Annotations.
H〈…〉〈…〉] or, bond-maid, seruant: opposed to a free woman, Ier. 34. 10, 11. Gal. 4. 22. The [unspec 1] Holy Ghost translateth it in Greek, sometime Dou∣lee, a woman seruant, Act. 2. 18. sometime Paidis∣kee, a bondmaid, Gal. 4. 22. This bond woman was of Egypt (or Mizraim) of the posteritie of Cham, Gen. 10. 6. which Egypt is after called the house of seruants. Exod. 10. 2. for holding Abrams seed in bondage. Hagar] in Greeke Agar: by interpre∣tation a Fugitive, or repulsed stranger; in the Arabi∣an tongue. And the Apostle saith, that this Agar (allegorically) is mount Sinai in Arabia, and is in bon∣dage with her childre, Ga. 4. 24. 25. where he maketh her a figure of the old Testament, or covenant of the Law given on mount Sinai, and of the earth∣ly Ierusalem: as Sarai the freewoman, figured the Ierusalem which is above, and the new Testament or covenant of the Gospell in Christ. Hagars poste∣rity are called Hagarens (or Hagarites) in 1 Chro. 5. 10. where the Greeke translateth them Pariokous, strangers.
Vers. 2. restrained] the Greeke interpreteth [unspec 2] closed me up, according to that phrase of closing up the wombe, Gen. 20. 18. contrary to which is the opening of the wombe, Gen. 30. 22. God had promi∣sed a seed unto Abram, Gen. 15. 4. but not expresly as yet unto Sarai: wherefore doubting whether she should be the mother, she motioneth another course, which was not according to God (for it vi∣olated the law of mariage, Gen. 2. 24.) but after the flesh, Gal. 4. 23. goe in] that is, accompany with: see Gen. 6. 4. it may be] or, peraduenture: a speech not of faith, but of uncertaine hope, and likelihood after the flesh, but Sarai her selfe, had afterward a son by promise, Gal. 4. 23. and the word of promise was, In this same time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son, Rom. 9. 9. wherefore shee had a son by Agar, but hee was no heyre, Gen. 21. 10. so the Church hath had children by the Law, but they were not heires of the Kingdome of God: for the Law is not of faith; neither are the heires or inheritance, o∣therwise then by promise of grace in Christ: Gal. 3. 12, 14, 18, 22, 29. bee builded] that is, shall have a son. So the Greeke explaineth it; and Moses in Deut. 25. 9. And in Hebrew, ben, a sonne, is na∣med of banah, he builded. So Rachel and Leah, are said to build the house of Israel (by bearing children) Ruth 4. 11. and God promised a seed to David, un∣der the similitude of building him an house, 2 Sam. 7. 11, 12, 27. Sarai reckoneth her maids children, as her owne: so by the Law, bond servants children were their masters, Exod. 21. 4. Rachel likewise counted her maids children, as given to her selfe, Gen. 30. 3, 6, 8. And among the heathens, Plutarch sheweth, how Stratonice the wife of King Deiota∣rus being barren, gave secretly her mayd Electra unto her husband, by whom shee had an heyre to the Crowne.
Vers. 3. end of ten yeres] that is, after hee had dwelt [unspec 3] there ten yeres. So Abram was now 85. yeres old and Sarai 75. Gen. 12. 4. and 17. 17. In the yeere of the world, 2093. a wife] to weet, a secondary and not a full wife, but a concubine, Gen. 25. 6. So Ketu∣ra called a wife, Gen. 25. 1. was but a concubine, 1 Chron. 1. 32. what they differ, is noted on Gen. 22. 23. despised] or, lightly set by: the Greeke saith dishonoured. This pride of Agar, figured the like af∣fection in the heart of those that put confidence in the works of the Law, (as was in the Pharisee Luk. 18. 10. 11.) Rom. 10. 3. And it greatly disquieted Sarai, for it is one of the foure things which the earth cannot beare, that an handmaid should be heire to her mistresse, Prou. 30. 21, 23.
Vers. 5. my wrong] or, my injurie, (which I suffer) [unspec 5] is upon thee; that is, thou art the cause of it. So the Greeke expounds it, I am injured of thee: and the Chaldee, I have a plea against thee: as if Abraham faulted, in suffring such misdemeanor: Or, my wrong be upon thee, that is, either right thou my wrong, or