Bible Commentaries

This genealogy, and Abraham's death recorded here, because no more is to be said about Abraham. Abraham, however, lived until Jacob was 15. Shem died 1846.

a wife = another, instead of "again".

Medan and

Midian were half-brothers with Ishmael, and they were mixed up together in their dealings. See note on Genesis 37:25, Genesis 37:28.

these = the tares, sown after Isaac, the good seed.

175 years. Therefore a sojourner 100 years. Compare Genesis 12:4.

full of. Hebrew "satisfied with". Supply "days" (not "years"), with Samaritan Pentateuch, Targum of Onkelos, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel, Septuagint, and Syriac.

gathered to his people, an idiomatic Euphemism (App-6) for death and burial. Abraham's "people" were idolaters (Joshua 24:2). See note on 2 Samuel 12:23.

Machpelah. Compare Genesis 23:9.

purchased. Compare Genesis 23:16.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

well. Hebrew. beer. See note on Genesis 21:19.

Lahai-roi. Compare Genesis 16:14; Genesis 24:62.

died = had inheritance. Heb, naphal, to fall, esp. as a lot, giving inheritance (Judges 18:1. 1 Chronicles 1:20; 1 Chronicles 26:14. 2 Chronicles 15:9. Psalms 16:6 (compare Joshua 23:4. Hebrew caused the lot to fall). Hence, to dwell with, as in Proverbs 1:14. Compare Judges 7:12, to encamp, lying along the ground. Ishmael was to dwell in the presence (Hebrew "on the face") of his brethren, i.e. mixed up with them (Genesis 16:12). See Genesis 37:25, Genesis 37:28, Genesis 37:36; Genesis 39:1, and compare Judges 8:24. Midian, being his half-brother (Genesis 15:11, Genesis 15:12). Naphal never rendered "die" elsewhere.

begat. The same form of the verb as in Genesis 5, used of the godly seed.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

heel. Hebrew. yakob, whence the name Jacob (yakob) heel-catcher: hence, contender.

cunning = knowing or skilled in.

a man of the field. "The field is the world. "

plain = upright or pure. Job 1:1, Job 1:8; Job 2:3, &c.

venison. Heb. hunting. Figure of speech Metonymy(of the Cause), App-6, hunting put for what was caught. Eating was strong in Esau too (Genesis 25:34). It was "the will of the flesh" which Isaac's faith overcame in Genesis 27, for he wished to bless Esau, and he loved his savoury meat, See note on Genesis 27:3, Genesis 27:4. Compare Hebrews 11:20.

sod. Part, of O Eng. verb seethe, to boil.

pottage = anything cooked in a pot.

red. Hebrew red red. Figure of speech Epizeuxis (App-6). (No superlative in Hebrew) Figure of speech = that delicious red [food].

Lentiles. See Genesis 25:34.

Edom = Hebrew. red, ruddy. A reference also to Genesis 25:25.

this day. Hebrew "as on this very day. "Figure of speech Simile. App-6. Compare Luke 23:43.

birthright. Included (1) the Father's blessing and supremacy (which went to Jacob, Genesis 27, and Jude 49:8. 1 Chronicles 5:1, 1 Chronicles 5:2); (2) a double portion (which went to Joseph, Genesis 48; 1 Chronicles 5:1, 1 Chronicles 5:2); and (3) the Domestic Priesthood (which after going to the firstborn of each family was vested in Levi for the whole nation. Numbers 3:6, Numbers 3:12. Compare Numbers 16:1-3).

me. Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6) = Brachyology. The words to be supplied are "I will sell it". A famine accounts for the sale. See Genesis 26:1.

day. Figure of speech Brachyology. App-6. Supply "that thou wilt sell it".

birthright. The Severus Codex here reads "ware", i.e. Esau treated his birthright as merchandise. See App-34.

and. Figure of speech Polysyndeton. Four "ands" marking the deliberateness of Esau's acts, and their solemn significance. He despised grace. See App-10.

despised. Hence in Hebrews 12:16 he is called "a profane person".