8. for therefore, &c.] Viz. for they came under the shadow of my roof that they might receive the kind treatment of hospitality, and that nothing evil should be done to them. As Lot was a righteous man, 2 Pet. ii. 7. he doubtless supposed, that in offering his daughters he acted right; and his conduct was agreeable to the opinions and sentiments of those times, when any violation of the rites of hospitality was regarded as the most heinous offence. With such notions he believed that he was choosing the less of two evils; but if judged according to the pure laws of Christianity, which forbids us to do evil that good may come, he was culpable. His duty it was to use all prudent and moral means, and no others, to protect his guests, and to leave the rest to Providence.

9. pressed sore] Implying a degree of violence, but the same word in v. 3. means to press and urge in kindness.

11. blindness,] The Hebrew word only occurs here and 2 Kings vi. 18. and seems to mean not entire blindness, but dizziness, when the sight becomes confused.

12. and thy sons,] Rather, "or thy sons." With v. 13. comp. ch. xviii. 20. note.

14. which married] Some render it "who were espoused or betrothed to his daughters," but besides the two daughters mentioned v. 8. Lot may have had others who were married, and resided in Sodom.

15. when the morning arose,] Viz. at break of day; for the sun did not rise till Lot entered Zoar, v. 23.

17. to the mountain,] The mountainous region afterwards inhabited by Lot's posterity, the Moabites. The command not to look behind was given to his wife as well as to him, v. 26.

19. I cannot escape, &c.] Meaning I cannot effect my escape by going to the mountain, and I fear lest, being unable to get there, some evil will take me, and so cause my death. So in the next verse, "let me escape thither," means, let me effect my escape by going thither, "and my soul shall live," i. e. and so my life shall be preserved.

23. was risen] Rather, "the sun rose upon the earth, and Lot entered into Zoar."

24. the Lord rained, &c.] There are two persons mentioned, both called "Jehovah," which is a plain intimation of a plurality in the Godhead. Some contend that it means, Jehovah rainedfrom himself; but if this had been only intended, why is it added "from the Lord," which in that case is unnecessary and obscure. On the other hand all is perspicuous and expressive if the meaning be this, that the Lord who appeared, the Son of God, rainedfrom the Lord, who is invisible, from the Father whom no man hath seen; ch. xvi. 7. note. Upon Sodom and Gomorrah," and also upon the neighbouring cities Admah and Zeboim, Deut. xxix. 23. "brimstone and fire," probably means lightning, Ps. xi. 6.; Ezek. xxxviii. 22. which setting fire to the bitumen with which that region abounded, ch. xi. 3. note, caused the destruction of the cities. Be this, however, as it may, the overflow of them was the

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immediate work of Divine Providence, and did not proceed from natural causes.

26. a pillar of salt.] The numerous and discordant opinions on this subject have little to support them besides conjecture. All that can certainly be known is, that in consequence of her looking back contrary to the Divine command, v. 17. she perished by an instantaneous death, which made her appear like a pillar or statue of salt; Luke xvii. 32.; Wisd. x. 7.

27. where he stood, &c.] In the way from the oak of Mamre towards Sodom; ch. xviii. 1, 16, 22.

29. remembered] In mercy, ch. viii. 1. note. "In the which," i. e. in one of which Lot dwelt, viz. in Sodom; see ch. viii. 4. note. 31. there is not a man in the earth] Or, “in this land," &c. i. e. there are none here to whom we are likely to be given in marriage; ch. xvi. 2. 4.

32. wine] Which they probably had brought from Sodom. Various conjectures have been made as to the motives of Lot's daughters; but, though they cannot now perhaps be ascertained particularly, it may be inferred from the narrative that their motives, however erroneous, were well meant; for their preservation in the midst of the overthrow, their declared object "to preserve seed of their father," and their not repeating the crime, evince that they were not actuated by any sensual and base inclination. They must therefore have been influenced, not by lust, but by some other motive which, though even founded on false and mistaken views, is to a certain degree excusable. Lot's conduct likewise may be vindicated; for the expression "they made their father drink wine" implies that he was inveigled into inebriety, without being voluntarily guilty of it, and through the effects of the wine had no accurate knowledge of what passed; thus the conduct of all the parties in the transaction admits, if not of a complete defence, at least of extenuation.

37. unto this day.] Who exist to this day; the father of the present Moabites; so v. 38.

CHAPTER XX.

1. from thence] From Mamre; ch. xviii. 1, 33. "towards the south country," the southern part of Canaan. With the history in v. 2. et seq. comp. ch. xii. 13. et seq.

3. God came, &c.] Viz. revealed himself in a dream by night. "Thou art but a dead man," or, as we say, thou art all but a dead man; i. e. thou art in the most imminent danger of death on account of the woman whom "thou hast taken," i. e. with a view to marry her comp. Exod. xii. 33.

:

4. a righteous nation?] Viz. innocent as to this matter. Abimelech also declares, v. 5. that he had done this in the integrity of his heart, and innocency of his hands," which is a periphrastic way of expressing innocency of intention, Ps. xxvi. 6.; lxxiii. 13.

7. a prophet,] This is the first time this name occurs, and it obviously means, not in a limited sense, one who foretels future events, but in a general sense, one who is favoured with the revelation and spirit of God, one who is fitted by the Spirit to be the interpreter of his will; Exod. vii. 1. xv. 20. note.; Numb. xi. 25.; 1 Sam. x. 5, 6.; Ps. cv. 15.; Matt. vii. 22. note.

9. that thou hast brought] According to a Hebrew idiom, that thou shouldest attempt to bring on me, &c. i. e. that thou shouldest expose me and my kingdom to the risk of committing so great a sin; ch. xxvi. 10.; Exod. xxxii. 21.

10. What sawest thou,] or my country, that could v. 12. comp. ch. xii. 13. 13. This is thy kindness] This kindness show me, namely, in every place whither we shall come, say of me, &c.: comp. ch.

What didst thou perceive either in me induce thee to do this thing? With

xii. 1.

16. a covering, &c.] Of the many interpretations of this, the most probable is that which refers it to the gift of 1000 pieces of silver; viz. "Behold it (the gift of silver) will serve to buy thee a covering of the eyes (i. e. a veil,) among all that are with thee, and among all others," i. e. that by wearing the veil no one either among thy countrymen or foreigners may be ignorant that thou art a married woman. But as veils were not peculiar to married women, Gen. xxiv. 56. xxxviii. 14. many explain it : Behold he (Abraham) is as much a protector to thee as a veil is to the face. Women who are veiled are not exposed to the view and unchaste desires of those who see them. Thus was she reproved," or instructed and advised; which seem to be the words of Moses, not of Abimelech.

CHAPTER XXI.

1. visited] In mercy, bestowed favour upon Sarah. So this word is used, ch. 1. 24.; Exod. iv. 31.; Ruth i. 6.; Ps. viii. 4. et al. though it is also used in a bad sense for inflicting punishment; Exod. xx. 5.; 1 Sam. xv. 1. "As he had said; " see ch. xvii. 19.

xviii. 10.

2. at the set time] Ch. xvii. 21. xviii. 10. notes; comp. Gal. iv. 22.; Acts vii. 8.; Heb. xi. 11. With v. 4. com. ch. xvii. 10. et seq. 6. to laugh.] To rejoice. Sarah alludes to the circumstance mentioned, ch. xviii. 12.

9. mocking.] It was such a kind of insult and derision as amounted to persecution, Gal. iv. 29, in which chapter the Apostle allegorizes what is written concerning Sarah and Hagar, and their seed, v. 21-31. where see the notes.

10. Cast out, &c.] Expel her from thy house and family, and eject her son from any participation in the inheritance. God admonished Abraham not to grieve at this, but to "hearken unto her voice," to comply with her request; "for in Isaac shall thy seed be

called," v. 12. i. e. for Isaac and his posterity are in a peculiar and eminent sense thy seed, as being those with whom I have established my covenant, and bestowed the promised blessings; ch. xii. 2, 3 xviii. 19, 20, 21. xviii. 10. notes. Here Ishmael and his seed are expressly excluded from participating in the covenant with Abraham; and it is so explained by St. Paul, who argues that not all the children of Abraham should be accounted the children of God, partakers of the covenant, but Isaac only and his posterity; Rom. ix. 6. et seq. where see notes. With v. 13. comp. v. 18. ch. xvi, 10. xvii. 20.

14. bread,] Provisions for their present necessity. Isa. iii. 1. xxxiii. 16. comp. Matt. vi. 11. note. Bottles were anciently made of the skins of animals, and of course were of various sizes. "The child," or boy, not upon her shoulder, for he was now seventeen years of age, and able to assist her in carrying the necessaries for the journey. This circumstance may absolve Abraham from the charge of cruelty, for, with such an attendant, she would find no great difficulty in providing for herself. The "wilderness" was not destitute of houses and even villages, and abounded with flocks and herds, vegetables and fruits. Besides, the transaction was in accordance with the manners of those times, and moreover the dismissal of Hagar was with the approbation of God; v. 12. 15. she cast the child] Rather, "she placed the lad." It appears from v. 18. that he was too faint and weak to stand without support, for she is there commanded to lift him up, and to "hold him in her hand," i. e. to assist and support him. The Hebrew literally is, "strengthen thy hand upon him: " i. e. do not desert him, but afford him necessary assistance.

19. God opened her eyes,] Caused her to see the well of water which she had not observed before; Numb. xxii. 31.; Luke xxiv. 16, 31.

20. was with the lad;] Viz. favoured and blessed him, an archer: "i. e. skilled in the management of the bow and arrow. By this means he could easily provide provisions for himself and his mother.

21. his mother, &c.] In the East parents disposed of their children in marriage, and the right devolved upon the mother, as she was now sent away from Abraham's family; ch. xxiv. 4. 55.; Exod. xxi. 10.

23. deal falsely, &c.] The original is literally, "if thou shalt lie unto me," as in the margin, which is elliptical, and to be supplied, thus: if thou doest so, God will avenge the perjury. The sense then is, swear to me here by God, who, if thou violatest this compact, will avenge it, that according to the kindness which I have showed unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and my country.

25. reproved] Argued and expostulated respecting " a well of water," which in the hot and thirsty countries of the East, was a matter of great importance; comp. ch xxvi. 15-22.

30. a witness] Presents in the East are considered as indispensable in all civil intercourse, and these given to, and accepted

by Abimelech, were to be a witness and testimony that the well was acknowledged to belong to Abraham.

33. a grove] The Hebrew probably means "tamarisk-trees." That they were planted with a view to some religious use, is inferred by some from what follows, for Abraham "called there on the name of the Lord," i. e. worshipped him; ch. iv. 26. note. But they might have been planted for other purposes, though Abraham offered up divine worship there. Groves, being afterwards abused to idolatry, were forbidden in the law; Deut. xvi. 21.

CHAPTER XXII.

1. tempt] Tried and proved him; Deut. viii. 2. xiii. 3. comp. 1 Cor. x 13.; Heb. xi. 17.

2. thine only son] He was the only son in his family, Ishmael being cast out; or Isaac may be called Abraham's only son, not by reason of birth, but of being the only heir of the promised blessings, and the only son of Sarah.

5. and come again to you.] In saying this, Abraham would have been guilty of falsehood, unless he had believed that God would restore him to life again, and that he had this hope is affirmed by the Apostle; Heb. xi. 19.

6. laid it upon Isaac] Isaac was therefore grown up, being as is supposed about 25 years old. This was typical of Christ bearing his cross; John xix. 17.

9. and bound Isaac] Isaac must have voluntarily submitted, in consequence, as is most likely, of Abraham having acquainted him with the will of God. In this he was a signal type of Christ, who voluntarily submitted to death, for us men, and for our salvation; John x. 17, 18. The resemblance between Isaac and Christ extends to a variety of particulars, which cannot be accounted for except by a divine design and pre-appointment.

11. the angel of the Lord] He is afterwards called "the Lord" (Jehovah), and was therefore a Divine Being, namely, God the Son; ch. xvi. 7. note.

12. the lad,] The Hebrew denotes also a youth, a young man. "Now I know," &c. God previously knew all this, and had declared it; ch. xviii. 19. The sense, therefore is, now I know by a new proof. by having actually made trial of thee, "that thou fearest God," hast a reverential regard to God, and to his commands; ch. xxvi. 5.; James ii. 21.; comp. Exod. xx. 20.; Deut. vi. 2.; Eccles. xii. 3.

14. as it is said, &c.] From this circumstance originated the proverb, "in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen,' or rather, it shall be provided;" meaning that in the greatest dangers and difficulties God will provide a deliverance for the faithful, as he substituted the ram for Isaac on the mount. This transaction was intended as a typical representation of the method which God would pursue in blessing all mankind through Abraham's seed,