But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
6. the concubines ] i.e. Hagar and Keturah; although in Gen 16:3 Hagar is called Abraham’s wife, as also is Keturah in Gen 25:1 of this chapter.
sent them away ] The present passage belongs to J, a different source of tradition from chap. 21 (E). It ignores the account of the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael related in that chapter, and of the dwelling of Ishmael in the wilderness of Paran (Gen 21:21).
unto the east country ] i.e. the Syro-Arabian desert, on the east of Palestine. Gen 29:1; Jdg 6:3; Jdg 6:33; Jdg 7:12; Jdg 8:10; Isa 11:14; Jer 49:28; Eze 25:4; Eze 25:10 are passages in which “the children of the east” ( b’n edem) are mentioned as the nomad occupants of this region.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 6. Unto the sons of the concubines] Viz., Hagar and Keturah, Abraham gave gifts. Cattle for breed, seed to sow the land, and implements for husbandry, may be what is here intended.
And sent them away – while he yet lived] Lest after his death they should dispute a settlement in the Land of Promise with Isaac; therefore he very prudently sent them to procure settlements during his lifetime, that they might be under no temptation to dispute the settlement with Isaac in Canaan. From this circumstance arose that law which has prevailed in almost all countries, of giving the estates to the eldest son by a lawful wife; for though concubines, or wives of the second rank, were perfectly legitimate in those ancient times, yet their children did not inherit, except in case of the failure of legal issue, and with the consent of the lawful wife; and it is very properly observed by Calmet, that it was in consequence of the consent of Leah and Rachel that the children of their slaves by Jacob had a common and equal lot with the rest. By a law of Solon all natural children were excluded from the paternal inheritance, but their fathers were permitted to give them any sum not beyond a thousand drachma by way of present.
Eastward, unto the east country.] Arabia Deserta, which was eastward of Beer-sheba, where Abraham lived.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The concubines, Hagar and Keturah. Concubines are sometimes called wives, as Gen 16:3; Jdg 19:1-3,29, but their children had no right to the inheritance. For though the children of Jacobs concubines did equally partake of the inheritance with the other children, that was done by Divine appointment, and Jacobs voluntary act, and upon special reason, because of the vast inheritance promised, and afterwards given to them, which made it no loss, but a great convenience and advantage to the children of the chief wives to have their half-brethren, the sons of the concubines, seated so near to them.
Sent them away from Isaac; partly, that the entire possession of that land might be reserved to the children of Isaac; and partly, lest nearness of relation joined with cohabitation or neighbourhood should beget a great familiarity between them, whereby Isaacs seed were likely to be infected by their brethren, whose degeneration and apostacy Abraham might easily foresee from the evil inclinations of their own hearts, and Gods exclusion of them from that covenant of grace and life, which was the only effectual remedy against that powerful and universal corruption.
Eastward, unto the east country; into Arabia, and other parts of Asia the Greater, which were situate eastward from the southern part of Canaan where Abraham now was, whence these people are oft called the children of the east, as Jdg 6:3; 7:12; Job 1:3.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But unto the sons of the concubines which Abraham had,…. These were Hagar and Keturah, though they are both called his wives,
Ge 16:3; yet they were concubines; so Keturah, 1Ch 1:32; they were, as some render the word, “concubine wives” e; they were half wives or secondary ones: the Jewish writers say that they were espoused, but not by writing, as wives were; they were under the lawful wife, when there were any, and a kind of head servants in the family, and their children did not inherit; now the sons of the concubines of Abraham were Ishmael by Hagar, and the six above mentioned by Keturah: to these
Abraham gave gifts; money, gold and silver, of which he had plenty: the Targum of Jonathan calls them substance and movable goods; by this it appears, that though he had sent Ishmael away without anything, yet he afterwards remembered him, and gave him a portion with the rest of the children of his, concubines:
and sent them away from Isaac his son; that they might not be troublesome to him and his family; and that there, might be no contention among them about inheriting the land of Canaan given to him and his seed: and this Abraham did
while he yet lived; or otherwise after his death a separation would not have been easily made; but his authority had weight with them: and they were sent by him
eastward, into the east country; into Arabia, and the parts thereabout, which lay east from the place where Abraham was; these are the children of the east, mentioned along with the Midianites, who sprung from Keturah, Jud 6:3.
e “concubinarum uxorum”, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
6. But unto the sons of the concubines. Moses relates, that when Abraham was about to die, he formed the design of removing all cause of strife among his sons after his death, by constituting Isaac his sole heir, and dismissing the rest with suitable gifts. This dismissal was, indeed, apparently harsh and cruel; but it was agreeable to the appointment and decree of God, in order that the entire possession of the land might remain for the posterity of Isaac. For it was not lawful for Abraham to divide, at his own pleasure, that inheritance which had been granted entire to Isaac. Wherefore, no course was left to him but to provide for the rest of his sons in the manner here described. If any person should now select one of his sons as his heir, to the exclusion of the others, he would do them an injury; and, by applying the torch of injustice, in disinheriting a part of his children, he would light up the flame of pernicious strifes in his family. Wherefore, we must note the special reason by which Abraham was not only induced, but compelled, to deprive his sons of the inheritance, and to remove them to a distance; namely, lest by their intervention, the grant which had been divinely made to Isaac should, of necessity, be disturbed. We have elsewhere said that, among the Hebrews, she who is a partaker of the bed, but not of all the goods, is styled a concubine. The same distinction has been adopted into the customs, and sanctioned by the laws of all nations. So, we shall afterwards see, that Leah and Rachel were principal wives, but that Bilhah and Zilpah were in the second rank; so that their condition remained servile, although they were admitted to the conjugal bed. Since Abraham had made Hagar and Keturah his wives on this condition, it seems that he might lawfully bestow on their sons, only a small portion of his goods; to have transferred, however, from his only heir to them, equal portions of his property, would have been neither just nor right. It is probable that no subsequent strife or contention took place respecting the succession; but by sending the sons of the concubines far away, he provides against the danger of which I have spoken, lest they should occupy a part of the land which God had assigned to the posterity of Isaac alone.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(6) The east country.By this is meant Arabia and Southern Mesopotamia, where, by their superior vigour and organisation, the descendants of Abraham were able to establish their supremacy over the natives. Burckhardt tells us that the Bedaween still follow Abrahams practice. When their children are grown up, they give each of the younger sons his share of their goods (Luk. 15:12), whereupon they move to a distance, and leave the eldest brother in quiet possession of the home.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. The concubines Hagar and Keturah .
Sent them away Some have objected that Keturah’s sons, if born after Sarah’s death, were too young to be thus sent away . But Ishmael was only a lad of fifteen or seventeen years when sent away with his mother into the wilderness of Beer-sheba .
Gen 21:14. But the time of bestowing these gifts on the sons of his concubines, and sending them away, is uncertain . The different facts stated in Gen 25:5-6 may have occurred at very different dates .
From Isaac Abraham would not have his son and heir troubled by claims or disputes after his death, so he was careful to see that all disposition of his possessions, and of the sons of his concubines, was made while he yet lived. A wise example to fathers who have large estates, and many possible claimants.
Unto the east country And they became known thereafter as the Easterns, or Bene-Kedem, sons of the East. See Jdg 6:3; 1Ki 4:30; Job 1:3; Isa 11:14.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
Sweet distinction, in comparing this verse with the former. Providential mercies are one thing: Gracious gifts are another. Reader! If Jesus be your portion, in possessing him, you possess all. 1Co 3:22-23 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 25:6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
Ver. 6. Abraham gave gifts. ] So doth God to reprobates; but they are giftless gifts, better be without them. a Saepe Deus dat iratus quod negat propitius. God gives wealth to the wicked, non aliter ac siquis crumenam auto plenam latrinae inieciat. b The Turkish empire, saith Luther, as great as it is, is but a crust cast to the dogs by the rich householder, c or as Joseph’s cup, &c.
Eastward, to the east country.
a E – Soph.
b Gasp. Ens.
c Panis mica quam dives pater familias proiecit canibus.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
concubines: Gen 25:1, Gen 16:3, Gen 30:4, Gen 30:9, Gen 32:22, Gen 35:22, Jdg 19:1, Jdg 19:2, Jdg 19:4
gifts: Psa 17:14, Psa 17:15, Mat 5:45, Luk 11:11-13, Act 14:17
sent: Gen 21:14
east country: Arabia Deserta, which was eastward of Beer-sheba, where Abraham dwelt. Jdg 6:3, Job 1:1, Job 1:3
Reciprocal: Gen 21:10 – Cast out Gen 22:24 – concubine Deu 21:17 – by giving 2Sa 5:13 – General 1Ki 4:30 – the children 1Ch 2:48 – concubine 1Ch 8:8 – he had 2Ch 11:23 – dispersed 2Ch 21:3 – gave them Jer 49:28 – spoil Eze 46:16 – If the prince Mat 2:1 – from
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 25:6. Abraham gave gifts Or portions. Abraham may be an example to us in almost every circumstance of life: we find him, with great prudence: making, in his lifetime, proper provision for his sons by his secondary wives, Hagar and Keturah, and sending them away from Isaac; whereby, in all probability, he prevented great animosities and dissensions.
How happy would it be if all parents, in the time of health, would take care to settle, by will, the division of their goods among their children! What confusion! what quarrels! what discord! what never to be reconciled animosity among brethren, might this prevent! These sons of the concubines, as they are here called, were sent into the country that lay east of Canaan, and their posterity were termed the children of the east, famous for their number. Their great increase was the fruit of the promise made to Abraham, that God would multiply his seed.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
25:6 But unto the {b} sons of the {c} concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham {d} gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
(b) For by virtue of God’s word he not only had Isaac, but begat many more.
(c) See Gen 22:24.
(d) To avoid the disputing that otherwise might have come because of the heritage.