50 matching verse commentaries
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we have, I. Isaac, the child of promise born into Abraham's family, ver. 1-8. II. Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman, cast out of it, ver. 9-21. III. Abraham's league with his neighbour Abimelech, ver. 22-32. IV. His devotion to his God, ver. 33. The Birth of Isaac. (b. c. 1897.) 1 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
We have here the famous story of Abraham's offering up his son Isaac, that is, his offering to offer him, which is justly looked upon as one of the wonders of the church. Here is, I. The strange command which God gave to Abraham concerning it, ver. 1, 2. II. Abraham's strange obedience to this command, ver. 3-10. III. The strange issue of this...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Here is, I. Abraham a mourner for the death of Sarah, ver. 1, 2. II. Abraham a purchaser of a burying-place for Sarah. 1. The purchase humbly proposed by Abraham, ver. 3, 4. 2. Fairly treated of, and agreed to, with a great deal of mutual civility and respect, ver. 5-16. 3. The purchase-money paid, ver. 16. 4. The premises conveyed and secured to...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Marriages and funerals are the changes of families, and the common news among the inhabitants of the villages. In the foregoing chapter we had Abraham burying his wife, here we have him marrying his son. These stories concerning his family, with their minute circumstances, are largely related, while the histories of the kingdoms of the world then...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
The sacred historian, in this chapter, I. Takes his leave of Abraham, with an account, 1. Of his children by another wife, ver. 1-4. 2. Of his last will and testament, ver. 5, 6. 3. Of his age, death, and burial, ver. 7-10. II. He takes his leave of Ishmael, with a short account, 1. Of his children, ver. 12-16. 2. Of his age and death, ver. 17,...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we have, I. Isaac in adversity, by reason of a famine in the land, which, 1. Obliges him to change his quarters, ver. 1. But, 2. God visits him with direction and comfort, ver. 2-5. 3. He foolishly denies his wife, being in distress and is reproved for it by Abimelech, ver. 6-11. II. Isaac in prosperity, by the blessing of God upon...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we return to the typical story of the struggle between Esau and Jacob. Esau had profanely sold the birthright to Jacob; but Esau hopes he shall be never the poorer, nor Jacob the richer, for that bargain, while he preserves his interest in his father's affections, and so secures the blessing. Here therefore we find how he was...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
We have here, I. Jacob parting with his parents, to go to Padan-aram; the charge his father gave him (ver. 1, 2), the blessing he sent him away with (ver. 3, 4), his obedience to the orders given him (ver. 5, 10), and the influence this had upon Esau, ver. 6-9. II. Jacob meeting with God, and his communion with him by the way. And there, 1. His...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
This chapter gives us an account of God's providences concerning Jacob, pursuant to the promises made to him in the foregoing chapter. I. How he was brought in safety to his journey's end, and directed to his relations there, who bade him welcome, ver. 1-14. II. How he was comfortably disposed of in marriage, ver. 15-30. III. How his family was...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we have an account of the increase, I. Of Jacob's family. Eight children more we find registered in this chapter; Dan and Naphtali by Bilhah, Rachel's maid, ver. 1-8. Gad and Asher by Zilpah, Leah's maid, ver. 9-13. Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah, by Leah, ver. 14-21. And, last of all, Joseph, by Rachel, ver. 22-24. II. Of Jacob's...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Jacob was a very honest good man, a man of great devotion and integrity, yet he had more trouble and vexation than any of the patriarchs. He left his father's house in a fright, went to his uncle's in distress, very hard usage he met with there, and now is going back surrounded with fears. Here is, I. His resolution to return, ver. 1-16. II. His...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
We have here Jacob still upon his journey towards Canaan. Never did so many memorable things occur in any march as in this of Jacob's little family. By the way he meets, I. With good tidings from his God, ver. 1, 2. II. With bad tidings from his brother, to whom he sent a message to notify his return, ver. 3-6. In his distress, 1. He divides his...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
We read, in the former chapter, how Jacob had power with God, and prevailed; here we find what power he had with men too, and how his brother Esau was mollified, and, on a sudden, reconciled to him; for so it is written, Prov. xvi. 7, "When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." Here is, I. A very...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
At this chapter begins the story of Jacob's afflictions in his children, which were very great, and are recorded to show, 1. The vanity of this world. That which is dearest to us may prove our greatest vexation, and we may meet with the greatest crosses in those things of which we said, "This same shall comfort us." 2. The common griefs of good...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we have three communions and three funerals. I. Three communions between God and Jacob. 1. God ordered Jacob to Beth-el; and, in obedience to that order, he purged his house of idols, and prepared for that journey, ver. 1-5. 2. Jacob built an altar at Beth-el, to the honour of God that had appeared to him, and in performance of his...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we have an account of the posterity of Esau, who, from him, were called Edomites, that Esau who sold his birthright, and lost his blessing, and was not loved of God as Jacob was. Here is a brief register kept of his family for some generations. 1. Because he was the son of Isaac, for whose sake this honour is put upon him. 2....
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
At this chapter begins the story of Joseph, who, in every subsequent chapter but one to the end of this book, makes the greatest figure. He was Jacob's eldest son by his beloved wife Rachel, born, as many eminent men were, of a mother that had been long barren. His story is so remarkably divided between his humiliation and his exaltation that we...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
This chapter gives us an account of Judah and his family, and such an account it is that one would wonder that, of all Jacob's sons, our Lord should spring out of Judah, Heb. vii. 14. If we were to form a character of him by this story, we should not say, "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise," ch. xlix. 8. But God will show that his...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
At this chapter we return to the story of Joseph. We have him here, I. A servant, a slave in Potiphar's house (ver. 1), and yet there greatly honoured and favoured, 1. By the providence of God, which made him, in effect, a master, ver. 2-6. 2. By the grace of God, which made him more than a conqueror over a strong temptation to uncleanness, ver....
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter things are working, though slowly, towards Joseph's advancement. I. Two of Pharaoh's servants are committed to prison, and there to Joseph's care, and so become witnesses of his extraordinary conduct, ver. 1-4. II. They dreamed each of them a dream, which Joseph interpreted (ver. 5-19), and the event verified the interpretation...