John Calvin on Genesis 20:17-18

17. So Abraham prayed . In two respects the wonderful favor of God towards Abraham was apparent; firsts that, with outstretched hand, He avenged the injury done to him; and, secondly, that, through Abraham’s prayer, He became pacified towards the house of Abimelech. It was necessary to declare, that the house of Abimelech had been healed in answer to Abraham’s prayers; in order that, by such a benefit, the inhabitants might be the more closely bound to him. A question, however, may be agitated respecting the kind of punishment described in the expression, the whole house was barren. For if Abraham had gone into the land of Gerar, after Sarah had conceived, and if the whole of what Moses has here related was fulfilled before Isaac was born, how was it possible that, in so short a time, this sterility should be manifest? If we should say, that the judgment of God was then made plain, in a manner to us unknown, the answer would not be inappropriate. Yet I am not certain, that the series of the history has not been inverted. The more probable supposition may seem to be, that Abraham had already been resident in Gerar, when Isaac was promised to him; but that the part, which had before been omitted, is now inserted by Moses. Should any one object, that Abraham dwelt in Mamre till the destruction of Sodom, there would be nothing absurd in the belief, that what Moses here relates had taken place previously. Yet, since the correct notation of time does little for the confirmation of our faith, I leave both opinions undecided.

CHAPTER 21.

Genesis 21:1-34

1. And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

1. Porro Jehova visitavit Sarah, quemadmodum dixit: et fecit Jehova ipsi Sarah, quemadmodum loquutus erat.

2. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

2. Itaque concepit et peperit Sarah ipsi Abraham filium in senectute ejus, in tempore quod illi dixerat Deus.

3. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

3. Et vocavit Abraham nomen filii sui, qui natus erat ei, quem peperit ei Sarah, Ishac.

4. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

4. Et circumcidit Abraham Ishac filium suum, filium octo dierum, quemadmodum praeceperat ei Deus.

5. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

5. Abraham autem erat centum annorum, quando natus est ei Ishac filius suus.

6. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.

6. Et dixit Sarah, Risum fecit mihi Deus: omnis qui audierit, ridebit mihi.

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.

7. Et dixit, Quis nuntiasset Abrahae lactare filios Sarah? quia peperi filium in senectute ejus.

8. And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.

8. Et crevit puer, et ablactatus est: et fecit Abraham convivium magnum in die qua ablactatus est Ishac.

9. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

9. Et vidit Sarah filium Hagar Aegyptiae, quem peperit ipsi Abraham, ridentem.

10. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

10. Et dixit ad Abraham, Ejice ancillam hanc et filium ejus: quia non haereditabit filius ancillae hujus cum filio meo, cum Ishac.

11. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.

11. Et displicuit res valde in oculis Abraham, propter filium suum.

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.

12. Et dixit Deus ad Abraham, Ne displiceat in oculis tuis super puero, et super ancilla tua: in omnibus quae dixerit tibi Sarah, audi vocem ejus: quia in Ishac vocabitur tibi semen.

13. And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

13. Et etiam filium ancillae in gentem ponam, quia semen tuum est.

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.

14. Diluculo igitur surrexit Abraham, et tulit panem, et utrem aquae, et dedit Hagar, et posuit super humerum ejus, et puerum: et dimisit eam, et perrexit, et erravit in deserto Beer-sebah.

15. And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

15. Et defecerunt aquae de utre, et projecit puerum subter unam arborum.

16. And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him , and lift up her voice, and wept.

16. Et abiit, et sedit e regione, elongando se quantum est jactus arcus: quia dixit, Non videbo quando morietur puer: et sedit e regione, et elevavit vocem suma, et flevit.

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, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is

17. Et audivit Deus vocem pueri, et clamavit angelus Dei ad Hagar de coelis, et dixit ei, Quid tibi Hagar? ne timeas: quia audivit Deus vocem pueri ex loco ubi est.

18. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

18. Surge, tolle puerum, et tene manu tua eum: quia in gentem magnam ponam eum.

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.

19. Tunc aperuit Deus oculos ejus, et vidit puteum aquae, et perrexit et implevit utrem aqua, et potum dedit puero.

20. And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

20. Et fuit Deus cum puero, et crevit, habitavitque in deserto, et fuit jaculator sagittarius.

21. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

21. Et habitavit in deserto Param, et accepit ei mater ejus uxorem de terra Aegypti.

22. And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

22. Deinde fuit tempore illo, dixit Abimelech et Phicol princeps exercitus ejus ad Abraham, dicendo, Deus tecum est in omnibus qu ae tu facis:

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.

23. Nunc itaque jura mihi per Deum hic, si mentitus fueris mihi, Vel, si fefelleris, aut infideliter egeris. et filio meo, et nepoti meo: secundum misericordiam, quam feci tecum facies mecum, et cum terra, in qua peregrinatus es.

24. And Abraham said, I will swear.

24. Et dixit Abraham, Ego jurabo.

25. And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.

25. Et increpavit abraham ipsum Abimelech propter puteum aquae, quem rapuerant servi Abimelech.

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.

26. Et dixit Abimelech, Non novi quis fecerit hoc, neque etiam tu indicasti mihi, neque etiam ego audivi praeterquam hodie.

27. And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.

27. Et accepit Abraham pecudes et boves, et dedit ipsi Abimelech, et percusserunt ambo foedus.

28. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

28. Et statuit Abraham septem agnas pecorum seorsum.

29. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

29. Et dixit Abimelech ad Abraham, Quid sunt septem agnae istae, quos statuisti seorsum?

30. And he 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.

30. Et dixit, Quia septem agnas capies e manu mea: ut sit mihi in testimonium, quod foderim puteum hunc.

31. Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.

31. Idcirco vocatus est locus ipse Beer-sebah: quia ibi juraverant ambo.

32. Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

32. Percusserunt ergo foedus in Beer-sebah: et surrexit Abimelech, et Phicol princeps exercitus ejus, et reversi sunt in terram Pelisthim.

33. And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.

33. Et plantavit nemus in Beer-sebah, et invocavit ibi nomen Jehovae Dei saeculi.

34. And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.

34. Et habitavit Abraham in terra Pelisthim dies multos.