And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born [him] a son in his old age.
What man or woman could believe so improbable a thing? Or, who but a God could have foreseen and foretold it? She saith
children, though she had but one child, either by a usual enallage of the plural number for the singular, whereby the word sons or daughters is used when there was but one, as Gen 36:25; 46:23; Num 26:8; or presaging, that having received from God a new strength, she might have more children. By her expression she showeth all mothers what their duty is, viz. to give their children suck when they are able to do it; and that neither greatness of quality, nor multitude of business, nor other difficulties and inconveniences, will be a sufficient excuse to those that neglect it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And she said, who would have said unto Abraham,…. No one a year ago could ever have thought of such a thing, much less have come and told Abraham that he should have a child or children by Sarah; the thing was incredible, and next to impossible; none but God himself, or an angel from him, could have declared this, as none but he could bring it about, the thing is so marvellous and astonishing:
that Sarah should have given children suck? that she who was ninety years of age should bear a child, and suckle it, as she did; and in doing which she set an example to her daughters to do the like, since neither age nor grandeur, nor the business of her family, were any objection to this duty of nature; and her being able to do this was a clear proof that this was truly a child of her own. The plural number may be put for the singular, as it often is, see Ge 46:23; or Sarah might think, as she had strength given her to bear and suckle one child, she might bear and suckle more; though the phrase seems only to be expressive and descriptive of her as a nursing mother:
for I have borne him a son in his old age; [See comments on Ge 21:2].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
7. Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck ? I understand the future tense to be here put for the subjunctive mood. And the meaning is, that such a thing would never have entered into the mind of any one. Whence she concludes, that God alone was the Author of it; and she now condemns herself for ingratitude because she had been so slow in giving credit to the angel who had told her of it. Now, since she speaks of children in the plural number, the Jews, according to their custom, invent the fable, that whereas a rumor was spread, that the child was supposititious, a great number of infants were brought by the neighbors, in order that Sarah, by suckling them, might prove herself a mother. As if, truly, this might not easily be known, when they saw Isaac hanging on her breast, (435) and as if this was not a more clear and distinct proof, that the milk, pressed out by the fingers, flowed before their eyes. But the Jews are doubly foolish and infatuated, as not perceiving, that this form of expression is of exactly the same import, as if Sarah had called herself a nurse. Meanwhile, it is to be observed, that Sarah joins the office of nurse with that of mother; for the Lord does not in vain prepare nutriment for children in their mothers’ bosoms, before they are born. But those on whom he confers the honor of mothers, he, in this way, constitutes nurses; and they who deem it a hardship to nourish their own offspring, break, as far as they are able, the sacred bond of nature. If disease, or anything of that kind, is the hindrance, they have a just excuse; but for mothers voluntarily, and for their own pleasure, to avoid the trouble of nursing, and thus to make themselves only half-mothers, is a shameful corruption.
(435) It is here added, “ Ac non clarior, et in promptu fuerit demonstratio, si lac digitis expressum ante oculos fluxisset.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Gen 21:7. Have given children suck The plural (children) is put for the singular; and possibly Sarah might flatter herself that she should have more children after this. Hence we learn, as well as from many other instances in antiquity, that women of the highest distinction did not disdain the duty of suckling their children. Modern luxury has introduced a different practice; but she who is able and omits to suckle her own child, is, without all question, deficient in one of the first and most essential duties of a mother.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 21:7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born [him] a son in his old age.
Ver. 7. That Sarah should have given children suck. ] So she had a double blessing, – of the womb, and of the breasts. Milk she had at those years, and great store of it too: whence she is said to “give children suck,” not a child only. She could have nursed another for a need, besides her own. Note, that though she were a great lady, yet she was a nurse. Let it not be niceness, but necessity that hinders any mother from so doing; lest she be found more monstrous than the “sea-monsters,” that “draw out their breast, and give suck to their young”. Lam 4:3 If the child must be set out, let a fit nurse be looked after. Quidam scrofae lacte nutritus cum esset, in coeno sese identidem volutabat. a
a Sphinz Philosoph., p. 235.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
suck. A proof that “God”, the Creator, had renewed her youth, showing why Abimelech should have taken her (Gen 20:2). Sarah’s Magnificat may be compared with Mary’s. The scenes of both near to each other. Mary’s words (Luk 1:54, Luk 1:55) connect her “mercy” with that shown to “Abraham and his seed”,
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Who: Num 23:23, Deu 4:32-34, Psa 86:8, Psa 86:10, Isa 49:21, Isa 66:8, Eph 3:10, 2Th 1:10
for I: Gen 18:11, Gen 18:12
Reciprocal: 1Sa 1:23 – son suck 1Ki 3:21 – give 1Ki 11:20 – weaned Pro 13:12 – when Joh 16:21 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 21:7. Sarah should have given children suck She says children, expecting, it seems, that, having received of God new strength, she would have more than one child. Here all mothers are taught their duty, which is to give their children suck if they be able. Not to do this is a sin against the God of nature, which no rank in life, no fortune nor business, can or will excuse.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
21:7 And she said, {b} Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born [him] a son in his old age.
(b) She accuses herself of ingratitude, that she did not believe the angel.