Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 21:14

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 wandred in the wilderness of Beersheba .

He who before doubted and lingred to do it when Sarahs passion suggested it, when once he understands it to be Gods will, he makes hast to execute it. An excellent example of prudence and piety.

By which may be here understood all necessaries, as Mal. 1. 7, 12. Matth. 6. 11. and 14. 15. compared with Mark 6. 36. Luke 14. 1.

Quest. How is it likely that so rich and liberal a person as Abraham would send away such near and dear Relations with so mean accommodations? Answ. 1. This might be done by particular command from God to Abraham, though it be not here expressed, as many things were said by God and done by men, which are not mentioned in Scripture, as is evident from Iohn 20. 30, 31. and 21. 25. and many other places. And God might order it thus, partly to chastise Abrahams irregular Marriage with Hagar; partly to correct and [illegible: 1+ letters]ame the haughty and rugged temper of the Bond-woman and her Son; and to prepare them for the receiving of Gods help and mercy; and partly that he might more eminently shew his care and kindness to Abraham, in providing for such forlorn and neglected Creatures, because they belonged to him. 2. It cannot be reasonably doubted, that Abraham gave her these Provisions onely for the present, and intended to send further and better afterward to a place appointed by him, which also he did. But she missed her way, as well might, in the Wilderness, and thereby came into these straits designed by God for the signification of greater Mysteries, as may be gathered from Gal. 4.

A place near Gerar, so called here by a Prolepsis. See ver. 31.