Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
Download the book in PDF, ePub, Kindle for a complete version.
16 these are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their
towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, a hundred and thirty
and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died, and was gathered unto his people.
18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as
thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
The Birth of Esau and Jacob
19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham
begat Isaac:
20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the
daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
That they were prayed for. Their parents, after they had been long childless, obtained them by prayer, Ge 25:20, 21. Isaac was forty years old when he was married; though he was an only son, and the person from whom the promised seed was to come, yet he made no haste to marry. He was sixty years old when his sons were born (Ge 25:26), so that, after he was married, he had no child for twenty years.
Note, Though the accomplishment of God's promise is always sure, yet it is often slow, and seems to be crossed and contradicted by Providence, that the faith of believers may be tried, their patience exercised, and mercies long waited for may be the more welcome when they come. While this mercy was delayed, Isaac did not approach to a handmaid's bed, as Abraham had done, and Jacob afterwards; for he loved Rebekah, Ge 24:67. But,
1. He prayed: he entreated the Lord for his wife. Though God had promised to multiply his family, he prayed for its increase; for God's promises must not supersede, but encourage, our prayers, and be improved as the ground of our faith. Though he had prayed for this mercy very often, and had continued his supplication many years, and it was not granted, yet he did not leave off