Important notice: Always check out what you hear and see for yourself, as it is up to you as a Christian to do your own studying. Never take anyone's word alone, including this website here, without first always checking it out for yourself. As 2 Timothy 2:15 says "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Genesis 21
1 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac (= laughter).
Remember it was Sarah who laughed when she found out she was going to have a son at her barren age.
4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
Remember this requirement was a shadow of the things to come. Our required circumcision today, which pertains to both male and female, is of the heart (mind). See Romans 2:28-29, Colossians 2:11-17. Keep in mind that eight symbolizes new beginnings and resurrection, and is also the number that represents CHRIST.
5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac (= laughter) was born unto him.
When GOD makes a promise, HE always keeps it. Never doubt what HE can do, for all things are possible with HIM.
6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
In reference to Genesis 18:12.
7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
Again, all things are possible with GOD.
8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son (Ishmael): for the son (Ishmael) of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
I.e. Sarah didn't want Hagar around, nor Ishmael to be an heir with Isaac. The controversy goes back to Genesis 16.
11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
Remember GOD is always fair and blesses those accordingly.
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba (= well of an oath).
15 And the water was spent (i.e. drank) in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child (A figure of speech [Tapeinosis]). And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
I.e. Hagar thought that was the end for her and Ishmael and sat away from him so she wouldn't have to see the death of him because what was given to them by Abraham, had already been used up.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee (i.e. "what troubleth thee"), Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
Thus we have the Arab nations of today.
19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
Notice the difference between man's (Abraham's) provision and GOD's provision. From Abraham, Hagar received a bottle of water and some bread for her and Ishmael, while from GOD she received a whole well. Remember it is CHRIST (GOD in the flesh) who is our LIVING WATER (John 4).
20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran (= place of caverns): and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
I.e. she found her son a wife in Egypt, which happens to be the same place where she was originally from.
22 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol (= strong) the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:
23 Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
I.e. he wanted no half-truths from Abraham, just plain out right honesty.
24 And Abraham said, I will swear.
I.e. he agreed.
25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
As you will see below, this was Abraham's well that has all of a sudden been violently taken away by the Abimelech's people. Here Abraham had just made an agreement with the Abimelech, and then this happens.
26 And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing; neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.
I.e. the Abimelech didn't know what had taken place until that moment.
27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
Here we see a kind agreement made. Notice no vengeance was done. Instead Abraham did what was good rather than repay evil with evil.
28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?
I.e. "what is the purpose of them set by themselves?"
30 And he (Abraham) said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
Remember seven in Biblical numerics represents spiritual completeness as well as an oath, and in these end times it will be seven thousand very elect who will be a witness unto GOD, when it's time to be delivered up before the antichrist (satan). That is why Mark 13:11 tells us not to premeditate what we are to say because it won't be us who does the speaking but instead the HOLY SPIRIT (GOD's SPIRIT) who will take over us and do the speaking.
31 Wherefore he called that place Beersheba (= well of an oath); because there they sware both of them.
32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol (= strong) the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
34 And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.
2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac (= laughter).
Remember it was Sarah who laughed when she found out she was going to have a son at her barren age.
4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
Remember this requirement was a shadow of the things to come. Our required circumcision today, which pertains to both male and female, is of the heart (mind). See Romans 2:28-29, Colossians 2:11-17. Keep in mind that eight symbolizes new beginnings and resurrection, and is also the number that represents CHRIST.
5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac (= laughter) was born unto him.
When GOD makes a promise, HE always keeps it. Never doubt what HE can do, for all things are possible with HIM.
6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
In reference to Genesis 18:12.
7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
Again, all things are possible with GOD.
8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son (Ishmael): for the son (Ishmael) of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
I.e. Sarah didn't want Hagar around, nor Ishmael to be an heir with Isaac. The controversy goes back to Genesis 16.
11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
Remember GOD is always fair and blesses those accordingly.
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba (= well of an oath).
15 And the water was spent (i.e. drank) in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child (A figure of speech [Tapeinosis]). And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
I.e. Hagar thought that was the end for her and Ishmael and sat away from him so she wouldn't have to see the death of him because what was given to them by Abraham, had already been used up.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee (i.e. "what troubleth thee"), Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
Thus we have the Arab nations of today.
19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
Notice the difference between man's (Abraham's) provision and GOD's provision. From Abraham, Hagar received a bottle of water and some bread for her and Ishmael, while from GOD she received a whole well. Remember it is CHRIST (GOD in the flesh) who is our LIVING WATER (John 4).
20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran (= place of caverns): and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
I.e. she found her son a wife in Egypt, which happens to be the same place where she was originally from.
22 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol (= strong) the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:
23 Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
I.e. he wanted no half-truths from Abraham, just plain out right honesty.
24 And Abraham said, I will swear.
I.e. he agreed.
25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
As you will see below, this was Abraham's well that has all of a sudden been violently taken away by the Abimelech's people. Here Abraham had just made an agreement with the Abimelech, and then this happens.
26 And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing; neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.
I.e. the Abimelech didn't know what had taken place until that moment.
27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
Here we see a kind agreement made. Notice no vengeance was done. Instead Abraham did what was good rather than repay evil with evil.
28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?
I.e. "what is the purpose of them set by themselves?"
30 And he (Abraham) said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
Remember seven in Biblical numerics represents spiritual completeness as well as an oath, and in these end times it will be seven thousand very elect who will be a witness unto GOD, when it's time to be delivered up before the antichrist (satan). That is why Mark 13:11 tells us not to premeditate what we are to say because it won't be us who does the speaking but instead the HOLY SPIRIT (GOD's SPIRIT) who will take over us and do the speaking.
31 Wherefore he called that place Beersheba (= well of an oath); because there they sware both of them.
32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol (= strong) the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
34 And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.