Gen 30:1

Gen 30, general background: “Jacob fled to the house of Laban because he had deceived his brother Esau too many times. He was born grasping the heel of Esau, he took his birthright and his blessing. The meaning of his name, Jacob, is, ‘He deceives.’

“When Esau spoke about Jacob he said, ‘Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright and now he’s taken my blessing!’ (Gen 27:36).

“But when Jacob went to Laban’s house he met his match. There was deceit in everything Laban did for Jacob. He gave him Leah instead of Rachel, he made Jacob work 14 years instead of 7 for Rachel, he demanded payment for any stolen property — even though it was not Jacob’s responsibility, and he changed Jacob’s wages ten times. If it was possible, Laban would have kept all the benefit of Jacob’s hard work and sent him away empty-handed.

“So Jacob, the deceiver, learned what it was like to be deceived. He learnt how distasteful it was and, it seems, his character was improved by his experience.

“God may put us in similar situations to improve our characters. If we have a problem he may sting us with it as he did to Jacob. So when we are confronted by attributes we despise in others, let us make sure we cleanse those attributes thoroughly from our own lives to become more like the people God wants us to be” (RP).

SHE BECAME JEALOUS OF (ENVIED) HER SISTER: Continuous animosity between Leah and Rachel: (1) Saul (of Rachel) vs David (of Leah); (2) Judah/Southern Kingdom (Leah) vs Israel/Northern Kingdom (Rachel). God shows greater favor to Leah’s seed.

OR I’LL DIE!: She DID die, at birth of her second son (Gen 35:18,19).

Gen 30:3

SHE CAN BEAR CHILDREN FOR ME: Or “upon my knees” (AV). A custom of placing the newborn on the knees first of the father (who, by accepting it, acknowledged the infant as his own), and secondly upon the knees of the mother. So Bilhah’s children were put on Rachel’s knees to show they were legally hers.

Gen 30:13

HOW HAPPY I AM!: ‘I am in luck’ — no real thought of God.

Gen 30:14

Mandrakes were thought to have aphrodisiac qualities, according to the superstition of the times. This would mean much to Rachel, if not to Leah. The people’s superstitions are shown clearly in this chapter (vv 37,38,41).

Gen 30:17

Leah has been revealed in five stages, in which she typifies Israel after the flesh:

• Bearing Jacob’s (ie, God’s) children.
• Becoming barren.
• Estranged from husband (cp Isa 54:5), promoting jealousy with sister (ie Gentiles, Rom 11:11).
• Restored to her husband again.
• Again producing children, now in the Kingdom, as Hos 2:19: “I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.”

Gen 30:20

Leah, as the ecclesia, had borne fruit to her husband (sym Christ): “But women will be saved through childbearing — if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety” (1Ti 2:15). Therefore, she expected acceptance (the Marriage Supper of the Lamb). But, instead, she was to experience the same sad unfulfilled hope. For Leah, patience and sadness, but reward in the future Kingdom.

Gen 30:24

JOSEPH: Sig either “take away” or “add” — given as “Jehoseph” in Psa 81:5, Heb. Jehoseph is the first personal name to include “Yahweh/Jehovah”.

Gen 30:25

The birth of a son to his beloved Rachel (the son Jacob considered his true firstborn) inspired him to assert his independence.

Gen 30:27

DIVINATION: “Experience” in AV, but “divination” (NIV) is better. Divination = consultation of witchcraft. Note Laban’s use of idolatry with God’s covenant name (use of both “gods” together again: Gen 31:53). Laban professed true religion, but his familiar speech patterns gave himself away!

THE LORD HAS BLESSED ME BECAUSE OF YOU: A great lesson: God blesses those who are closely associated with His saints.

Gen 30:28

Laban was a greedy man, not a generous man. Prob, Jacob knows full well that he cannot ask for a fair wage; so he very carefully chooses his wages.

Gen 30:30

Quite often in Scripture God blesses one person or group because of their attachment to the initial righteous person. God had been prepared to spare Sodom for the sake of ten righteous men; He blessed Potiphar and the whole land of Egypt for Joseph’s sake; the widow for Elijah; the shipload of men for Paul.

And — wonder of wonders! — for the sake of one man Jesus, God has gladly forgiven the sins of multitudes who have joined themselves to Him.

WHEREVER I HAVE BEEN: Lit, “at my foot”. RV: “Whithersoever I turned”. AV: “since my coming”.

Gen 30:31

Jacob receives wages for his long labor. Cp the nation in leaving Egypt: Exo 3:22; 11:2.

Gen 30:35

Vv 35,36: Laban wonders at such a foolhardy request by Jacob — for there can be only a very few such animals as he requests. Nevertheless, Laban tries to hide even the few that should go to Jacob.

Gen 30:37

Vv 37-43: It is God who causes Jacob to prosper: Gen 31:7-9.

Gen 30:43

God prepares Jacob to leave Laban. No scheming here, but a reliance upon God’s providence. “Diligent application of legitimate efforts and precautions” (GVG, Ber 43:55; WP 57).

The sheep were normally white; the goats, black or brown. Black sheep and goats which were “speckled or spotted” were very few. So Jacob proposed to Laban that the inferior animals (black sheep and spotted goats) would be his and the rest would be Laban’s. Laban immediately agreed and then, to make doubly sure of his own profit in this transaction, Laban weeded from among the flock all the sheep not totally white and all the goats not wholly black or brown. Therefore Jacob was left with a flock of all white sheep and all brown or all black goats. Their offspring could not have been expected to be any that Jacob had bargained for, so it appeared that Laban had gotten by far the best deal. Jacob, however, schemed to recoup his losses at his father-in-law’s expense. So Jacob made rods of certain trees and set them before the flocks when they came to the watering troughs, so that the stronger might conceive there among the rods. There is, of course, no biological proof behind this device which Jacob was now putting into practice, because animals are not influenced by such things. But in those days, the laws of heredity and genes and such like were not known. But Jacob’s planning did work and therefore he (Jacob) increased exceedingly (Gen 30:43). But although Jacob thought it was through his own cleverness that he was prospering, it was actually the angel of the Lord who was prospering his service to Laban. Jacob will learn this in due time. The promise of Bethel (Gen 28:15) was being faithfully kept by God even though at this time Jacob probably thought it was all due to his intelligence. We know that it is God who causes Jacob to prosper: see Gen 31:7-9.

Gen 19:1

Gen 19: Lot’s faults: Love of wealth, compromise, worldliness, excessive care for relatives, indecision.

“Lot was a righteous man but he moved to Sodom. Although his soul was vexed, he stayed. Finally he lost his influence and had to flee. He probably thought he could change Sodom. But there is ever the danger that before you can bring light to Sodom, you will get used to its darkness. Little by little, sin appears less sinful until the ‘light within us becomes darkness’ (Luke 11:35)” (NE Rhodes, Jr).

Vv 1-26: Typ our own call to the Judgment Seat: (1) Lot was the only reason the city was preserved so long; (2) Angels came; (3) Lot’s wife rejected; (4) When Lot leaves, the “city” is destroyed.

“If he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) — if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment” (2Pe 2:6-9). “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (1Pe 4:8).

TWO ANGELS: Cp Gen 18:22.

IN THE EVENING: The “day” of opportunity was almost over.

IN THE GATEWAY: In a position of authority: Deu 16:18; 21:19; Job 29:7; Pro 31:23. Lot was an important man in the city. Perh his main purpose was to correct a sinful city. He is called a righteous man in 2Pe 2:7,8. (Ct Abraham, who sat in tent: Gen 18:1.)

Gen 19:2

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (Heb 13:2).

WE WILL SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE SQUARE (WE WILL ABIDE IN THE STREET ALL NIGHT): Certainly not an inconvenience to angels (VH 96). Their purpose was to examine the city before destruction: Gen 18:21.

Gen 19:3

Abraham’s wife had assisted him in a like endeavor, but Lot’s wife is conspicuous by her absence.

BREAD WITHOUT YEAST (UNLEAVENED BREAD): Implying purity.

Gen 19:4

Under cover of night, the gross wickedness of Sodom reaches its peak: Joh 3:19; Isa 60:1,2. This indicates a customary activity. Lot’s hospitality and righteousness were well-known and resented.

ALL: Meaning, probably, all SORTS of people, young and old, small and great (v 11).

Gen 19:8

Perh a suggestion not to be taken literally, but only offered as a rebuke (the men protest Lot’s acting as a judge: v 9).

Gen 19:9

AND NOW HE WANTS TO PLAY THE JUDGE: “In this position he ‘vexed his righteous soul’ (2Pe 2:8). From this we learn that the servant of God has no place trying to solve the world’s ills” (PF).

Gen 19:10

AND PULLED LOT BACK INTO THE HOUSE AND SHUT THE DOOR: God pulls us in through the door (Jesus: John 10:1-11) into the fold, and leaves those who are outside and blind (v 11) where they can do us no harm.

Gen 19:11

BLINDNESS: Heb “sanverim” = dazzling, brightness — the glory of the angels? Perh a blindness to discern Lot’s house; thus, they wandered away in a drunken stupor. Their moral and spiritual blindness led them into God’s punishment — a lit blindness. A similar thing happened to the Syrian army who had come against Israel. Elisha prayed and they were smitten with blindness (2Ki 6: 18). Also in Paul’s day Elymas the sorcerer was made blind (Act 13: 11).

Gen 19:12

The angels had decided that there was no need to press the investigation any further. They nourish and protect those that belong to God. They are a consuming fire to those who oppose His will: 2Ki 19:35.

Power of faith and intercession of others: Mat 8:13; 9:32; 15:28; 17:14-18; Luk 8:50; Joh 4:49; Jos 6:17; Gen 7:1; 18:32; 19:12; Act 27:24.

ANYONE ELSE HERE?: Abraham’s “10 righteous” (Gen 18:32).

ANYONE… WHO BELONGS TO YOU: “Whomsoever” (RSV). A special opportunity to members of Lot’s family, but they must act for themselves. “I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left” (Luk 17:34,35). AV adds for v 36: “Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”

Gen 19:13

WE ARE GOING TO DESTROY THIS PLACE: “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (1Jo 2:17; cp 1Co 7:31). “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2Co 4:18).

HE HAS SENT US TO DESTROY IT: 2Pe 2:6; 3:9-15; Jud 1:7.

Gen 19:14

LOT WENT OUT: Disregarding the dangers of the night (v 5).

JOKING (ONE THAT MOCKED): Jesting. By continuing in the city so long, Lot had forfeited any effect as a witness to others. Similar scoffers in the Last Days: “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this “coming” he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation’ ” (2Pe 3:3,4).

Gen 19:15

HURRY!: A state of depression seems now to have overtaken Lot: with the greater part of his family lost, his life now seems wasted.

Gen 19:16

WHEN HE HESITATED (WHILE HE LINGERED): Still concerned about his married daughters and their families: vv 12,14.

THE MEN GRASPED HIS HAND AND THE HANDS…: 2 angels = 4 hands = 4 people.

AND LED THEM SAFELY OUT OF THE CITY: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44). “Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail” (Lam 3:22). Cp Mic 7:18,19; Eph 2:4-7.

Gen 19:17

FLEE FOR YOUR LIVES: Lot left Abram a wealthy man (Gen 13:5), but he left Sodom absolutely destitute.

IN THE PLAIN: “In the circle”, the circuit of cities south of the Dead Sea in those days.

FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS: That is, to the west: Hebron, Mamre, and Abraham’s camp.

Gen 19:18

MY LORDS: AV: “My LORD”. Orig “Yahweh” altered to “Adonai” by Sopherim (Comp 32).

Gen 19:19

He apparently had gotten accustomed to city life, even the wicked city of Sodom, and was afraid to go to the mountain. It is surely ironic that the same man who had been a wanderer with Abraham earlier now fears to live outside a city wall.

Gen 19:20

A TOWN: Prob Bela (Gen 14:2). See v 22n.

IT IS VERY SMALL: Lot pleads that the sins of a smaller city must be small! Zoar is the place of compromise through weakness of the flesh, and Lot takes shelter there.

Gen 19:22

The preservation of the righteous is more important than the punishment of the wicked.

ZOAR: Ghur-es-Safiyeh: 5 miles southeast of present lake. See Deu 34:3; Isa 15:5; Jer 48:34.

Gen 19:23

THE SUN HAD RISEN: The signal for the release of the destructive forces.

Gen 19:24

Halley 99,100. Slimepits in Siddim: Gen 14:10. Archaeological date: Expos 2:31.

THE LORD RAINED DOWN BURNING SULFUR…: Judgment of the wicked described as a sacrifice: Rev 20:9; Gen 19:24; 2Ki 1:10-14; Psa 37:20; Eze 39:6,17-22.

Gen 19:25

THOSE CITIES: Including Admah and Zeboim: Deu 29:23; Hos 11:8.

Gen 19:26

Lot’s wife is never mentioned before he went to Canaan: she is probably an alien, and a bad influence on his family, and (perh) the reason he remained in Sodom. She has no name: “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luk 17:32).

“There was no time to waste. Lot and everyone he could persuade to come with him had to flee the city. The LORD was about to destroy the city and if there was any delay, they would be caught up in the destruction that was to come on Sodom and Gomorrah. There was no time to pack their bags, collect their belongings, take souvenirs or mementos — it was run or die.

“It all came down to a choice of what was more valuable — life or possessions.

“We have the same choice to make today. Our decision may not be so urgent but it is just as important. We can choose to live for Christ and gain life, or we can choose to live for our possessions and everything that makes life what it is now, and reject the offer of life. The decision is clear-cut. Choose Christ and live, or choose the world and die.

“Lot, his two daughters and his wife chose life when the rest of the city chose to stay and die. But the attraction of what she had left behind was too great for Lot’s wife and, we read, she ‘looked back and became a pillar of salt.’ When we have chosen Christ, let’s not look back at what we have left behind, but ‘press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me upward in Christ Jesus’ (Phi 3:14)” (RP).

This strange miracle — whether it was an instantaneous chemical transmutation, or a sudden burial by erupting bodies of salt, or a gradual petrifaction process as her body was buried and later transformed in a fall of volcanic ash — really happened, for the Lord Jesus thus confirmed it, as he did the destruction of Sodom, itself (Luk 17:28,29)! The reason why he commands us to remember it and profit by its lesson is given in the next verse: “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it” (Luk 17:33).

This same paradoxical formula is given by Christ in very similar terminology no less than five other times in the four gospels (Mat 10:39; 16:25; Mar 8:35; Luk 9:24; Joh 12:25), a fact which surely indicates its preeminent importance.

Therefore, one should remember Lot’s wife, whenever he or she is tempted to hang on to a comfortable life style in a wicked world. Lot, himself, was a rather worldly minded believer, but when he consented to flee the doomed city, his wife lagged “behind him,” and kept “looking back,” grieving over the imminent loss of her material comforts and high social position among her ungodly neighbors. Finally, the Lord’s longsuffering patience was ended, and her carnal desire to save her old life caused her to lose her whole life. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul (sw ‘life’)?” (Mat 16:26).

In his book “Feminine Faces”, Clovis Chappel wrote that when the Roman city of Pompeii was being excavated, the body of a woman was found mummified by the volcanic ashes of Mount Vesuvius. Her position told a tragic story. Her feet pointed toward the city gate, but her outstretched arms and fingers were straining for something that lay behind her. The treasure for which she was grasping was a bag of pearls. Chappel wrote, “Though death was hard at her heels, and life was beckoning to her beyond the city gates, she could not shake off their spell… But it was not the eruption of Vesuvius that made her love pearls more than life. It only froze her in this attitude of greed.”

Gen 19:27

Early prayers and devotions: Abraham got up very early to stand before the Lord (Gen 19:27). Jacob woke up with the first light of the morning to worship God after having seen a vision of angels in the night (Gen 28:18). Moses went early to meet the Lord at Sinai (Exo 34:4). Joshua got an early start when he prepared to capture Jericho (Jos 6:12). Gideon made his way at dawn to examine the fleece he had placed on the ground to discern Yahweh’s will (Jdg 6:38). Job left his bed at an early hour to offer sacrifices to the Lord in behalf of his children (Job 1:5).

Gen 19:29

HE REMEMBERED ABRAHAM: Cp Gen 8:1. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man: Jam 5:16,17.

Gen 19:30

HE WAS AFRAID TO STAY IN ZOAR: But the angel had told him that it would be safe (v 21).

HE AND HIS TWO DAUGHTERS LIVED IN A CAVE: Utter destitution.

Gen 19:31

The continuing influence of wicked Sodom!

Gen 19:33

Lot’s final condition: drunken, helpless, fearful, lonely, destitute, burdened by a guilty conscience.

Gen 19:36

And the evil influences of Sodom will live on in Lot’s two sons/grandsons!

Gen 19:37

MOAB: “Begotten of a father”; dominated by the flesh (Joh 8:41,44).

Gen 19:38

BEN-AMMI: “Son of my people”, or “son of my kinsman”.

AMMON: “Tribal” or “inbred”: a son of the flesh!

Gen 10:1

“When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel” (Deu 32:8). Israel’s family, 70 in Gen 46:27. Nations number 70 here in Gen 10: Japheth 14, Ham 30, and Shem 26.

Israel should have brought God’s message to 70 nations. When Israel failed, Christ sent out 70 disciples: Luk 10:1 (cp Exo 15:27).

Gen 10:2

Vv 2-5: Sons of Japheth, settled in north of Palestine.

JAPHETH: “The elder” (v 21).

GOMER: Sig “completion”.

MAGOG: Sig “from top”, ie supreme.

MADAI: ‘The Medes”.

JAVAN: Sig “effervescent”; the Greeks.

MESHECH: Sig “durable”. See Elp 422-428.

TIRAS: The Thracians.

Gen 10:3

ASHKENAZ: Sig “collector of fire”. Related to Germany: Jer 51:27.

RIPHATH: “A stable”. Near Bosporus.

TOGARMAH: “Stronghold”. Turkey (Eze 38:6), noted for horses (Eze 27:14).

Gen 10:4

ELISHAH: “Neglected of God”. Perh Cyprus; suppliers of purple (Eze 27:7).

TARSHISH: “Beryl”. Tartessus, south Spain, Britain, trade center: Isa 23n; Eze 38:13n.

KITTIM: “Bruisers”. Southern Italy: Dan 11:30; Num 24:24.

RODANIM: Or “Dodanim” (AV). Rhodes (1Ch 1:7).

Gen 10:5

EACH WITH ITS OWN LANGUAGE (EVERY ONE AFTER ITS TONGUE): Thus, this occurs after the events of Gen 11:1-9. Cp similarities in call to all nations: Rev 5:9; 7:9; 10:11; 14:6.

Gen 10:6

Vv 6-20: Sons of Ham: “Ham” = “Khen”, an Egyptian god.

HAM: Sig “burnt” or “black”; a name sig of the regions allotted to his family: The Cushites received the lands along the shores of the Persian Gulf; the sons of Canaan received Palestine and Syria; the sons of Mizraim received Egypt and Libya, in Africa.

CUSH: “Burly, dark”. Negroes, Ethiopia. Mixed with Arabs (Hab 3:7). See 2Bab 25; Isa 46:1.

MIZRAIM: “Oppressor” or “adversary”. Egypt.

PHUT: Modern Libya.

CANAAN: Wrongfully appropriated the land of Palestine.

Gen 10:7

The other descendants of Ham settled to the south of Promised Land.

SEBA: “Drunkards”. Sabeans of northern Africa (Isa 45:18).

HAVILAH: Gen 2:11n. Originally in north Caucasus, migrated south to Egypt.

SABTAH: “To cease”.

RAAMAH: “Thunderer”. Southwest Arabia. Spices and gold: Eze 27:22.

SABTECHAH: In Ethiopia.

SHEBA: “Oath”. Also son of Shem (v 28), Abraham (Gen 25:3) — intermarriage? Great trading state in southern Arabia (Eze 27:22; 1Ki 10:1,2).

DEDAN: “Judgment”. Muscat in Arabia (Elp 433; Eze 38:13).

Gen 10:8

NIMROD: “Rebel”. “Subduer of leopard” (2Bab 44). Nimrod = Merodach (or Marduk), the Babylonian god of war? See Jer 50:2.

MIGHTY WARRIOR (MIGHTY ONE): Heb “gibbor”, a great “hero”.

Gen 10:9

MIGHTY HUNTER: “A hunter of men” (cp Gen 6:4) — a persecutor of God’s people: cp use of “hunt” in Mic 7:2. Typ the “man of sin” (2Th 2:8). Building cities, as Cain (Gen 4:17).

BEFORE THE LORD: “Faced against the LORD” (A. Gibson, Tes 55:24). In brazen defiance: Gen 6:11; sw 1Ch 14:8.

IT IS SAID: The exploits of Nimrod became the basis of comparison for later rulers.

Gen 10:10

Note 4 cities of the empire:

BABEL: Orig sig “the gate of God”. Later came to mean “confusion”.

ERECH: “Long”. Modern Warka, 100 mi se of Babylon.

AKKAD: “Dark”; near modern Baghdad. Gave name to whole region: ie Akkadian.

CALNEH: “Lodging”, site uncertain.

SHINAR: “Enemy’s tooth”. See Zec 5:11n.

Gen 10:11

Vv 11,12: Another 4 cities.

” ‘And out of that land (Shinar, Babylon) went forth Asshur, and built Nineveh and the city Rehoboth (even the city of broad places), and Calah and Resen (Larissa, Kuyunijik?) between Nineveh and Calah: the same (Nineveh) is a great city.’ This Genesis statement should almost certainly read: ‘He (Nimrod: vv 8,9) went forth to Asshur, and built…’. Such a reading is supported by Mic 5:6, where a parallelism describes Assyria as ‘the land of Nimrod’… It has been suggested that ‘Nimrod the mighty hunter BEFORE THE LORD’ was a persecutor of the faithful. These three cities were sufficiently close together to grow into one enormous metropolis including in its compass not only splendid temples to Ashur, the special god of this empire, and to a variety of other deities, but also even more splendid palaces erected and adorned by conquering Assyrian monarchs” (WJon).

Nimrod left Babel, site of God’s miracle, but continued in land set aside for Shem (ie the Fertile Crescent), the land watered by Eden’s 4 rivers (see bounds, v 30).

NINEVEH: “Place of habitation”; the capital of Assyria.

REHOBOTH: “Broad places” (cp Rev 11:8). “The city of open places” — a poss description of Nineveh.

IR: In Heb, “city”.

CALAH: Where the ruins of Nimrud are.

Gen 10:12

RESEN: “Fountainhead”.

THAT (THE SAME): Nineveh.

Gen 10:13

LUDITES: “Generations”. Libyans. Always related to Egypt and Ethiopia: Nah 3:9; 2Ch 12:3; Dan 11:43.

LEHABITES: “Libya”?

NAPHTUHITES: “Openings”. Unidentified.

Gen 10:14

PATHRUSITES: Pathros, in upper Egypt: Isa 11:11; Jer 44:1,15; Eze 30:14. Sig “land of the south”.

CASLUHITES: Unidentified.

PHILISTINES: A people who came from Crete (Deu 2:23; Amo 9:7). Poss related to the Hyksos kings who ruled Egypt, then were driven out to Canaan. See Lesson, Philistia in prophecy.

CAPHTORITES: “Distinguished”. The Cretan/Minoan empire?

Gen 10:15

SIDON: “Place of hunting”. The home of Jezebel: 1Ki 16:31.

HITTITES: Sons of Heth. “Terror”. The Hittites extended their empire throughout Asia Minor. Some were also in Palestine (Gen 24:7).

Gen 10:16

Vv 16-18: Cp Gen 15:19-21.

JEBUSITES: “Trampler”; a people who occupied Jerusalem (cp Luk 21:24: “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled”): Jos 15:63; 18:28; 1Ch 11:4,5.

AMORITES: “Talker”: Deu 7:1; Jos 10:5.

GIRGASHITES: “Sojourner”. Near Sea of Galilee; Gergasenes.

Gen 10:17

HIVITES: “Tent village”. Dwelt in Canaan (Deu 7:1), in north (Jos 11:3; Jdg 3:3; 2Sa 24:7).

ARKITES: “Gnawer”. Dwelt in Tell Arka, 80 mi n of Sidon.

SINITES: “Thornbush”, in Lebanon.

Gen 10:18

ARVADITES: “To sway over”; island of Arvad, in Phoenicia.

ZEMARITES: “Fleece of wool”: Jos 18:22, in Benjamin.

HAMATHITES: “Fortress”. Hamath, in Syria: 2Ki 18:34.

Gen 10:19

“At that time the Canaanites were in the land” (Gen 12:6). But ct Zec 14:21: “And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD Almighty.”

LASHA: East of the Red Sea.

Gen 10:21

Vv 21-31: Sons of Shem: settled in center of earth (Japheth to the north; Ham to the south). “A blessing in the midst of the land” (Isa 19:24,25). Introductory to the main record of Genesis; thus traced here through 6 generations.

EBER: Ancestor of Habiru, or Hebrews. Sig “crossing over”: Gen 11:15,16.

Gen 10:22

ELAM: “Highland”. Shushan, near Persian Gulf: Dan 8:2.

ASSHUR: “Progressing”, “step”. First inhabitants of Assyria, probably displaced by Nimrod (cp v 11).

ARPHAXAD: Prob “pouring”, in line of Abraham (Gen 11:11,12); settled near Nineveh.

LUD: Prob Lydians of Asia Minor.

ARAM: “Lifted up”. The Heb name for Syria.

Gen 10:23

UZ: “Light”, “sandy”. Arabian territory: Edom, Petra: Lam 4:21; Job 1:15,17; 2:41.

Gen 10:24

EBER: V 21.

Gen 10:25

THE EARTH WAS DIVIDED: Joktan and Peleg soon came to be widely separated: Joktan and sons to Canaan; Peleg and sons to Fertile Crescent.

Gen 10:26

JOKTAN: “Be settled”. Arabia.

ALMODAD: “Compression”.

SHELEPH: “Drawing forth”.

HAZARMAVETH: “Village of death”.

JERAH: “Moon, month”.

Gen 10:27

HADORAM: “High elevation”.

UZAL, DIKLAH: In Yemen.

Gen 10:28

ABIMAEL: “Father is El”.

SHEBA: See v 7.

Gen 10:29

OPHIR: “Ash”. In sw Arabia. The ancient city of Ubar? See Lesson, Ophir.

HAVILAH: V 7.

JOBAB: “Howler”. Arabian desert area.

Gen 10:30

MESHA: “Deliverance”. A king of Moab (2Ki 3:4).

SEPHAR: “Numberer”. A mountain on border of Joktan in Arabia.

IN THE EASTERN HILL COUNTRY: Demonstrating that this genealogy would have first been compiled by someone near or in the Promised Land.

Gen 11:1

Gen 11; 12: “Two chapters which reveal the contrast between darkness (Gen 11) and light (Gen 12); between the power of the flesh (Gen 11), and the call of faith (Gen 12). Gen 11 shows the nations scattered; Gen 12 shows the way in which the nations are blessed through faith. Mankind set themselves to seek the pinnacle of power, in the building of a tower (like the World Trade Centre!). The clumsy attempt of man to unify himself in defiance of God’s offer of unity and peace results in the judgment of Yahweh, the confusion of tongues, and the defeat of the power of flesh” (GEM).

Gen 11: This “division” was later healed: Act 2:8 (“All hear in own tongue”); 1Co 1:10 (“speak same things”); Zep 3:9; Zec 8:23 (one language).

Historical record: Halley 83,84.

“The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to man” (Psa 115:16).

Gen 11:2

MEN: Nimrod and his companions: Gen 10:10.

SHINAR: Gen 10:10.

Gen 11:3

“The first man-made association… Cooperation — excellent in a good work, but disastrous in a bad one.”

BRICKS: In ct to the altar of unhewn stones (Gen 8:20; cp Isa 65:3; Exo 20:25).

TAR (SLIME): “Hemar” (boil up, be red). Asphalt, or bitumen. From decayed vegetable matter; sym corruption.

Gen 11:4

TOWER: Did fear of another Flood inspire this? (Josephus). Safety lies not in cities or towers, but in obedience to God’s laws.

TO THE HEAVENS: Prob a series of temples to various gods, one upon another. The top would have been used for star-gazing, worship of heavens, astrology. The false worship of Zodiac (HPM 152).

SO THAT WE MAY MAKE A NAME FOR OURSELVES: God had revealed himself as the God of Shem (‘name’), but the Babel builders were determined to make a name for themselves rather than be called by God’s name (4: 26, AV mg). Perh this also involved having a priest of their own. Ct 12:2, God’s declaration to Abraham, “I will make thy name great.” See also Psa 49:11-13.

AND NOT BE SCATTERED: The gathering of material forces into one common center would have led to universal despotism and universal idolatry: cp Rev 17:18; Cain in Gen 4:17.

Gen 11:5

Ct the “temple” which God is building: Heb 3:6; 11:10; Joh 14:2; Eph 5:7.

Gen 11:6

“Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder” (Zep 3:9).

THEY HAVE BEGUN TO DO THIS: ‘This is the (fresh) beginning of their wicked deeds.’

Gen 11:7

US: Elohim.

GO DOWN: Foreshadowing return of Christ, to vanquish enemies: Tes 51:43.

CONFUSE: Confusion of man, a divine work.

Gen 11:10

Gen 11 genealogy: The lifespan is cut in half or more. Also cut drastically is the age of the father when his first son is born. In this ch the average age when the first son is born is 44; in Gen 5, excluding Noah who was 500, the average is still 106. This all explains why it was considered so unusual for Abraham to have a child at 100 (Gen 17:17). Did a sort of “greenhouse effect” before the Flood allow such long life? And was this removed after the Flood?

SHEM: Gen 10:21.

ARPHAXAD: Gen 10:22.

Gen 11:11

Was Shem “Melchizedek”? (Gen 14:18; Psa 110:4; Heb 5–7).

Gen 11:12

Cainan should be inserted here: Luk 3:36.

SHELAH: Gen 10:24.

Gen 11:17

PELEG: “Division”. In his time, descendants of Noah were divided: Gen 10:25.

Gen 11:18

REU: “Friend”: Luk 3:35.

Gen 11:20

SERUG: “Shoot, tendril”. An ancient city by this name exists near Haran.

Gen 11:24

TERAH: “To turn, tarry, delay” (Gen 12:4n). Terah was an idolater: Jos 24:2.

Gen 11:26

THE FATHER OF ABRAM, NAHOR, AND HARAN: But Abraham was the youngest. Terah begat Abraham at age 130, died 205 (when Abraham was 75: Gen 12:4). Abraham is placed first because most important. Other examples of out-of-order lists: Gen 5:32 (cp Gen 9:18; 10:21).

Gen 11:27

ABRAM: “Exalted father”.

NAHOR: “Snorer”.

HARAN: “Enlightened”.

LOT: “Veiled”, “covered”.

Gen 11:28

HARAN DIED IN UR: Babylonia, a land of death to those who remained there.

UR OF THE CHALDEANS: “Light of the conquerors” — ie the Cushites. A great city on Euphrates near Persian Gulf. Headquarters of worship of moon. Royal provincial city. Advanced education, culture, science, business. Center of trade. 2 miles long, 1/2 mile wide. Precious metals, exquisite workmanship (HPM 158). Education was well developed and students learned to read, write, and do some arithmetic. Commerce was at a high point due in part to the shipping industry. Ships carrying gold, copper ore, ivory and various wooden products came into Ur thru the Persian Gulf. The people of Mesopotamia, and therefore Ur, were very religious. Indeed, the people of Ur worshipped the moon god, Nanna, in a ziggurat (ie, a large temple structure) they had constructed. Idols were also found in the walls of most houses. See also WAbr 9,10; Halley 87-89. Now a mass of ruins on a barren desert.

Gen 11:29

SARAI: “Princess”. A family of royalty?

MILCAH: “Queen”.

ISCAH: “One who looks forth”: cp v 31 (or “went forth”). Is Iscah another name for Sarah (by tradition of Jerome, Josephus)? Sarah therefore is Abraham’s niece.

Gen 11:30

NO CHILDREN: But through faith she yet conceived seed: Heb 11:11; Isa 54:1; Psa 113:9.

Gen 11:31

This migration: not an isolated incident, but part of a mass emigration of the period. People moving west from Babylonian area, around the Fertile Crescent (WAbr 11). Abraham may have left because of persecution (cp Gen 10:9). He left at the time of the Passover (Exo 12:40,41).

Gen 11:32

205 YEARS: Alternative: Samaritan Pentateuch has 145: cp v 26n (WAc 89).

Gen 12:1

Contrast between Nimrod and Abraham:

Gen 13:1

Ct Gen 12:10: Abraham never left Promised Land again. One excursion into Egypt was enough (Gen 24:6).

NEGEV: “South” in AV.

AND LOT WENT WITH HIM: Implying reluctance on Lot’s part.

Gen 13:2

The first mention of riches in the Bible: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1Ti 6:10). Abraham’s wealth came mainly from Pharaoh (Gen 12:16). This new-found wealth leads to competition and stress, and finally to separation with Lot (see Pro 10:22).

Gen 13:3

Bethel is the 2nd-most mentioned city/place in the Bible.

WHERE HIS TENT HAD BEEN EARLIER (AT THE BEGINNING): A fresh start. Back to the place where he had settled before going down to Egypt. A pilgrimage with a purpose: restoration to a former way of life.

Gen 13:5

In Gen, 3 pairs: (1) Abraham and Lot, (2) Isaac and Ishmael, and (3) Jacob and Esau. “But the closer the relationship between these pairs, the less the spiritual likeness shows”:

• Lot, for all his mistakes, was “that righteous man” (2Pe 2:8);
• Ishmael was “cast out” (Gal 4:30);
• Esau was a “fornicator, profane person” (Heb 12:6) — WAbr 30.

Also consider the later subjugation of their seeds to that of Israel and Christ.

LOT… ALSO HAD FLOCKS… HERDS… TENTS: But no silver or gold (sig redemption faith), as did Abraham (v 2).

Gen 13:6

THE LAND COULD NOT SUPPORT (BEAR) THEM… TOGETHER: Prob the Land had not fully recovered from the effects of the drought of Gen 12:6.

Gen 13:7

This commences the decline of Lot. Since Abraham appeals to Lot, it is obvious he holds him responsible (v 8).

CANAANITES AND PERIZZITES… IN THE LAND: Thus it was to the great advantage of Abraham and Lot to strengthen themselves in unity, and not to quarrel.

PERIZZITES: “Haperizziy” = “village dwellers”: Gen 15:20n. Nomads who occupied rural settlements and sought for pasture (competition for Abraham).

Gen 13:8

Here is put into practice the Bible teaching of submission to one another (Eph 5:21; 1Pe 5:5; Gal 5:20; 1Co 3:3; 2Ti 2:24; Jam 3:16; Luk 22:24-26. “It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel” (Pro 20:3). “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Pro 15:1).

FOR WE ARE BROTHERS: Bre should dwell together in unity (Psa 133), esp in the presence of the “Canaanites”. “Here was the dominant factor which must guide and influence all relationships between Abraham and Lot. By comparison nothing else mattered. Before this overruling bond of brotherhood all else was unimportant. They were near of kin; they had traveled a thousand miles together, together they had shared the hostility of a new land and the special dangers of Egypt. And were they now to squabble over something which only the blessing of God had brought? We be brethren! A thousand times since Abraham, and another thousand times since God revived Abraham’s Faith in these last days, men have become blind to this truth and its deep eternal obligations. Many a wrangle about trivialities of mundane level and many a bickering about spiritual truth of massive unimportance would have been still-born if only this simple wholesome truth had been written in larger capitals in home and ecclesia” (WAbr 30,31).

Gen 13:10

LOT LOOKED UP: “Lot” = “born with a veil”. Ct v 14: Lot lifted up his own eyes, looked for self, and saw a natural sight (cp Gen 3:6; Jer 7:21; 1Jo 2:6). Abraham was told to lift up his eyes, looked through God’s eyes, and saw a spiritual sight: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad” (Joh 8:56). The eye of faith: see Heb 11:3,13; 2Co 4:18.

PLAIN: “Kikkar” = “circle”, the Jordan valley.

LIKE THE GARDEN OF THE LORD: Jordan was watered by a 4-fold flow, as was Eden (Gen 2:10,11). Regularly overflowing its banks — as did the Nile?

TOWARD ZOAR: This should have been a warning!

Gen 13:11

PLAIN: “Kikkar” = “circle”, the Jordan valley.

TOWARD THE EAST: East to Jericho, then south to Sodom.

THE TWO MEN PARTED COMPANY: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another” (Heb 10:25). Lot left Bethel (“the house of El”). Lot left the Land again.

Gen 13:12

Abram trusted God for His needs, even though that meant that he received what appeared to be an unjust settlement from the hand of man.

NEAR (TOWARD) SODOM: “As far as Sodom” (RV): cp Gen 14:12.

Gen 13:13

WICKED: “Breakers of law”.

SINNING: “Chattah” = “to miss the mark”.

There’s an old story about a man who tried to save the city of Sodom from destruction by warning the citizens. But the people ignored him. One day someone asked, “Why bother everyone? You can’t change them.” “Maybe I can’t,” the man replied, “but I still shout and scream to prevent them from changing me!”

Gen 13:14

As soon as Abraham showed his meekness in settling the dispute with Lot, God gave him the promise: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Mat 5:5). Abraham, the “friend of God” and the “father of the faithful”.

LIFT UP YOUR EYES: Abraham lifts up his eyes 3 times: to behold the Land (here), the 3 angels (Gen 18:2), and the sacrificial ram (Gen 22:13).

NORTH… SOUTH… EAST… WEST: Abraham’s destiny to be realized on the earth. In Gen we hear God telling Abraham (cp v 28 here) that He will give him the land in all directions, as far as he can see, as an eternal inheritance. Abraham is promised all the land, “north, south, east and west”… AND a great multiplying of his seed! Notice how this is echoed in the NT, when Jesus says: “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God” (Luk 13:28,29). But in the gospels, Jesus seems to “interpret” this promise (ie, the east, west, north, south allusion) to mean — not only ‘your borders will be extended in all directions’, but especially ‘people (Gentiles!) will come to you (and God’s kingdom) from all directions’! Two different (but related) ways to fulfill the promises to Abraham: (1) the expansion of Abraham’s “territories” outward, and/or (2) the people of those territories coming inward, to Abraham and His God! Either way, the same result.

Gen 13:15

ALL THE LAND: Actually includes the whole earth: Rom 4:13.

AND YOUR OFFSPRING (THY SEED): “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ” (Gal 3:16). See Lesson, “Seed” in RSV.

Gen 13:16

THE DUST OF THE EARTH: Of Christ, the singular seed — as dust of the earth in his mortal state (Gal 4:4; Rom 8:3; Phi 2:7; Heb 2:11-14). Ct Gen 15:5: seed as stars. Thus dust/stars = earthly or natural or mortal / heavenly or spiritual immortal.

Gen 13:17

“Consider the Land as already belonging to you.”

I AM GIVING IT TO YOU: Impl resurrection. “Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death” (Heb 11:19). This promise is kept alive even after the death of Abraham: Exo 6:8; Deu 30:22; 34:1-4; 1Ch 16:15-18. But the Promises are not fulfilled during Abraham’s life: Heb 11:8-13,39; Act 7:5.

Gen 13:18

TREES: “Elon”. Rt “strength” or “oak”. The Heb is consistently translated “tree(s)” in NIV, but “plain” in Gen 12:6; 13:18; 14:13; 18:1; Deu 11:30. Cp also Jdg 4:11; 9:6,37; 1Sa 10:3.

MAMRE: “Vigor” or “power”.

HEBRON: Hebron (“fellowship”) becomes the possession of him who follows God fully — Caleb (Jos 14:14). Hebron is called Arba, or Kiriath-arba, until after Moses (Jdg 1:10). “K-arba” = “city of the four” (cp Rev 21:16).

Gen 14:1

Gen 14: Typ Abraham and the saints who defeat the armies of the nations at “Armageddon”, to free Lot (ie natural Israel), and then return to Jerusalem to be blessed by Melchizedek (ie Christ).

AT THIS TIME: In AV, “it came to pass”. Always prefaces a time of trouble which ends in blessing: Rth 1:1; Isa 7:1; Jer 1:3; Est 1:1; 2Sa 21:1.

AMRAPHAEL OF SHINAR: “Hammurabi” of Babylon, writer of code of laws (WHB, Arch Expl 14). Sig “powerful people” of the “enemies’ tooth”.

ARIOCH: “Servant of moon goddess”.

ELLASAR: Larsa, town in southern Babylonia.

KEDORLAOMER: “Servant of the god Laomar”.

TIDAL: “Formidable”, “venerable”. Prob head of the barbarian tribes of Kurdish mountains.

GOIIM: Lit “nations”, or “Gentiles”.

Gen 14:2

BERA: “Evil”.

SODOM: “Lime pits”, impl burning!

BIRSHA: “Wickedness”.

GOMORRAH: “Heap”, by impl “to chastise”, by piling on blows.

SHINAB: “A father has turned”.

ADMAH: “Earthy” or “red earth” — as “Adam”.

SHEMEBER: “Passover to shame”.

ZEBOIIM: “Beautiful” (as a gazelle).

BELA: “Make away”, or “devour”.

Gen 14:3

Lot finds the peaceful-looking valley embroiled in war.

SIDDIM: “Fields”, suggesting a prosperous area on shores of what was a fresh-water lake at this time (cp Gen 13:10), but which was soon to become the “Salt Sea”!

Gen 14:4

12: Number of orderly government.

13: Number of disruption, rebellion.

Gen 14:5

14: 7 x 2; the covenant reinforced.

REPHAITES: “Giants”; also translated “dead ones”: cp Deu 3:11,13.

ASHTEROTH KARNAIM: “The Ashtarte of two horns” (or two mountain peaks), a city of Bashan (Deu 4:1). Venus often appears as a crescent shape.

EMITES: “Terrible ones”.

SHAVEH KIRIATHAIM: In AV mg, “the plain of Kiriathaim — or two cities”.

Gen 14:6

HORITES: “Cave dwellers”.

EL PARAN: “The oak of the place of caverns”.

DESERT: That is, Sinai.

Gen 14:7

EN MISHPAT: “Spring of Judgment”.

KADESH: “Holy”.

THE WHOLE TERRITORY OF THE AMALEKITES: Only the Amalekites’ country, for the tribe did not exist yet (see Gen 36:12,16).

AMORITES: “Men of the mountains”.

HAZAZON TAMAR: “Row of palms”: En-gedi?

Gen 14:10

TAR PITS (SLIME PITS): “Springs of bitumen”. From rt “to ferment” or “to glow”. Builders of Babel used tar for mortar (Gen 11:2). “Asphalt” (Strong). Today, petroleum deposits are still to be found in area.

SOME… FELL INTO THEM: Entrapped in their own tar pits (Psa 9:15). But the king of Sodom apparently escaped (v 17).

Gen 14:12

If we pursue the path of simple faith (as Abraham) we will generally be thrown outside the world’s circumstances. But if we abandon our separate position to seek a name, a place, and a portion in this world (as did Lot), we must expect to participate in its vicissitudes and convulsions (CHM 153).

LIVING: Not just “sojourning”, but now a permanent resident.

Gen 14:13

THE HEBREW: A descendant of Heber (Gen 10:21), poss ref to his right of inheritance. A “crosser-over” to a new way of life.

THE GREAT TREES: “Elon”. Rt “strength” or “oak”. The Heb is consistently translated “tree(s)” in NIV, but “plain” in Gen 12:6; 13:18; 14:13; 18:1; Deu 11:30. Cp also Jdg 4:11; 9:6,37; 1Sa 10:3.

ESHCOL: “Grape cluster”.

ANER: “Waterfall”.

ALLIED (CONFEDERATE): “Baalim berith” = “lords (or possessors) of the covenant”. They were believers in God of Abr. Typ future: House of Abraham (comprising Hebrew and Gentile in covenant relationship with each other), with help of Yahweh, overthrow invading confederacy from north, rescuing their kinsman (Israel after the flesh), and at last receiving blessing from the “Melchizedek” king of righteousness at Salem.

Gen 14:14

RELATIVE: Lit “brother”: “A bro is born for adversity” (Pro 17:17). Abraham felt a closer kinship with Lot than family relationship: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently” (Gal 6:1). Redeem a kinsman out of difficulty (Lev 25:47-55).

TRAINED: Or “instructed”. Heb “chaniyk”. Disciplined and trained, ie in way of life (Pro 22:6). May sig “consecrated”, as in Deu 20:5; 1Ki 8:63.

BORN IN HIS HOUSEHOLD: Typ born into household of faith: blessed with faithful Abraham (Gal 3:26-28).

DAN: Sig “judgment”.

Gen 14:15

Note the temptation Abraham must have had: conquer land now, by several similar forays, for had not God conquered for him? And had not God promised him the Land? This single battle, a foretaste of future glory, similar to Christ’s transfiguration. “The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion” (Pro 28:1).

HOBAH: “Hiding”, about 50 miles n of Damascus.

Gen 14:16

The Sodomites, delivered from one enemy, but destined to suffer a worse fate when they remain unrepentant.

Gen 14:17

VALLEY OF SHAVEH: “Valley of plains”, in Kedron Valley, ne of Jerusalem, called “Valley of Jehoshaphat” (Joel 3).

THE KING’S VALLEY (DALE): Where Absalom erected a pillar: 2Sa 18:18.

Gen 14:18

Melch was king of Salem (ie king of peace): Heb 7:2; Gen 14:18, as is Jesus. See also Isa 9:7. Bread and wine (cp Last Supper). A priest of God who came forth to bless Abr. The Heb author says lesser is always blessed by greater. So if Melch typ Jesus, then Jesus is greater than even Abraham (see Joh 8:56-58). Also, Abraham gave tithes to Melch; and Levi was still in the loins of Abraham; thus Levi pd tithes to Melch. Also, the recipient of tithes is greater than the one who gives. Thus Christ > Levi and the Levitical priests, and therefore > the Law of Moses, which gave responsibility to the Levitical priests.

“Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other” (Psa 85:10).

“The passing of the torch” (Candlish 142,143).

SALEM: Jerusalem (Psa 76:2: “His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion”). “Salem” = “peace”: Christ will be king of peace (Isa 9:6; Zec 6:13).

BREAD AND WINE: Tokens of the covenant (Luk 22:17,18). Bread of strength and life; wine of joy and fellowship: Mat 26:26-29.

PRIEST: Order superior to Levitical (Heb 7:4-11). Christ is high priest of the order (Heb 6:20; 7:11; Psa 110). Glorified saints will be immortal associates (Rev 5:9,10).”Without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever” (Heb 7:3). Incorporating the 3-fold privilege of ancient firstborn: authority, inheritance, priesthood.

GOD MOST HIGH (THE MOST HIGH GOD): “El Elyon”. “El”: first time in Bible as name of God. “El” = “strength”. “Elyon” = “elevation”. See Gen 11:11; WAbr 42,43.

Gen 14:19

Summary of work of an intercessor: for both God and man.

CREATOR: Attested reading in Ugaritic (NIV, Making 99); cp Pro 8:22n. Also in v 22 here; cp Gen 4:1n.

Gen 14:20

The benediction of Melch prepares Abraham to meet the subtle attack of the king of Sodom. A man blessed of his God can take nothing from his enemies.

Gen 14:22

Vv 22-24: Such austere separation might make Abraham the enemy of the king of Sodom: cp Gen 15:1. Abraham here is showing a stubborn independence of the world (the king of Sodom). He wants as little to do with Sodom as poss. He also shows a jealousy for the honor of the God who blessed him. In v 20, he is willing to deal with Melch. Other examples of righteous men acting in this way are: Peter (Act 3); Elisha (2Ki 5); and Daniel (Dan 5:17). Cp Gen 23, where Abraham is not willing to take the land for free from Ephron to bury Sarah.

I HAVE RAISED MY HAND: Abraham had prayed, and had decided already how to answer the king’s proposal. Lifting up hand = a ceremonial act of oath-taking.

CREATOR: As in v 19, attested reading in Ugaritic (NIV, Making 99); cp Pro 8:22n.

Gen 14:23

Renouncing worldly advantage. God had made Abram rich (Gen 12:16; 13:2). God was his reward (Gen 15:1).

THREAD: “Chut”, fillet, hair-ribbon worn by young women.

OR THE THONG OF A SANDAL: Cp sandal thongs in Deu 25:9; Joh 1:25-27. “In the eyes of the king of Sodom, Abraham was his redeemer, having saved him from the hand of the enemy, but Abraham was unwilling to accept that recognition to the point of being unwilling to unloose even his shoelatchet Abraham conceded that the work of redemption was God’s and His alone” (Xd 138:409)

Gen 14:24

WHAT MY MEN HAVE EATEN: “Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel” (1Co 9:13,14; Rom 13:7,8). “For the Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and ‘The worker deserves his wages’ ” (1Ti 5:18).

Gen 15:1

Gen 15: Sacrifices of covenant: ie, Jer 34:18,19. The animals were divided, and the makers of the covenant met in the midst to agree on terms and eat together. Christ’s sacrifice: the blood of the new covenant: Mat 26:26-29.

THE WORD OF THE LORD: The first time “the word of Yahweh” occurs in the Bible. See Eur 1:89-124.

DO NOT BE AFRAID (FEAR NOT): “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?” (1Pe 3:12,13).

SHIELD: “Magen”: small shield, or buckler. Perh, fig, the sovereign, who is the “shield” of his people. First time used in Bible. God is our shield: 2Sa 22:3; Psa 3:3; 28:7; 33:20; 59:11; 84:9,11; 115:9-11; 119:114; 18:35…

REWARD: Ref back to the victory of Gen 14. The mention of “reward” turns Abraham’s mind suddenly to God’s previous promises: Gen 12,13.

Gen 15:2

SOVEREIGN LORD (LORD GOD): Adonai Yahweh = He who shall become the Lord, or ruler.

SINCE I REMAIN CHILDLESS: And knowing my “seed” will inherit land: Gen 13:15.

THE ONE WHO WILL INHERIT: “Steward” (AV). “The man who is over my house” — from “ben (son) meshek (hold)”.

ELIEZER: “Help of God”. Did Abraham intend to help God by naming an heir?

Gen 15:3

AND ABRAM SAID: Even with no immediate answer, Abraham continues to pray.

A SERVANT (ONE BORN IN MY HOUSE)… WILL BE MY HEIR: Notice the close tribal or paternal relationship between master and servants (though not abject slaves). Eliezer was the designated heir, not such close relatives as Lot.

Gen 15:5

OUTSIDE: In the fields, not in the city. There he could find true communion with God.

STARS: An innumerable seed, ie Dan 12:3; Rev 1:20; Mat 13:43; Psa 147:4. Typ Christ the spiritual seed, in his heavenly exaltation to God’s right hand (Eph 1:20; Phil 3:20; 1Pe 3:22; Act 3:21). Ct Gen 13:16: seed as sand.

“According to recent findings, the number of stars in the universe totals approximately 10 to the 23rd power (a number that also approximates the sum of the grains of sand on the seashores)” (Hugh Ross, “The Finger of God” 153).

“Our five-year-old granddaughter, Samantha, is quite a girl. She is bright, funny, loving, curious, and generous. She brings us great joy just by her very existence, and we are grateful to have such a wonderful young girl in our lives.

“One of her favorite things to do is lie out in the yard at night on a quilt, looking up at the stars with her daddy. A shooting star is something she has always wanted to see but she hasn’t seen one yet. Her voice is sad but hopeful when she quietly says, ‘Daddy has seen one, but I haven’t — not yet.’ This morning my husband and I rose early to watch the Perseids meteor shower, predicted to be very visible and active between 2 am and dawn. We stood together quietly on the deck, listening to the insect and animal sounds that a night in the mountains brings. Staring up into the northeastern sky, I thought about Sam, and I also thought about Abraham.

“Abraham lived almost four thousand years ago, on the other side of the world from me, and yet I feel I know him. I read the stories of how he loved and trusted God, how he treated his family and servants, his enemies and friends. I have a picture of him in my mind.

“I thought of him because of what happened to him one clear, dark night out on the open rolling hills of Israel. He had a visitor, a heavenly messenger, who told him not to fear, that God was his shield and his very great reward. Abraham appreciated that, I am sure, what could be better? But Abraham admitted he was sad because he had no children, and at his death all his vast wealth and possessions would pass along to a servant in his household.

“The angel then took Abraham outside and said, ‘Look up at the heavens and count the stars — if you can count them.’ Then he said, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ How thrilled he must have been! Incredulous, too, because he and his wife had been together a long time and were very old, past the normal time for a couple to have children. He believed God, though, and God gave him credit for his honorable, respectful goodness and belief.

“Though Abraham and his wife Sarah had to wait a long time to have a child together, they did have a son, Isaac, born when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90. Isaac married, had two sons, and those sons had children. So God kept His promise to Abraham that he would have children, grandchildren, and so on and on, even up until this day. His physical descendents through Isaac and Jacob — one of Isaac’s sons — are the Jewish people. His physical descendents through another son, Ishmael, and the other of Isaac’s sons, Esau, are the Arab nations.

“God also promised Abraham that since he was faithful in leaving his homeland in what is now Iraq and traveling to the land of Canaan, now known as Israel, as directed by God, that he and his descendents would inherit that land and possess it forever.

“Now here is where it really gets interesting, because it directly relates to you and me. In about the year 50, Paul wrote a letter to Christians who lived in Galatia, near modern Ankara, Turkey. He told them this amazing thing — that all those years later, generation after generation, Abraham was still gaining descendents, even those who were not physically his offspring. How could this be?

“The promises were spoken to Abraham and his seed, Paul said, especially meaning Jesus, who lived two thousand years after his ancestor Abraham.

“Jesus was a descendent from Abraham, through one of Abraham’s great-grandsons, Judah. But Jesus did not marry and have children, so how does this connect with us?

“We look to Paul again to explain what he meant. ‘If you have been baptized into Christ, then you have clothed yourself with Christ…’ he said. ‘If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and an heir according to the promise.’

“To belong to Christ, we accept that he was and is the son of God who presented himself as a pure, living sacrifice, and that with his blood he purchased men and women for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. After baptism, symbolizing our regret for our shortcomings, and recognition that we need to follow Jesus in dying to this life, we rise up joyfully to a new life. Belonging to Christ, we are adopted into his ‘family’ as heirs to the promises. We are become one of Abraham’s multitudinous offspring — one of those many stars he looked up at so long ago, and marveled, ‘I’m going to have that many descendents — incredible!’

“I have made that decision, to be one belonging to Christ, and thus am one of Abraham’s children. And so, as I looked up at that brilliant sky this morning, I thought to myself, ‘by the grace of God and the love of Christ, I am one of those stars you love so much, Sam — your grandmother is one of those stars!’ ” (Sharee Grazda).

Gen 15:6

BELIEVED: Lit, “rested upon”. Lesson: Rom 4:18-23. Complete belief shown later, in sacrifice of Isaac (Gen 22): cp Jam 2:21. Also, Rom 10:17; Heb 11:1.

CREDITED IT TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS: Said of only two men: Abraham and Phinehas (Psa 106:30,31). God could have determined that other aspects of Abram’s life (such as good works) be reckoned as righteousness, but he chose to look upon “faith” in that way. The reasons: (a) True faith is a harder thing to manifest than are good works. Good works depend on self, on that which is seen, whereas faith does not. (b) Faith depends on God and sees the invisible as more real than what is seen with the literal eyes (2Co 4:18). And (c) faith glorifies God as the one who fulfills His promises, whereas works tend to glorify the doer of the works. See Elp 259,260.

Gen 15:7

Separation for a purpose!

Gen 15:8

Abraham has already believed (v 6): “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” Requests for such signs are not inconsistent with the conviction of faith: Gen 24:13,14; Jdg 6:17,27; 1Sa 14:9,10; Psa 18:17; Isa 7:1-13; Luk 1:18.

Apparently Abraham’s request was acceptable, because God does not castigate him for the question but instead confirms it (vv 18-21) and gives Abraham other promises (vv 13-16). God at other times has acted in the same way toward his servants.

All sacrifices point to Christ, who confirmed the Abraham covenant with his death.

Gen 15:9

HEIFER: See Num 19: the red heifer. Ashes… water of separation… cleansing, purification.

GOAT: The day of atonement: the scapegoat (Lev 16).

RAM: Used for burnt offering (Lev 1:2). Exod 28: at consecration of priesthood.

THREE YEARS: The age of maturity, vigor. The animals were all cut off in their prime. The killing of these animals pointed to Christ’s death; Jesus was put to death in his prime, and after approx three years of ministry.

DOVE (TURTLEDOVE)… PIGEON: Burnt offerings for the poor: Lev 1:14.

Gen 15:10

From an ancient custom of sealing covenants: 2 pieces = 2 parties to covenant; worthy of death if break covenant. Carcasses = our bodies and lives, divided so that the fire (God’s spirit and purpose) may more easily reach each part (cp Heb 4:12; Rom 12;1,2). The covenant: Heb 9:16n.

Gen 15:11

BIRDS OF PREY (FOWLS): Repr Gentile nations: Dan 4:12; Eze 39:17. Who would thwart God’s plan if possible.

CARCASSES: Repr Israel: Mat 24:28.

ABRAM DROVE THEM AWAY: Protecting the sacrifices. Abraham is willing to help in any way possible to forward God’s purpose.

“Shall not we chase from our meditations those worldly and sinful thoughts which defile both our minds and the sacred themes upon which we are occupied? Away, ye birds of evil wing! Leave the sacrifice alone!” (CHS).

Gen 15:12

AS THE SUN WAS SETTING: The time of Christ’s death (Mar 15:33,34,42), as the Passover lamb (Exo 12:6). Mat 27:45: from the 6th to 9th hour.

ABRAM FELL INTO A DEEP SLEEP: This was probably done to teach Abram the lesson that the promises of vv 5,7 would only be fulfilled after he died and when he was resurrected (cp Dan 10:9-11; 8:18; Rev 1:17). Also, Adam was put to sleep so that Eve, his bride, could be taken from his side. This pointed to the redeemed ecclesia, the Bride of Christ, being formed after “the last Adam” died.

DREADFUL DARKNESS (HORROR OF GREAT DARKNESS): Psa 55:3,4: “At the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger. My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me.” Terror of death, oppression by Egyptians.

Gen 15:13

It was not in Canaan that Abraham’s seed would develop into a great nation, but rather in another country (Egypt). Cp saints, developed into a great nation in “Egypt” before entering the Land of Promise.

FOUR HUNDRED YEARS: The sojourning of Abraham’s descendants (from the call of their ancestor) was 400 years (including Abraham’s own sojourning: Heb 11:8,9). From call of Abraham to birth of Isaac = 25 years (Gen 12:4; 21:5). Isaac at 5 years was mocked by Ishmael (Gen 21:8,9). Affliction begins, and 400 years begin (Gal 4:29). Thus 430 – 30 = 400 years sojourning of Abraham’s seed: cp Exo 12:40; Act 7:6; Gal 3 :16,17.

Gen 15:16

IN THE FOURTH GENERATION: Jacob, Levi, Amram, Moses. During the same period, Joshua had approx 12 generations: 1Ch 7:20-27.

THE SIN… HAS NOT YET REACHED ITS FULL MEASURE (THE INIQUITY… IS NOT YET FULL): Through the longsuffering of God the Amorites (which probably included the nations listed in vv 19-21) were given time to repent, and if they did not, God’s judgment would come. The 4 generations from the time Abraham died were probably Levi, Kohath, Amram, and Moses. Finally the curse came upon the Amorites, etc. in the words of God through Moses in Deu 20:16-18, demonstrating that they had not changed. Ct Rev 14:15: “Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ “

Why the Amorites especially? Was it because Abraham was then dwelling in the territory specifically inhabited by this tribe (Gen 14:13)?

“Man is in such a rush. God is not. ‘Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.’ God does not execute His work speedily. Because he does not, many are led to thinking that He is dead. God told Abraham that the ‘iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.’ When it was full, and it took hundreds and hundreds of years for it to happen, God sent His children into the promised land under the leadership of Joshua. Evidently the iniquity of the Gentiles is not yet full, but when it is, God will bring His children into the promised land under the leadership of Jesus. In the meantime those who are not wise think that God is either dead or doesn’t care” (MM).

Gen 15:17

WHEN THE SUN HAD SET: “The sun will set for the prophets, and the day will go dark for them” (Mic 3:6). The ratifying death of Christ the Sun (Mal 4:12). Cp v 12.

FIREPOT (SMOKING FURNACE): Sym purification through fire.

BLAZING TORCH (BURNING LAMP): Sym God’s Spirit: Exo 3:2,3; Jdg 13:20. God’s salvation: Isa 62:1; Rev 4:8. Quite likely the “flaming torch” was the Shekinah Glory of God, revealed elsewhere as the pillar of fire (Exo 14:24, etc). The cutting open of animals, after which some object or person passed between the pieces, was a normal way to sig a covenant. Here the Glory of God passed between the parts, showing that it was a one-sided covenant. God was giving and Abram the receiving (although later on Abram did have a part to do — Gen 17:10). This normal process of making a covenant is spoken of in Jer 34:18,19.

BETWEEN THE PIECES: God only passed thru the parts. Abraham did not. Thus, the covenant was unconditional on Abraham’s part. It was God who promised.

Gen 15:18

MADE: Lit “cut” (Heb “karath”): cp Jer 34:18,19.

RIVER (of Egypt): “Nachar” = river, flood, sea, stream (esp Nile) (Strong). Cp Gen 2:13,14; Exo 7. Nsw as “river (nachal) of Egypt” = Wadi el Arish, a (narrow) valley in Sinai (Strong). These are not bounds of land under Joshua: cp Eze 47:13-21 with Jos 23:4n. Jews’ inheritance in national era, based on law at Horeb, not covenant here: Deu 28:1-14; 5:3. (Also see FLD 299; Eur 1:183; Elp 237-249.)

Gen 15:19

Note: 10 nations (cp Rev 17:10-12; Psa 83; Est 9:10). Cp also Gen 10:15-18. See Lesson, Arena of Bible history and prophecy.

KENITES: “Striker, smith”. ie Jethro (Jdg 1:16). Perh itinerant smiths of Edom (Num 24:20). Some lived in s Judah in David’s time (1Sa 30:29).

KENIZZITES: “Hunter”, lived in mountain Seir, subject to Edomites (Deu 2:12). Othniel and Caleb in Josh 15:17.

KADMONITES: “Ancient, eastern”.

Gen 15:20

HITTITES: “To break down, abolish”. A great empire, c 1800 BC, rivaled Syria in Asia Minor. An oriental people. Impressed by Solomon: 1Ki 9:20.

PERIZZITES: “Tribesman”. Wanderers whom Solomon impressed (1Ki 9:20). Cp Gen 13:7.

REPHAITES: “Giant”. Dwelt near Jordan (Gen 14:5), later among Philistines (2Sa 21:16,18).

Gen 15:21

AMORITES: “Prominent, boaster”. From Palestine to Mesopotamia; then at Dead Sea (Gen 14:7) and later throughout Israel. Made peace with Samuel (1Sa 7:14), and served Solomon (1Ki 9:20).

CANAANITES: “Merchant”. Doomed to destruction (Deu 20:17), but simply put to tribute (Jdg 1:27-36).

GIRGASHITES: Cp Mar 5:1n. Sig “driven out”.

JEBUSITES: “Trodden, trampled”. Mountain tribe (Num 13:29) at Jerusalem, defeated by Joshua (Jos 10:23), but returned (Jdg 1:21).

Gen 16:1

Gen 16: “These things may be taken figuratively, for the women repr two covenants. One covenant is from mountain Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar” (Gal 4:24). Like Israel, Hagar came from Egypt (v 1), sought profit thru connection with Abraham (v 4; cp Joh 8:33), despised the true seed (v 4), found self homeless and desolate (vv 6-8), but is invited to return and submit (vv 9,10) (WAbr 64).

HAGAR: An Arabic or Semitic name, meaning “wanderer” or “fugitive”.

Gen 16:2

THE LORD HAS KEPT ME FROM HAVING CHILDREN (RESTRAINED ME FROM BEARING): Typ, “faith had not yet come” (Gal 3:23) to spiritual Israel. However, “through faith” Sarah later conceived (Heb 11:11).

ABRAM AGREED (HEARKENED) TO WHAT SARAI SAID: Sometimes waiting for the promised fulfillment is the most difficult thing.

Gen 16:3

TEN YEARS: Abram is now 85, Sarai 75.

Gen 16:4

“Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up… an unloved woman who is married, and a maidservant who displaces her mistress” (Pro 30:21,23). Barrenness was esteemed a reproach: Gen 19:31; 30:1,23; Lev 20:20. Fertility was esteemed an honor: Gen 21:6; 24:60.

Gen 16:5

YOU (Abram) ARE RESPONSIBLE (MY WRONG BE UPON THEE): That is, for not rebuking Hagar. But the fault is at least partly Sarai’s. Should not Abraham and Sarah have foreseen such problems?

Gen 16:7

ANGEL: “Malak”. First time used. Sig “messenger, ambassador, or king”. Angels are “ministering spirits” (Heb 1:14).

THE ROAD TO SHUR: Located near Red Sea (1Sa 15:7). Possibly same as modern “Suez”. Hagar was going back to Egypt! (Apostate Israel was driven back to Egypt.)

Gen 16:8

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?: To point out the utter helplessness of her state. Cp attitude of Jesus at well with Samaritan woman (Joh 4:29).

Gen 16:9

GO BACK… SUBMIT: The frequent call of the prophets to wayward Israel after the flesh, even when in exile.

Gen 16:10

The multiplying of Hagar’s seed points to the large number of descendants coming from Ishmael. He had 12 sons and these became the forefathers of a number of the Arab peoples.

Gen 16:11

Hagar is assured that the child will count as hers, not as Sarai’s (WAbr 61). Note the 2 names of God: El hears (“Ishmael” = “whom El hears”) all nations, but Yahweh hears His people.

Gen 16:12

A WILD DONKEY (WILD MAN): Hardy, swift, difficult to catch or tame. “A wild ass among men” (RV). The rebellious nature of this animal and his longing to dwell in the desert: Job 39:5-8. This fits the character of the Arab as shown through centuries of history even up to the present day. His hand being against every man can be seen in the warlike nature of these peoples. Ishmael mocking Isaac (Gen 21) typ of later conflicts between the Arabs and Jews.

…HAND AGAINST…: A common phrase for violence and injury: Gen 37:27; Exo 9:3; Deu 2:16; Jos 2:19; 1Sa 18:17,21; 24:13,14.

HE WILL LIVE IN HOSTILITY TOWARD ALL HIS BROTHERS: Or, “to the east of” (NIV mg); lit, “in the presence (face) of” (AV). Cp the sons of Keturah, whose rightful place was to the east of Isaac (Gen 25:6).

“The word is: rude, and bold and fearing no man; untamed, intractable, living at large, and impatient of service and restraint. His hand will be against every man — that is his sin, and every man’s hand against him — that is his punishment. Note, Those that have turbulent spirits have commonly troublesome lives: they that are provoking, and injurious to others, must expect to be repaid in their own coin. ‘To run away, to run wild’: hence the wild ass, from its fleetness and its untamable nature. What is said of the wild ass (Job 39:5-8) affords the very best description that can be given of the Ishmaelites, (the Bedouins and wandering Arabs), the descendants of Ishmael: ‘Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the brayer? Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.’ Nothing can be more descriptive of the wandering, lawless, freebooting life of the ancient Arabs than this.

“It is further said, ‘His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him’ — many potentates among the Abyssinians, Persians, Egyptians, and Turks, have endeavoured to subjugate the wandering or wild Arabs; but, though they have had temporary triumphs, they have been ultimately unsuccessful… Cyrus, Pompey, and Trajan all endeavoured to conquer Arabia, but in vain. From the beginning to the present day they have maintained their independence, and God preserves them as a lasting monument of His providential care, and an incontestable argument of the truth of Divine Revelation. Had the Pentateuch no other argument to evince its Divine origin, the account of Ishmael and the prophecy concerning his descendants, collated with their history and manner of life during a period of nearly four thousand years, would be sufficient. Indeed the argument is so absolutely demonstrative, that the man who would attempt its refutation, in the sight of reason and common sense would stand convicted of the most ridiculous presumption and folly” (CY).

Gen 16:13

THE GOD WHO SEES ME: “El-roi” = the God of seeing. God hears (Ishmael) and sees (El-roi). Therefore he lives (‘la-kai’: v 14).

I HAVE NOW SEEN THE ONE WHO SEES ME: A question in AV: ‘Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?’ Or, ‘Have I also here seen the latter purposes or designs of Him who sees me?’

“Hagar had trouble. She was pregnant with Abram’s baby and as a result had been mistreated by Sarai. The way she was mistreated must have been so bad that Hagar fled from Sarai. But there was something, it seems, that Hagar had not counted on. The LORD was watching. He knew all she had been through, all she was going through, and He also knew the best way to solve her problems. So the LORD appeared to Hagar and he told her what she needed to know.

“Hagar learned a very important lesson from her encounter with God. She learnt that he is the God who sees, the God who hears and the God who knows. Ishmael was named as a result of this lesson. His name means, ‘God hears,’ or ‘God sees.’

“There are times in our lives when we also have trouble. Like Hagar, we may have a relationship that completely breaks down; we may feel like running away, or leaving our marriage or our church because of the difficulties we have. But like Hagar, we have to remember that God sees and hears, and when our trials get too much for us, He will intervene because He will not try us beyond what we are able to bear.

“Running away will not solve anything — it will only delay or stunt the development of our characters. Instead, let us give our problems to God and trust him to solve them. After all, he is ‘The Living One who sees me’ ” (RP).

Gen 16:14

BEER LAHAI ROI: “The well of him that liveth and seeth me” (AV mg), or “the well of life and vision”. Strategically placed between the “storm” (“Bered”) and the “sanctuary” (“Kadesh”). Cp Gen 25:11.

Gen 16:15

Hagar gives birth to Abraham’s son, as the Mosaic Covenant gave birth to Yahweh’s firstborn (Exo 4:12), constituting the people of God as “the ecclesia in the wilderness” (Act 7:38).

Gen 17:1

Gen 17; 18: “The work of the Elohim in the life of Abram draws him nearer to the great moment of his life: the expression of the covenant, and to see the goodness of Yahweh in the provision of a son as the medium of the divine promises. Gen 17 provides the background to the covenant, and Gen 18 to the preparation for a son. So Yahweh instructed his man of faith: [1] The covenant extended and renewed: Gen 17:1-8. [2] The token of the covenant revealed: vv 9-14. [3] The covenant confirmed: vv 15-22. [4] The token accepted: vv 23-27.

“Then Abraham experiences a visit from the Elohim, recorded in Gen 18. [1] Visitors for Abraham: Gen 18:1-8. [2] A son is promised: vv 9-15. [3] Impending destruction of Sodom revealed to Abram: vv 16-22. [4] Abraham pleads for his nephew: vv 23-33.

“In view of the threatened and impending destruction of Sodom, Abraham pleaded for the righteous as his seed proclaims the Gospel today. Even as he laboured in pleading, the Destroying Angels were approaching the doomed city. The Sodomites were oblivious to the impending destruction; so also was Lot. Abraham alone knew the fate of the city, as we do the state of the world today. Thus Abraham’s eloquent and urgent appeal (cp Luk 17:28-30). But when it came to ten only in Sodom (Gen 18:32), Abraham concluded his appeal, as he knew that there were at least ten in Lot’s immediate family. What a sad state concludes the chapter” (GEM).

“If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand” (Psa 37:23,24).

The promise of Isaac: the seed of the Abraham covenant.

NINETY-NINE YEARS OLD: 24 years since Abraham entered the Land: “So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran” (Gen 12:4).

THE LORD: Cp Gen 18:1, angels!

ALMIGHTY: “Shaddai”, from rt “shadad” = to be powerful. By impl, to ravage. “Shadad” is translated “destroy” (Pro 11:3), “destroyer” (Job 15:21), “spoiler” (Jer 6:26; 15:8; 51:48,53,56). Other words derive from “shad”, such as “breast”, pap, teat. Thus, EL as the “nourisher”.

THE LORD ALMIGHTY: “El Shaddai”: Gen 28:3; 35:11; 43:14; 49:25; 2Co 6:18. “Strength of the Destroyers”.

WALK BEFORE ME: Walking in relation to God: (1) Before: here — security, presence; (2) After: Deu 13:4 — service, obedience; (3) With: Gen 5:24; 6:9 — fellowship; (4) In: Col 2:6 — full union.

BLAMELESS (PERFECT): Cp Gen 6:9. The word “perfect” means “upright or sincere” (AV mg). Righteous men such as Noah, Jacob, and Job all were described by this Heb word, or a form of it. Jesus said in Mat 5:48: “Be ye perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” The Gr “teleios” sig completeness or maturity. So if Abraham really did, in a spiritual sense, “walk before God”, he would be showing his godly and upright character.

Gen 17:2

CONFIRM: “Establish” or “give” or “make”. Not sw as Gen 15:18.

MY COVENANT: God begins to implement His covenant, already given in Gen 15.

I WILL GREATLY INCREASE YOUR NUMBERS (WILL MULTIPLY THEE EXCEEDINGLY): “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands” (Rev 7:9).

Gen 17:3

ABRAM FELL FACEDOWN: Humility, extreme reverence.

GOD SAID TO HIM: When man is in the dust, God can speak to him of grace!

Gen 17:4

A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS: In ct to one nation. A multitude of “goyim” (ie Gentiles); thus the widening of the promise: HAW. Cp Rom 4:16,17; Gal 3:29.

Gen 17:5

ABRAM: “Father of a height”: ref Abraham’s pagan origins?

ABRAHAM: “Hamon” = “a multitude, as of swelling of springs, or voices of singers” (Gesenius).

Gen 17:6

KINGS WILL COME FROM YOU: Fulfilled in (1) line of David; (2) Jesus (Luk 1:32,33) and (3) immortalized saints (Mat 19:28; Rev 5:9,10; 17:24; 20:4; Isa 32:1). By ct, Ishmael had princes (v 2), and Esau had dukes (Gen 36).

From Abraham came the line of David culminating in Christ (Mat 1:1). Also the immortal saints in the kingdom age are described in Rev as “kings and priests reigning on the earth” (Rev 5:10). Heb intensive plural to describe one really great “something” (Isa 53:9, AV mg; Zec 6:11; Num 5:29,14; Dan 2:1,5; 2Ch 16:14; Oba 1:21). So the one really great king coming from Abraham (ie Jesus). In Gen 17: 20 Ishmael would beget 12 “princes”, and in Gen 36 that “dukes” would come from Esau. In both cases these Heb words are not the same as “kings” (melek) in Gen 17:6, and in neither case is the word ever translated “king”. So this passage applies to the kings coming thru David, incl Christ, rather than Ishmael or later on Esau and their descendants.

Gen 17:7

GENERATIONS: “Circles of time”: The Abraham covenant was for all peoples and times as a Memorial.

TO BE YOUR GOD: This phrase is often repeated in the OT in ref to the Jews (Jer 31:33; Eze 11:20; Zec 13:9), and occasionally in the NT in ref to Christians (Heb 8:10; 2Co 6:16).

Gen 17:8

Ct Act 7:5: “He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child.”

Gen 17:10

MY COVENANT: Or, “the seal of my covenant”.

CIRCUMCISED: Abraham openly assents to this. Circumcision was only the outward sign of an inward disposition. As the rite was not displayed to open view, so the true keeping of the covenant, in heart, is not a matter of external appearance. Cp Deu 30:6; Rom 2:25-29; Col 3:11. See Elp 250. Circumcision was the lit cutting off of the flesh… sym of sin nature or sinful thinking or sinful actions. So the act of circumcising was an outward act pointing to a spiritual need. Only an indirect correspondence between circumcision and baptism: only males were circumcised. Also, people are baptized only when they are old enough to know and believe the gospel and to repent. A similarity is that in baptism one’s sins are forgiven and in circumcision the “flesh” of sin is cut off. In each, one enters into a covenant with God as well. Faith supersedes circumcision: Rom 4:11,12; Gal 5:2.

Gen 17:11

Circumcision of the flesh: repudiation (cutting of) of flesh: Gal 5:24. In AV, “foreskin” = “prepuce”. From rt “arel” = to be naked, unclean. Nakedness sym sin: Gen 3:11; Rev 3:18. Circumcision is a cutting off of sin’s flesh. Being situated in the organ of generation, God’s mark of circumcision brought home to the individual that he was a member of the divine family. His redemption would not be thru the flesh. History of circumcision: prob practiced by other nations, esp Egypt, before Abraham’s day. But only now consecrated as a religious rite (Spk).

Gen 17:12

3 provisions, related to: age, sex, and status.

Gen 17:13

God promises to save all classes: Jews (born in house) and Gentiles (bought with money) thru a common rite of circumcision (Rom 2:26-29) — a cutting off of flesh.

Gen 17:14

Death will also be the penalty of those who neglect spiritual circumcision (cp Rev 21:8).

Gen 17:15

The same letter “h” is added to Sarai’s name as to Abram’s name. The “h” plus “yod” = “Yah”!

Gen 17:16

“Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him” (Psa 127:3).

Gen 17:17

FACEDOWN: Prostration, humility, prayer.

LAUGHED: Not the laughter of doubt, but of joy and hope based on faith: Joh 8:56; Rom 4:19. Note the question of amazed wonderment.

SARAH: Note: Abraham is already using Sarah’s new name, given her by God.

Gen 17:18

Abraham believed God’s promise, thru Sarah. He knew that Isaac would be true seed (v 17), and he had abandoned thought that Ishmael would be the heir, and he wished only that God would favor Ishmael in some small way (v 20) (WAbr 73).

Gen 17:19

The seed to be called “through Isaac”: Gen 21:12. “Isaac” = “laughter” (v 17). The covenant to be renewed to Isaac: Gen 26:1-4. And to his seed (Jacob) after him: Gen 28:13,14.

Sarah repr the new covenant: Jerusalem above (Gal 5:24), the barren that shall bear (Isa 54:1), the ecclesia.

EVERLASTING COVENANT: Typ Christ: Luk 1:68-71; Rom 15:8.

Gen 17:20

A GREAT NATION: The Arabian (Moslem) empire, from India to Atlantic at one time. Today, the many members of the Arab confederacy.

Gen 17:22

The angel ascended from him into the heavens.

Gen 17:23

All the men of Abraham’s camp were circumcised the same day (v 26), and thus incapacitated — ie unable to defend against attack. Men of faith today are circumcised in heart, rendered unable to wage fleshly warfare during the days of their probation. Like Abraham’s camp, they will be entirely dependent upon Yahweh’s protection.

Gen 17:25

THIRTEEN: 13 = attitude of rebellion: Gen 14:4; cp 1Ki 6:38; 7:7; Est 3:12,13. In Gen 49:9, “evil days” = 130 (13×10) years! Deu 14: unclean animals are 26 (2×13)! 2Co 11:24: 40 stripes less one = 39 (13×3)!