Bible Commentaries
Genesis 22

Verse 1

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

after, i.e. after 40 or 50 years in Canaan.

tempt. Hebrew. prove, so Exodus 15:25 ; Exodus 16:4 ; Exodus 20:20 . Deuteronomy 8:2 , Deuteronomy 8:16 . Judges 2:22 ; Judges 3:1 , Judges 3:4 .Ecclesiastes 2:1 ; Ecc 7:23 . 1 Samuel 17:39 . 1 Kings 10:1 , &c. Compare Deuteronomy 4:34 (assayed). In later usage trial meant trouble. Book of Wisdom 3.5; 11.10. Sir. 2.1. Judith 8:24-27. Luke 8:13 (compare Matthew 13:21 ). Acts 20:19 . Heb 2:18 . 1 Peter 1:6 .

Behold, &c. = behold me.

Verse 2

lovest. Note the reference to the Antitype.

Moriah. Hebrew = shown or provided by Jah. Compare 1 Chronicles 21:22 ; 1Ch 22:1 . 2 Chronicles 3:1 . Christ crucified also on one of these mountains. Matthew 27:33 .

offer. Hebrew. 'alah. See App-43 .

burnt offering. Hebrew. 'olah.

Verse 3

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton , emphasizing the calmness of Abraham's deliberate faith. Each "and" is to be noted, and each act weighed.

Verse 4

the third day. No. 3. Symb. of resurrection ( App-10 ). Compare Genesis 22:5 , "Come again, "1st pers. Plural. Exactly 3 days journey from Beer-sheba to Moriah. Gerizim Isaiah 2:0 days further.

Verse 5

I and the lad. This is polite Hebrew, while "the lad and I" would be polite English.

yonder. Hebrew. as far as there (as though pointing).

come again. This was proof of Abraham's faith. 1st pers. plural, "We will come again. "

Verse 6

laid. Compare John 19:17 .

fire. Without doubt fire from Abraham's own altar (Genesis 12:7 ; Genesis 13:4 , Genesis 13:18 ; and see note on Genesis 21:33 ), for God accepted a sacrifice only by fire from heaven. See on Genesis 4:4 .

both of them together. Compare the Father and the Son in the antitype. Emph. by repetition in Genesis 22:8 . John 10:30 ; John 14:10 , John 14:11 ; John 16:33 . The sinner is not seen in the type; his part is subsequent to this, viz. to believe what the Father and the Son have done for him in substitution. See also Romans 8:32 .

Verse 7

Here, &c. Hebrew Behold me, my son.

Verse 8

provide. Hebrew. yireh = God will see or look out

Himself = for Himself.

a lamb. Hebrew the lamb.

Verse 9

and. Each act is emph. by the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), and is to be dwelt upon and considered.

an altar. Hebrew the altar.

Verse 11

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah.

Abraham . . .Abraham. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Compare the 10 Duplications: (1) Seven used by God to men: Genesis 22:11 ; Genesis 46:2 .Exodus 3:4 . 1 Samuel 3:10 . Luke 10:41 ; Luke 22:31 .Acts 9:4 ; (2) Three under other circumstances: Matthew 7:21 , Matthew 7:22 (Luke 6:46 ; Luke 13:25 ), Matthew 23:37 (Luke 13:34 ). Mark 15:34 (Matthew 27:46 . Psalms 22:1 ).

Verse 13

lifted up his eyes. Figure of speech Pleonasm, for emph, ( App-6 ).

looked. See note on Genesis 13:14 .

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

a ram. Some Codices (with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel, Septuagint, and Syriac) read "one ram", i.e. a solitary ram.

a thicket. Hebrew the thicket.

in the stead. Here is the doctrine of substitution, clearly stated.

Verse 14

Jehovah-jireh. Hebrew. Jehovah will see, or provide, as in Genesis 22:8 . See App-4 .

In the mount, &c. Figure of speech Paroemia.

it shall be seen: it will be provided, or "in the mount Jehovah will be seen". So it was in 2 Samuel 24:25 . 1 Chronicles 21:26 . 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 .

Verse 15

the second time. Hebrew a second time; the first time was for substitution; the second was for revelation.

Verse 16

sworn. This oath is the foundation of Israel's blessings (Genesis 24:7 ; Genesis 26:3 ; Genesis 50:24 .Exodus 13:5 , Exodus 13:11 ; Exodus 33:1 ). David's "sure mercies" all grounded on it (Psalms 89:35 ; Psalms 132:11 . Compare Luke 1:73 ).

Verse 17

blessing I will bless = I will surely bless; or, I will richly bless. Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

stars . . . sand, &c. Figure of speech Parozmia. See note on Genesis 13:16 .

the gate. Figure of speech Sy n e cd o c h e (ofthe Part), App-6 . "Gate" put for the cities.

Verse 18

all the nations. Proof that the "Mystery" does not mean blessing of Gentiles as such: but the secret concerning Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32 ).

Verse 23

these eight. Nahor had 12 in all, as Ishmael had (Genesis 25:13-16 ), and as Jacob had (Genesis 35:23-27 ).

Verse 24

Maachah. See Deuteronomy 3:14 .Joshua 12:5 . 2 Samuel 10:6 .