1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children. She had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram, "See now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my handmaid. It may be that I will obtain children by her." Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. 4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 5 Sarai said to Abram, "This wrong is your fault. I gave my handmaid into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Yahweh judge between me and you." 6 But Abram said to Sarai, "Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes." Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face. 7 The angel of Yahweh found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 8 He said, "Hagar, Sarai's handmaid, where did you come from? Where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai." 9 The angel of Yahweh said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands." 10 The angel of Yahweh said to her, "I will greatly multiply your seed, that they will not be numbered for multitude." 11 The angel of Yahweh said to her, "Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction. 12 He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him. He will live opposite all of his brothers." 13 She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, "You are a God who sees," for she said, "Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?" 14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
Sarai, having no child, gives Hagar her maid to Abram for wife, Genesis 16:1-3. She conceives and despises her mistress, Genesis 16:4. Sarai is offended and upbraids Abram, Genesis 16:5. Abram vindicates himself; and Hagar, being hardly used by her mistress, runs away, Genesis 16:6. She is met by an angel, and counselled to return to her mistress, Genesis 16:7-9. God promises greatly to multiply her seed, Genesis 16:10. Gives the name of Ishmael to the child that should be born of her, Genesis 16:11. Shows his disposition and character, Genesis 16:12. Hagar calls the name of the Lord who spoke to her, Thou God seest me, Genesis 16:13. She calls the name of the well at which the angel met her, Beer-laharoi, Genesis 16:14. Ishmael is born in the 86th year of Abram's age, Genesis 16:15, Genesis 16:16.
INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 16
This chapter gives an account of Abram's marrying his maid, at the instance of his wife Sarai, Genesis 16:1, who, upon conceiving, despised her mistress; of which complaint is made to Abram, who leaving his maid to his wife, to deal with her as she pleased, dealt harshly by her, and therefore fled from her, Genesis 16:4; when she was met by an angel, who advised her to return and submit herself to her mistress, and told her her seed would be greatly multiplied, gave a name to the child she went with, and described his temper and disposition, Genesis 16:7; and then we have the name of God that spoke to her, and of the place where the discourse passed between them, Genesis 16:13; and the chapter is concluded with the birth of Ishmael, and the age of Abram at his birth, Genesis 16:15.
(Genesis 16:1-3) Sarai gives Hagar to Abram.
(Genesis 16:4-6) Hagar's misbehaviour to Sarai.
(Genesis 16:7-16) The Angel commands Hagar to return, The promise to her Birth of Ishmael.
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