[12] And he will be a wild
man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him;
and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
He will be a wild man - A wild ass of a man, so the word
is: rude, and bold and fearing no man; untamed, untractable, living at
large, and impatient of service and restraint. His hand will be against
every man - That is his sin, and every man's hand against him - That is
his punishment. Note, Those that have turbulent spirits have commonly troublesome
lives: they that are provoking, and injurious to others, must expect to
be repaid in their own coin. And yet, he shall dwell in the presence of
all his brethren - Though threatened and insulted by all his neighbours,
yet he shall keep his ground, and, for Abram's sake more than his own,
shall be able to make his part good with them. Accordingly we read, Genesis
25:18, that he died, as he lived, in the presence of all his brethren.
[13] And she called the name
of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have
I also here looked after him that seeth me?
And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her
- That is, thus she made confession of his name, Thou God seest me - This
should be with her, his name for ever, and this his memorial, by which
she will know him, and remember him while she lives, Thou God seest me.
Thou seest my sorrow and affliction. This Hagar especially refers to: when
we have brought ourselves into distress by our own folly, yet God has not
forsaken us. Thou seest the sincerity of my repentance. Thou seest me,
if in any instance I depart from thee. This thought should always restrain
us from sin, and excite us to duty, Thou God seest me. Have I here also
looked after him that seeth me? - Probably she knew not who it was that
talked with her till he was departing, and then looking after him, with
a reflexion like that of the two disciples, 24:31,32.Here also - Not only
in Abram's tent, and at his altar, but here also, in this wilderness: here,
where I never expected it, where I was out of the way of my duty?
[14] Wherefore the well was
called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. [15]
And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar
bare, Ishmael. [16] And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when
Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
The well was called Beer - lahai - roi - The well of
him that lives and sees me. 'Tis likely Hagar put this name upon it, and
it was retained long after. This was the place where the God of glory manifested
the special care he took of a poor woman in distress. Those that are graciously
admitted into communion with God, and receive seasonable comforts from
him, should tell others what he has done for their souls, that they also
may be encouraged to seek him and trust in him.
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