And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.
34. Abraham sojourned in thePhilistines’ landa picture of pastoral and an emblem ofChristian life.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days. Even many years, days being sometimes put for years; having entered into covenant with Abimelech, the king of the country, and settled a good correspondence with him, and having his friendship and good will, which commanded respect from his subjects, Abraham sojourned very quietly and comfortably for many years, chiefly at Beersheba; the Jewish writers say a he sojourned here twenty six years.
a Jarchi & Bereshit Rabba, sect. 54. fol. 48. 4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Abraham sojourned a long time there in the Philistines’ land. There Isaac was probably born, and grew up to be a young man (Gen 22:6), capable of carrying the wood for a sacrifice; cf. Gen 22:19. The expression “in the land of the Philistines” appears to be at variance with Gen 21:32, where Abimelech and Phicol are said to have returned to the land of the Philistines. But the discrepancy is easily reconciled, on the supposition that at that time the land of the Philistines had no fixed boundary, at all events, towards the desert. Beersheba did not belong to Gerar, the kingdom of Abimelech in the stricter sense; but the Philistines extended their wanderings so far, and claimed the district as their own, as is evident from the fact that Abimelech’s people had taken the well from Abraham. On the other hand, Abraham with his numerous flocks would not confine himself to the Wady es Seba, but must have sought for pasture-ground in the whole surrounding country; and as Abimelech had given him full permission to dwell in his land (Gen 20:15), he would still, as heretofore, frequently come as far as Gerar, so that his dwelling at Beersheba (Gen 22:19) might be correctly described as sojourning (nomadizing) in the land of the Philistines.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(34) In the Philistines landIn Gen. 21:32 Abimelech on returning to Gerar is said to have gone back into the land of the Philistines! But Beer-sheba also in a general way belonged to his dominions, and Abraham dwelt there in peace by reason of the treaty which existed between him and the Philistine king.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many days.’ Notice the stress on the fact that he is a sojourner. Though he has settled down there the land is not his people’s, as one day it will be. He still has to walk by faith.
“In the land of the Philistines.” It is clear that the area where they were was acknowledged to be under the control of the Philistine group. This may not be the name of the area but just an acknowledgement of the facts.
“Many days.” The idea of Abraham wandering continually around from place to place is incorrect. Here ‘many days’ probably means a number of years. He was there when Isaac was born. He was there when Isaac was a growing lad (Genesis 22). Of course, the flocks and herds had to be moved about to find grazing, but this was done from a permanent centre.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.
REFLECTIONS
THE long exercise of Abraham and Sarah’s faith respecting this child of promise, and the happy issue of it, may serve to teach us how sure God’s promises are; and the certainty, that those who, with faith and patience, wait the fulfillment of the divine promises, shall not be disappointed of their hope. It is exceedingly precious upon all occasions to remark, the Lord’s gracious dealings with his people. Faithful men love to dwell upon the evidences of a faithful God.
My Brother! Look, I beseech you, beyond the subject of this promised Isaac, unto Him, of whom Isaac was but a type; even unto Jesus, in whom all the promises center, and in whom they are all ye and amen. And as Sarah rejoiced in her Isaac, may it be your mercy and mine, with all the children of promise, as Isaac was, to rejoice in infinitely higher strains of joy in our Redeemer; that unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given: whose government is upon his shoulders, and whose name is Wonderful: Counsellor: the mighty God: the everlasting Father: the Prince of Peace.
When the Reader hath duly contemplated his person, of whom Isaac became a striking type, and in whom all the promises center; I would beg of him to make earnest enquiry concerning his own personal interest in this divine Saviour, Paul tells the believing church of Galatia, that as Sarah was a figure of the church, so Isaac became a figure of the children of that church. Now we, brethren, (says he) as Isaac was, are the children of promise. My brother, is this your privilege? Are you of the seed of the bond-woman or of the free? Are you one of the descendants of Hagar or of Sarah? In other words, (according to the apostle’s beautiful illustration of it), do you seek favour with God from a covenant of works, which gendereth to bondage; or are your hopes of salvation founded on a covenant of grace, which maketh free. Upon the decision of this grand question will depend your everlasting welfare.
May it be the happy portion, both of the Writer and Reader, to be found as Isaac was among the children of promise! The Lord in mercy grant, that we may not be looking for justification from a covenant of works, which never did, or ever will, be able to save the soul! The law is the ministration of death. It is the dispensation of terrors from Mount Sinai. For Hagar is Mount Sinai, which is in bondage with her children, a spiritual bondage to sin, and a legal bondage to wrath. But the gospel is the ministration of life: freeing the soul, by the blood and righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ, from the guilt and condemnation of sin, and bringing it into that liberty, wherewith the children of grace are made free. Grant, O Lord! that this may be our mercy: that in the great day it may be found that we have not been children of the bond-woman, but of the free.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 21:34 And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.
Ver. 34. Many days. ] Twenty-five years at least: for so old was Isaac when he went to be sacrificed. Some halcyons God vouchsafes to his “afflicted, and tossed with tempest”; Isa 54:11 some rest and repose to his poor pilgrims. Laus Deo .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 20:1, 1Ch 29:15, Psa 39:12, Heb 11:9, Heb 11:13, 1Pe 2:11