Ver. 1. Then again Abraham, &c.] After Sarah’s death, though Calvin thinks otherwise. His body, dry and dead forty years before, is now, by God’s blessing, made lively and lusty.
Ver. 2. No Text for this verse.
Ver. 3. No Text for this verse.
Ver. 4. Ephah, and Epher.] These five were, haply, the founders of the families of those five kings of Midian mentioned in Numbers 31:8.
Ver. 5. Abraham gave all, &c.] So Isaiah 19:25, Assyria is the work of God’s hand, and Israel his inheritance.
Ver. 6. Abraham gave gifts.] So doth God to reprobates; but they are giftless gifts, better be without them. Saepe Deus dat iratus quod negat propitius. God gives wealth to the wicked, non aliter ac siquis crumenam auto plenam latrinae inieciat. The Turkish empire, saith Luther, as great as it is, is but a crust cast to the dogs by the rich householder, or as Joseph’s cup, &c. Eastward, to the east country.] To both the Arabias, which were countries rough but rich; looked rudely, but, searched regularly, afforded great store of fine gold, precious stones, and pleasant odours. Εχθρων αδωπα δωπα και οικ ονησιμα — Soph. Gasp. Ens. Panis mica quam dives pater familias proiecit canibus.
Ver. 7. !!An hundred threescore and fifteen years.] He was sixty-five when he came out of Haran: a whole hundred years he was a stranger in the land, contenting himself with the bare promise of God, and “dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.” (Hebrews 11:9) Salmanticensis giveth him this eulogy: Erat modestus, mimineque invidus, spiritu depresso, animoque humili, et munificus admodum. Beatus ipse, et beati filii eius post eum.
Ver. 8. Gave up the ghost.] Deficit; leniter, expiravit. Describit Moses placidam et optatam, quasi, ευθανασιαν; which in Abraham, God’s friend, is no wonder. But how could that apostate, Julian, say, in truth, Vitam reposcenti naturae, tanquam debitor bonae fidei, rediturus, exulto? Sure it was but a copy of his countenance, but not of his dying countenance; for no wicked man alive can look death in the face with blood in his cheeks. Died in a good old age.] Or, with a good hoar head, after a hundred years’ troublesome pilgrimage in the Promised Land. We, if for one year we suffer hardship, think it a great business. Non quia dura, sed quia molles patimur, saith Seneca. An old man, and full of years.] The godly have oft a satiety of life: as willing they are to leave the world, as men are wont to be to rise from the board when they have eaten their fill, “ Cur non ut plenus vitae conviva recedis? ” said the heathen poet: and they feign that when Tithonus might have been made immortal, he would not, because of the miseries of life. This made Plotinus the Platonist account mortality a mercy, and Cato protest, that if any god would grant him, of old to be made young again, he would seriously refuse it. As for me, said Queen Elizabeth, in a certain speech, I see no such great cause why I should be fond to live, or afraid to die. And again, while I call to mind things past, behold things present, and expect things to come, I hold him happiest that goeth hence soonest. Aug., De Civ. Dei., lib. iv. cap. 10. Siquis Deus mihi largiatur, ut ex hac aetate repuerascam, et in cunis vagiam, valde recusem. -Cato ap. Cic., De Senect. Card. Elisabeth, fol. 325.
Ver. 9. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael, &c.] It is like that Abraham, a little afore his death, sent for his two sons and reconciled them. This joining with Isaac in the burying of Abraham, some take for an argument of his repentance; whereunto also they add, that his whole lifetime is recorded in Holy Scripture, which cannot be showed of any reprobate, and that he is said, when he died, to be gathered to his fathers. Which is beside Mamre.] Where, seventy-six years before, he had entertained the Lord Christ, and heard from his mouth the promise of the Messiah. Wherefore, in remembrance of that most amiable apparition, and for love and honour of the divine promise there uttered, he would there be buried, in full hope of a glorious resurrection; and that his posterity might take notice that he even died upon the promise. As that brave Roman captain told his soldiers, that if they could not conquer Britain, yet they would get possession of it by laying their bones in it. Xiphilinus.
Ver. 10. The field.] [See Trapp on “Ge 23:17”] [See Trapp on “Ge 23:18”]
Ver. 11. Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.] This had been his oratory, where he had formerly found God; (Genesis 24:62) and he loved it the better ever after.
Ver. 12. These are the generations of Ishmael.] Who became the progenitor of twelve princes, according to the promise. (Genesis 17:20)