Genesis 21:14-19, 25-32
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Summary
- Two examples of the scarcity of water, and the need for wells in order to survive.
Details and Comments
- Example #1 - God provides a well (providentially) so that Ishmael will not die.
- Example #2 - Contention over a dug well, and then a treaty.
Scripture
Genesis 21:14-19; 25-32 - The scarcity of water (in a dry area); wells disputed over.
Example #1 - Death by dehydration prevented by water from a well.
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Gen 21:14 Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
Gen 21:15 The water in the bottle was spent, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. Gen 21:16 She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, "Don't let me see the death of the child." She sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept. Gen 21:17 God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Don't be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Gen 21:18 Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him in your hand. For I will make him a great nation." Gen 21:19 God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the bottle with water, and gave the boy drink. |
Ishmael as a teenager (about 14 years old). In the previous verses, God promises to bless Ishmael. The things that happen in this paragraph are not unexpected surprises to God. But they show Ishmael that God will protect him and accomplish what he has promised.
This passage focuses on God's provision in a land scarce of water, and is a demonstration of how God providentially accomplishes his purposes. The well would have been already there, but Hagar didn't see it until God "opened her eyes." |
Example #2 - Disputation over wells - the same general area where the previous event occurred.
| Scripture Passage | Comments and Links |
| Gen 21:25 Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
Gen 21:26 Abimelech said, "I don't know who has done this thing. Neither did you tell me, neither did I hear of it, until today." Gen 21:27 Abraham took sheep and cattle, and gave them to Abimelech. Those two made a covenant. Gen 21:28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Gen 21:29 Abimelech said to Abraham, "What do these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves mean?" Gen 21:30 He said, "You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well." Gen 21:31 Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because they both swore there. Gen 21:32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. ... |
Contention over a dug well. A treaty was made.
In a land where water is scarce, wells are a valuable commodity. |
Scripture Passages
(Only books that have relevance to this study have active links. The others are in italics.)
Genesis • Exodus • Leviticus • Numbers • Deuteronomy • Joshua • Judges • Ruth • 1 Samuel • 2 Samuel • 1 Kings • 2 Kings • 1 Chronicles • 2 Chronicles • Ezra • Nehemiah • Esther • Job • Psalms • Proverbs • Ecclesiastes • Song of Solomon • Isaiah • Jeremiah • Lamentations • Ezekiel • Daniel • Hosea • Joel • Amos • Obadiah • Jonah • Micah • Nahum • Habakkuk • Zephaniah • Haggai • Zechariah • Malachi Matthew • Mark • Luke • John • Acts • Romans • 1 Corinthians • 2 Corinthians • Galatians • Ephesians • Philippians • Colossians • 1 Thessalonians • 2 Thessalonians • 1 Timothy • 2 Timothy • Titus • Philemon • Hebrews • James • 1 Peter • 2 Peter • 1 John • 2 John • 3 John • Jude • Revelation |
—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——
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The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.
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Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.
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