βShe said to her husband: Behold, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: go in unto my handmaid, it may be I may have children of her at least. And when he agreed to her request,β
May have. Hebrew, βmay be built up,β a metaphorical expression: so God is said to have built up houses for the Egyptian midwives, Exodus i. 21. (Menochius)
βShe took Agar the Egyptian her handmaid, ten years after they first dwelt in the land of Chanaan, and gave her to her husband to wife.β
Ten years after she was 65; which shews that she might reasonably conclude she would now have no children herself; and as she knew God had promised Abram a son, she thought he might follow the custom of those times, and have him by a second wife. Abram shewed no eagerness on this matter, but only yielded to his wifeβs petition, deprecanti, being well aware of the inconveniences of polygamy, which Sarai had soon reason to observe. This is the first time we read of polygamy since the deluge; but it is not mentioned as any thing singular or unlawful. This was a matter in which God could dispense; but it was never left to the disposal of any man. Hence, when Luther and his associates ventured to dispense with the Landgrave of Hesse, to keep two wives at once, he required him to keep it a secret, being ashamed of his own conduct. He still maintained it was a thing indifferent, even in the law of grace, though Christ has so expressly condemned it. See prΔp 62, 65. The practice, so common of late in this country, of marrying again after a bill of divorce has been passed, is no less contrary to the Catholic doctrine, which allows only a separation of the parties from bed and board, in cases of adultery; but never of a second marriage, while both the parties are living. (1 Corinthians vii.; St. Augustine de Adult. Conj. i., City of God xvi. 25, 38; and other fathers.) (Haydock) β It was never lawful for one woman to have two husbands. (Worthington) β To wife. Plurality of wives, though contrary to the primitive institution of marriage, Genesis ii. 24, was by Divine dispensation allowed to the patriarchs; which allowance seems to have continued during the time of the law of Moses. But Christ our Lord reduced marriage to its primitive institution, St. Matthew xix.
βAnd Sarai said to Abram: Thou dost unjustly with me: I gave my handmaid into thy bosom, and she perceiving herself to be with child, despiseth me. The Lord judge between me and thee.β
Despiseth. Few bear prosperity in a proper manner! β And thee. Sarai thinks it is the duty of her husband to restrain the insolence of Agar. She commits her cause to God, and does not seek revenge. (Menochius)
βAnd Abram made answer, and said to her: Behold thy handmaid is in thy own hand, use her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai afflicted her, she ran away.β
Afflicted her, as she now resented even a moderate correction. (Haydock)
βAnd the angel of the Lord having found her, by a fountain of water in the wilderness, which is in the way to Sur in the desert,β
In the desert; omitted in Hebrew being a repetition of in the wilderness. (Calmet)
βAnd the angel of the Lord said to her: Return to thy mistress, and humble thyself under her hand.β
Humble thyself. The angel, in Godβs name, does not blame Sarai; but gives Agar to understand that the fault was wholly on her side. (Haydock)
βAnd again: Behold, said he, thou art with child, and thou shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Ismael, because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.β
Ismael, means βGod hath heardβ the groans and distress of Agar. (Calmet)
βHe shall be a wild man: his hand will be against all men, and all menβs hands against him: and he shall pitch his tents over against all his brethren.β
Wild. Hebrew: like a wild ass, not to be tamed or subdued. The Saracens or Arabs, have almost all along maintained their independence. β Over against, ready to fight, without any dread of any one. (Calmet)
βAnd she called the name of the Lord that spoke unto her: Thou the God who hast seen me. For she said: Verily, here have I seen the hinder parts of him that seeth me.β
Thou the God. She had imagined before that she was talking to some man; but perceiving, at parting, that it was some superior being, she invoked him thus. βThe hinder parts, as Moses did afterwards, Exodus xxxiii, to let us know, that we cannot fully comprehend the nature of an angel, much less of God. Hebrew may be: βwhat! have I seen (do I live) after He has seen me.β The Hebrews generally supposed, that death would presently overtake the person who had seen the Lord or his angel. (Judges vi. 22; Exodus xxxii.[xxxiii.?] 20.) (Calmet)
βAnd Agar brought forth a son to Abram: who called his name Ismael.β
Agar being returned home, and having obtained pardon. β Ismael, as the angel had foretold; an honour shewn to very few; such as Isaac, Solomon, Jesus, &c. (Haydock)