Gen. 16 Sarai is barren, Gen. 16:1. She gives Hagar, her servant, to Abram to be his wife, Gen. 16:2–3. Hagar conceives and despises her mistress, Gen. 16:4. Sarai complains of it, Gen. 16:5. Abram leaves her to Sarai’s disposal, who deals hardly with her: Hagar runs from her, Gen. 16:6.

She reckons the children of her bond-woman (as Hagar was, Gal. 4:22) would be accounted her children. See Gen. 30:3, Ex. 21:4, 2 Sam. 21:8, Est. 2:7. Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai; supposing that God would accomplish his promise of a seed to come out of his loins by this way; and knowing…

i.e. His concubine, or secondary wife. Polygamy, though it was forbidden by God’s first institution, Gen. 2:24, compared with Matt. 19:5, and brought into the world by wicked Lamech, yet it was sometimes practised by the patriarchs, either by God’s permission, who could rightly dispense with his…

For barrenness in itself was a reproach, and especially to Sarai, who seemed to be a person rejected by God, as one whom he would not honour with being the mother of that Seed; and Hagar being suddenly made Sarai’s partner in the privilege of Abram’s bed, and superior to her in respect of that…

i.e. The injury done to me by Hagar, who thus wickedly requites my kindness to her, be upon thee. i.e. is to be imputed to thee; thou art the cause of it, because thou dost not maintain my reputation, and repress her arrogancy.

Thy maid is in thine hand, i.e. subject to thy power and authority, as the phrase is taken, Gen. 24:10, Gen. 39:4, Gen. 39:6, Gen. 39:8, Num. 31:49. For though she be my concubine, yet she is thy inferior; and therefore if she exalt herself above her measure, I give thee power to exercise thy…

The Son of God, who oft appeared in man’s shape, before he took man’s nature, is called an Angel or Messenger, because he was the Angel of the covenant, Mal.

By this title he admonisheth her, that though she was Abram’s wife, yet she was Sarai’s maid, to whom she owed subjection and service, from which she could not lawfully withdraw herself. Consider with thyself what thou art doing: what a sad exchange thou art making.

Hath heard thy cry in thy affliction.

He will be a wild man; Heb. A wild-ass man, i.e. a man like a wild ass, fierce and untamed, and unsettled in his habitation; or as that creature is, Job 39:5, Job 39:8, Jer. 2:24, Hos.

Thou God seest me; thou hast been pleased to take notice and care of me, and graciously to manifest thyself unto me. After him that seeth me, i.e. after that God whose eye is upon me for good.

This name may have respect, either, 1. To God, The well of him that liveth (i.e. of the true and living God) and seeth me, i.e. taketh care of me. Or, 2. To Hagar, The well of her that liveth, i.e.

Hagar bare Abram a son, to wit, after her return and submission to her mistress, which is evident from the following history.