Bible Commentaries

Ge 25:1-6.

SONS OF ABRAHAM.

1. Abraham took a wife--rather, "had taken"; for Keturah is called Abraham's concubine, or secondary wife

(1Ch 1:32);

and as, from her bearing six sons to him, it is improbable that he married after Sarah's death; and also as he sent them all out to seek their own independence, during his lifetime, it is clear that this marriage is related here out of its chronological order, merely to form a proper winding up of the patriarch's history.

5, 6. Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac . . . unto the sons of the concubines . . . Abraham gave gifts--While the chief part of the inheritance went to Isaac; the other sons (Ishmael included) migrated to "the East country," that is, Arabia, but received each a portion of the patrimony, perhaps in cattle and other things; and this settlement of Abraham's must have given satisfaction, since it is still the rule followed among the pastoral tribes.

Ge 25:7-11.

DEATH OF ABRAHAM.

7. these are the days of . . . Abraham--His death is here related, though he lived till Jacob and Esau were fifteen years, just one hundred years after coming to Canaan; "the father of the faithful," "the friend of God"

[Jas 2:23],

died; and even in his death, the promises were fulfilled (compare

Ge 15:15).

We might have wished some memorials of his deathbed experience; but the Spirit of God has withheld them--nor was it necessary; for (see

Mt 7:16)

from earth he passed into heaven

(Lu 16:22).

Though dead he yet liveth

(Mt 22:32).

9, 10. his sons . . . buried him--Death often puts an end to strife, reconciles those who have been alienated, and brings rival relations, as in this instance, to mingle tears over a father's grave.

Ge 25:12-18.

DESCENDANTS OF ISHMAEL.

Before passing to the line of the promised seed, the historian gives a brief notice of Ishmael, to show that the promises respecting that son of Abraham were fulfilled--first, in the greatness of his posterity (compare

Ge 17:20);

and, secondly, in their independence.

18. he died--rather, "it [their lot] fell" in the presence of his brethren (compare

Ge 16:12).

Ge 25:19-34.

HISTORY OF ISAAC.

19. these are the generations--account of the leading events in his life.

21. Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife--Though tried in a similar way to his father, he did not follow the same crooked policy. Twenty years he continued unblessed with offspring, whose seed was to be "as the stars"

[Ge 26:4].

But in answer to their mutual prayers

(1Pe 3:7),

Rebekah was divinely informed that she was to be the mother of twins, who should be the progenitors of two independent nations; that the descendants of the younger should be the more powerful and subdue those of the other

(Ro 9:12; 2Ch 21:8).