: and Ifaac was threefcore years old when she bare them. intimates, and the Vulgar expressly affirms. Compare ch. 27. v. 36.

27. And the boys grew; and Efau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field: and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

reafon of that name, as the Hebrew Text

27. In Tents: As Abraham did, Heb.

11.9%

28. And Ifaac loved Efau, because he did eat of his venifon: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29. And Jacob fod pottage: and Efau came from the field, and he was faint.

30. And Efau faid to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that fame red pottage: for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

31. And Facob faid, Sell me

this day thy birth-right.

31. Birth-right:

Of the advantages whereof, fee the Note on Gen. 49.3.

32: And Efau faid, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit fhall this birth-right do to me? 33. And Jacob faid, Swear to me this day: and he fare unto him: and he fold his birth right unto Jacob

33. He fold his birth-right:He parted with it at fo mean a

price, that he is faid to defpife it, (v. 34.) and therefore called Profane, Heb. 12. 16.

34. Then Jacob gave Efau bread and pottage of lentils, and he did eat and drink, and rofe up, and went his way: thus Efau defpifed his birth-right.

CHAP. XXVI.

The ARGUMENT.

Upon occafion of a famine, Ifaac removes to Gerar. God appears to him, forbids him to go into Egypt; renews his Promife and his Oath made unto Abraham. I. faac gives out that Rebekah was his Sifter. Abimelech difcovers the pretence. Ifaac's profperity at Gerar. He is hereupon envied, and removes. He diggeth wells. Of the Wells called Efek, Sitnah and Rehoboth. Ifaac builds an Altar, and enters into Covenant with Abimelech. The Wives of Efau.

I.

A

Which is men

tioned ch. 12. v. 10.

AND ND there was a famine. 1. OF Abraham • in the land, befides the first famine that was in the days of 4braham and Ifaac went unto Abimelech, king of the Philistines, unto Gerar.

:

2. And the LORD appeared unto him, and faid, Go not down inta Egypt: dwell in the land which I fball tell thee of.

:

fion of his going into Egypt.

Which was the occa

2. Go not down in-. to Egypt: As Abra ham had done, (ch. 12. 10.) upon the like occafion.

3. Sojourn in this land, and I 3. The Oath: viz. will be with thee, and will blefs Which is mentioned, thee for unto thee, and unto thy ch.22. V. 17. feed, I will give all thefe countries, and I will perform the oath which I fware unto Abraham thy father.