Genesis21

God fulfills His promise to Abraham and Sarah with the miraculous birth of Isaac in their old age. Following Isaac's weaning, Sarah demands the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael, a decision God affirms while also promising to make a great nation of Ishmael. Subsequently, Abraham establishes a covenant with Abimelech concerning a well, naming the place Beersheba, and calls upon the everlasting God.

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The Birth and Naming of Isaac

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away

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

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.

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

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.

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

¶ 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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

The Covenant at Beersheba

¶ 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:

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.

And Abraham said, I will swear.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.

Study Notes for Genesis 21

Verse 1

This verse emphasizes God's faithfulness by stressing that He fulfilled His promise to Sarah exactly as He had spoken, confirming the miraculous nature of Isaac’s birth.

Verse 2

Sarah's conception at the 'set time' (the specific appointed moment) highlights the sovereignty and precision of God’s timing in fulfilling the covenant promise (cf. Gen 18:10).

Verse 3

The name Isaac means 'he laughs.' This name serves as a constant reminder of the laughter of doubt (Gen 18:12) transformed into the laughter of joy (Gen 21:6).

Verse 4

Abraham’s immediate circumcision of Isaac follows the sign of the covenant established in Genesis 17, demonstrating obedience and formally integrating Isaac into the covenant community.

Verse 6

Sarah’s declaration marks a dramatic shift: her initial skeptical laughter has been replaced by joyous, faith-filled laughter. She recognizes the divine miracle, expecting others to share her joy.

Verse 8

Weaning in the ancient Near East often occurred between the ages of two and five. The accompanying great feast marked the child’s transition from dependency to early childhood.

Verse 9

Ishmael was likely a teenager (around 14–17 years old). The word 'mocking' (*metzaheq*) implies malicious derision or persecution against Isaac, threatening his position as the primary heir (cf. Galatians 4:29).

Verse 10

Sarah demands the removal of Ishmael to secure Isaac's sole inheritance. This painful separation was necessary to clarify the lineage through which the covenant promises would flow.

Verse 12

God affirms Sarah’s harsh command, confirming that the covenant line (*thy seed shall be called*) runs exclusively through Isaac. This establishes the principle of divine election within salvation history.

Verse 13

Though excluded from the covenant promises given to Isaac, God assures Abraham that Ishmael, being his biological seed, will also become the founder of a great nation, fulfilling the earlier promise made in Genesis 16:10.

Verse 14

Abraham's provision of meager supplies emphasizes Hagar's dependence on immediate divine intervention once they enter the wilderness, a place of extreme vulnerability.

Verse 17

God hears the voice of the lad (Ishmael), demonstrating that divine compassion extends beyond the covenant people; God attends to the distress of all those who cry out to Him.

Verse 18

The Angel of God repeats the promise made to Abraham (v. 13) directly to Hagar, giving her assurance and a future purpose for her son despite their current desolation.

Verse 19

God opens Hagar's eyes, allowing her to see the provision that was already there. This physical miracle often symbolizes the need for divine intervention to perceive God's help.

Verse 20

Ishmael's survival and growth as an archer confirms the prophecy from Genesis 16:12 that he would be a 'wild donkey of a man,' flourishing independently in the wilderness.

Verse 22

Abimelech’s approach demonstrates that Abraham’s prosperity and military success were clearly visible to the surrounding Canaanite leaders, leading them to acknowledge God’s favor upon him.

Verse 23

Abimelech seeks a non-aggression pact, recognizing Abraham's growing power and desiring security for his own descendants against potential future conflict.

Verse 25

Water rights were crucial for survival and livestock in the arid climate. This dispute highlights the tension between Abraham, the sojourner, and the settled inhabitants over vital resources.

Verse 27

The exchange of sheep and oxen served as a customary way to seal the covenant, establishing mutual obligations and confirming the agreement between the parties.

Verse 30

The seven ewe lambs function as a legal witness, establishing Abraham's undeniable claim to the well. This ritual confirms his ownership through purchase and excavation.

Verse 31

The place name Beersheba means either 'Well of the Oath' (referencing the sworn covenant) or 'Well of Seven' (referencing the seven lambs used as witnesses).

Verse 33

Planting a grove (or tamarisk tree) indicates Abraham’s intention to settle permanently in this location. Calling upon El Olam, 'The Everlasting God,' links the local covenant to the eternal nature of the divine.

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Genesis21

The Birth and Naming of Isaac

Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away

The Covenant at Beersheba

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