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"thither, (is it not a little one?) and (u) my soul shall live." 21. And he said unto him, "See, I have accepted thee "concerning this thing also, that I will "not overthrow this city, for the which "thou hast spoken. 22. Haste thee, escape thither, for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither :" therefore the name of the city was called (r) Zoar. 23. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. 24. Then the (y) LORD rained upon Sodom, and upon Gomorrah, brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven. 25. And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 26. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 27. And Abraham gat up early in the morning, to the place where he stood before the LORD. 28. And he looked towards Sodom and Gomorrah, and towards all the land of the plain, and beheld, and lo the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. 29. And it came to pass when

(u) v. 20. " My soul shall live," i. e. "I shall save my life."

(x) v. 22, 23. "Zoar," i. e. "little." the Hebrew word twice used in verse 20. for "a little one."

(y) v. 24. "The Lord." So that that person of the Trinity who had descended from heaven caused rain, &c. to come from "the Lord who remained in heaven," i. e. from God the Father." Justin M. Dial. cum Tryphone, 279.

(z) v. 29. "Remembered Abraham," "in "saving Lot." Lot was Abraham's nephew: the son of Haran, Abraham's brother.

See Gen. xi. 27.

A

(a) v. 1. "Tempt," i. e. " try;" "put "his faith and obedience to the test." singular trial: intended (probably) not merely to ascertain his submission and beief, but to intimate also, that it was by the sacrifice of the promised seed that all the nations of the earth were to be blessed, and to exhibit a type of the great Redeemer. God had promised Abraham, (Gen. xii. 3.) " In thee shall all families be "blessed:" and when Abraham, before Isaac's birth, expressed the wish to God, "Oh, that Ishmael" (his first born) "might

AND it came to pass after these things, that God did (a) tempt Abraham, and said unto him, "Abraham." And he said, "Behold, here I am." 2. And he said, "Take now thy son, thine only "son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get "thee into the land of (6) Moriah; and "offer him there for a burnt-offering 66 upon one of the mountains which Ï "will tell thee of." 3. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and clave the wood for the burnt-offering,

he

"live before thee, Gen. xvii. 18." God promised him a son by Sarah; ordered him to call his name Isaac; and added, “and "I will establish my covenant with him for "an everlasting covenant, and with his "seed after him, Gen xvii. 19." Abraham might not be able to comprehend how this promise could be fulfilled, if he offered up Isaac as he was commanded, and yet hesitated not to comply with the command; and after Isaac's deliverance he might col lect, or it might be revealed to him, that the promised seed would be offered up to procure redemption for mankind. It was probably in allusion hereto, that our S viour said to the Jews, (John viii. 56.) "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my "day, and he saw it, and was glad." See 2 Hales, 138 to 144. Bp. Warburton con siders this as an information to Abraham by action of the great sacrifice of Christ for man's redemption, and Dean Graves agrees with him. See Warburton's Legat. B. 6. §5. and 2. Graves, 210.

(b) "Of Moriah." The mount Moriah, on which the Temple was afterwards built, was part of a hill, which included Mount Sion and Mount Calvary.

his

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and rose up, and went (c) unto the (d) place of which God had told him. 4. Then on the (e) third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the (d) place afar off. 5. And Abraham said unto young men, "Abide here with "the ass; and I and the lad will go "yonder and worship, and come again "to you." 6. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son, and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife: and they went both of them together. 7. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, "My father :" and he said, "Here

am I, my son." And he said, "Be"hold the fire and the wood: but where "is the lamb for a burnt-offering?" And Abraham said, "My son, (g) God "will provide himself (h) a lamb for a "burnt-offering:" so they went both of them together. 9. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order; and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11. And the (i) angel of the (k) LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, "Abraham,

(c) v. 3. "Unto," rather " towards." (d) v. 3, 4. "The place:" supposed to be Mount Calvary, where our Saviour was crucified. 2. Hales, 139.

(e) v. 4. The third day." So that Abraham was under a trial of more than two days' continuance.

(g) v. 8. "God will provide, &c." Dr. Wall considers this as a prophecy, refering to "the Lamb of God," the Messiah, that full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. The ram, in verse 13. though it supplied the purpose of immediate offering, was not the sacrifice here foretold. See note on verse 14.

(h) "A lamb," Hebr." the lamb." (i) v. 11. "The angel of the Lord," or "Jehovah Angel." See post, 524. note on Exod. iii. 2.

(k) v. 11. 14, 15, 16. "The Lord," Hebr. "Jehovah."

(v. 14. "Jehovah-jireh." The Engoi slhf which is, "God will provide:" it

"Abraham." And he said, "Here am "I." 12. And he said, "Lay not thine "hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know "that thou fearest God, seeing thou "hast not withheld thy son, thine only

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son from me." 13. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went, and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering, in the stead of his son. 14. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh (7): as (m) it is said to this day, In the mount of the (k) LORD it shall be seen. 15. And the (i) angel of the (k) LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16. And said, "By my"self have I sworn, saith the (k) LORD, "for because thou hast done this thing, "and hast not withheld thy son,

"thine (n) only son: 17. That in

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blessing, I will bless thee, and in "multiplying, I will (o) multiply thy "seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea"shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18. And (p) in "thy seed shall all the nations of "the earth be blessed: because thou

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was with reference to verse 8. and to what is there stated, that the place received this

name.

(m) "As it is said, &c." or accord"ing as he said that day on the mount, "the Lord will provide;" assigning the reason why the name was given. The expression in verse 8. was, "God" (Elohim) "will provide;" so that this is an instance in which the terms "Jehovah," and "Elohim," are applied to the same person.

(n) v. 16. "Only son." He had another son," Ishmael," who was dwelling in the wilderness of Paran, Gen. xxi. 21. But Isaac was that son with whom God had promised to establish his covenant, Gen. xvii. 21. See note on verse 1.

(o) v. 17. "Multiply, &c." See ante, note on Gen. xii. 2. and Exod. xii. 37. post, 531. (p) v. 18. "In thy seed, &c." A renewal of the promises to Abraham, (Gen. xii. 3. xviii. 18.) and an explanation that it would not be personally in him, but in one of his descendants.

"cording to the time of life, and Sarah "shall have a son.' 15. Then Sarah denied, saying, "I laughed not:" for she was afraid. And he said, "Nay, "but thou didst laugh." 16. And the men rose up from thence, and looked towards Sodom: And Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 17. And the LORD said, "Shall I hide "from Abraham that thing which I do; "18. seeing that Abraham shall surely "become a great and mighty nation, and "(2) all the nations of the earth shall "be blessed in him? 19. For I know

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him, that he will command his chil"dren, and his houshold after him, and "they shall keep the way of the LORD, "to do justice and judgment; that "the LORD may bring upon Abra"ham that which he hath spoken of "him." 20. And the LORD said, "Be66 cause the of Sodom and Gomorrah cry " is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21. I will go down now, and "see whether they have done altogether "according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will "know." 22. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went towards Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. 23. And Abraham drew near, and said, "Wilt thou also de"stroy the righteous with the wicked? "24. Peradventure there be fifty right"eous within the city: wilt thou also "destroy, and not spare the place for "the fifty righteous that are therein?

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(l) v. 18." All the nations, &c." because from him the Messiah, the great Redeemer, should descend. See ante, note on Gen.

xii. 3.

(m) v. 27. "I, &c." or "I, which am but "dust and ashes, have taken upon me to "speak unto the Lord."

(n) v. 27. 30, 31, 32. "The Lord.” Heb. "Adonai."

(o) v. 32. "For ten's sake." So that there may be cases in which the fate of a country may depend upon the goodness of one person. The aggregate of goodness or wickedness in any place is made up of the goodness or wickedness of individuals, and the addition of one to the number of the good may avert God's vengeance. "The

"25. That be far from thee to do after "this manner, to slay the righteous with "the wicked: and that the righteous "should be as the wicked, that be far "from thee: shall not the judge of all "the earth do right?" 26. And the LORD said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will

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spare all the place for their sakes." 27. And Abraham answered, and said, "Behold now, (m) I have taken upon me "to speak unto the (n) LORD, which am "but dust and ashes. 28. Peradventure "there shall lack five of the fifty right"eous: wilt thou destroy all the city for "lack of five?" And he said, "If I "find there forty and five, I will not "destroy it." 29. And he spake unto him yet again, and said, "Peradventure "there shall be forty found there." And he said, "I will not do it for forty's "sake." 30. And he said unto him, “O, "let not the (n) LORD be angry, and I "will speak: Peradventure there shall "thirty be found there." And he said, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." 31. And he said, "Behold now, I have "taken upon me to speak unto the (n) "Lord: Peradventure there shall be "twenty found there." And he said, "I "will not destroy it for twenty's sake." 32. And he said, "O, let not the (") "LORD be angry, and I will speak yet "but this once: Peradventure ten shall "be found there." And he said, "I "will not destroy it (o) for ten's sake." 33. And the LORD (p) went his way as

"fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth "much. Jam. v. 16." And though God has spoken, "concerning a nation, and "concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and "to pull down, and to destroy it, if that na"tion against whom he has pronounced, "turn from their evil, God will repent of "the evil that he thought to do unto them. “Jer. xviii. 7, 8." Goodness, therefore, may be the truest patriotism.

(p) v. 33. "The Lord." "And who was "this, (says Eusebius,) that appeared in "the likeness of man (see v. 2.), but he "who subsisted before all things, the "Word of God, Euseb. Eccl. Hist. b. i. c. 2. p. 4. and c. 4. p. 12."

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soon as he had left communing with Abraham and Abraham returned unto his place.

CHAP. XIX.-to verse 30.

AND there came two (q) angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom; and Lot seeing them, rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face upon the ground; 2. And he said, "Behold now my (r) lords, turn in, "I pray you, into your servant's house, "and tarry all night, and wash your "feet, and ye shall rise up early, and 66 go on your ways." And they said, Nay, but we will abide in the street "all night." 3. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house: and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. 4. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter. 5. And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, "Where are the men which came in to "thee this night? bring them out unto

us, that we may know them." 6. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him. 7. And said, "I pray you, brethren, do not so wick"edly. 8. Behold now, I have two "daughters, which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them "out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes only unto these "men do nothing; for therefore came "they under the shadow of my roof." 9. And they said, "Stand back." And they said again," This one fellow came "in to sojourn, and he will needs be a "judge." Now will we deal worse with thee than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. 10. But the men

(q) v. 1. "Two angels," i. e. "the two "who had been with Abraham in the pre"ceding chapter." Justin M. considers that they proceeded on their way, whilst the third person called "the Lord," (one of the persons of the Trinity,) was commun

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put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 11. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house, with blindness, both small and great : so that they wearied themselves to find the door. 12. And the men said unto Lot, "Hast "thou here any besides? son in law, and "thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring "them out of this place. 13. For we "will destroy this place: because the cry of them is waxen great before the "face of the LORD, and the LORD hath "sent us to destroy it." 14. And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, "Up, get ye out of this place; for "the (s) LORD will destroy this city:" but he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. 15. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, "Arise, take thy wife, and "thy two daughters, which are here; "lest thou be consumed in the iniquity "of the city." 16. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the (s) LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 17. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, " Escape for "thy life; look not behind thee; nei"ther stay thou in all the plain; escape "to the mountain, lest thou be con"sumed." 18. And Lot said unto them, "O not so, my (t) lord. 19. Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in "thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed "unto me in saving my life; and I "cannot escape to the mountain, lest 66 some evil take me, and I die. 20. Be"hold now this city is near to flee unto, " and it is a little one: O let me escape

ing with Abraham. Dial. cum Tryphone, 279.

(r) v. 2. "My lords," Hebr. " Adonai." (s) v. 14. 16. 24. 27. The Lord," Hebr. "Jehovah."

(t) v. 18. "My lord," Hebr. "Adonai."

L L

"hast (q) obeyed my voice." 19. So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up, and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba. 20. And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, "Behold Milcah, she hath also "born children unto thy brother Na"hor;" 21. Huz his first-born, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, 22. and Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. 23. And Bethuel begat Rebecca; these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor Abraham's brother. 24. And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.

CHAP. XXVII.

AND it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, "My "son:" and he said unto him, "Be"hold, here am I." 2. And he said, "Behold now, I am old, I know not "the day of my death. 3. Now there"fore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, "thy quiver and thy bow, and go out "to the field, and take me some veni66 son; 4. And make me savoury meat, "such as I love, and bring it to me, "that I may eat; that my soul may () "bless thee before I die." 5. And Rebecca heard when Isaac spake to

(g) v. 18. "Obeyed." This instance of obedience is referred to and approved, Heb. ix. 17. to 19. "By faith Abraham, when he "was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that "had received the promises, offered up" (i. e. was ready to offer up "his only "begotten son, of whom it was said, that "in Isaac shall thy seed be called: ac"counting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead."

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(r) v. 4. "Bless thee." Isaac was wrong in attempting to confer this blessing upon Esau, because God had declared before their birth, (Gen. xxv. 23.) "the elder (Esau) shall serve the younger," and because Esau had given up his birth-right to Jacob, (Gen. xxv. 31. 33.) Esau also was wrong in being willing to accept it.

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voury meat, that I may eat, and bless "thee before the LORD, before my death. "8. Now therefore, my son, obey my "voice, according to that which I com"mand thee. 9. Go now to the flock, "and fetch me from thence two good "kids of the goats; and I will make "them savoury meat for thy father, "such as he loveth. 10. And thou "shalt bring it to thy father, that he

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may eat, and that he may bless thee "before his death.” 11. And Jacob said to Rebecca his mother, “Behold, "Esau my brother is a hairy man, and "I am a smooth man. 12. My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a "blessing." 13. And his mother said unto him, "Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them." 14. And he went and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. 15. And Rebecca took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her the younger son. 16. And she put his skins of the kids of the goats upon

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The means, however, Rebecca and Jacob adopted, cannot be justified; and both accordingly suffered for their conduct; Jacob in being forced to flee, and live elsewhere to avoid Esau's indignation, and Rebecca, in that she saw her favourite son no more. 2. Hales, 149, 150. Jacob also suffered in having Leah, for whom he had no affection, put upon him instead of Rachel, who was the object of his love; in having Rachel a long time barren, and in having Judah, one of the children of Leah, selected for the person in whose line the great Redeemer was to come. A deviation from right, even though it may accomplish God's purpose, is not likely to go unpunished!