3. Sarai . . . gave her to . . . Abram to be his wife--"Wife" is here used to describe an inferior, though not degrading, relation, in countries where polygamy prevails. In the case of these female slaves, who are the personal property of his lady, being purchased before her marriage or given as a special present to her, no one can become the husband's secondary wife without her mistress consent or permission. This usage seems to have prevailed in patriarchal times; and Hagar, Sarai's slave, of whom she had the entire right of disposing, was given by her mistress' spontaneous offer, to be the secondary wife of Abram, in the hope of obtaining the long-looked-for heir. It was a wrong step--indicating a want of simple reliance on God--and Sarai was the first to reap the bitter fruits of her device.
JFB.
Brief Summary: Sarai gives Hagar to her husband Abram as his wife, Sarai despises her mistress, and Hagar flees from Sarai, the angel of the Lord commands Hagar to return and submit herself to Sarai, Hagar bears a son - Ishmael.
Genesis Chapter 16
Genesis 16:15 - And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
Outline
Sarai Offers Abram Her Egyptian Maid (Genesis 16:1-4)
Sarai Despises Her Mistress (Genesis 16:4-6)
Hagar Flees to the Wilderness (Genesis 16:6-7)
The Angel of the LORD Appears to Hagar (Genesis 16:7-14)
Hagar Bears Ishmael (Genesis 16:15-16)
Summary
1 Sarai, being barren, giveth Hagar
to Abram
4 Hagar, being afflicted for despising her mistress, runneth
away
7 The LORD sendeth her back to submit herself
11 And He telleth her of her child
15 Ishmael is born
Map of the Journeys of Abraham
The Journeys of Abram and Lot
Topics for Bible Study
Sarai's Barrenness
Sarai's Handmaid
Hagar The Egyptian
Abram And Hagar
Hagar Despised By Sarai
Sarai Dealt Harshly With Hagar
Hagar Fled
The Angel Of The Lord
The Fountain
The Wilderness
The Way To Shur
Hagar Commanded To Return
The Promise To Hagar
The Lord Hath Heard Thy Affliction
Command To Name Her Son Ishmael
A Wild Man
Hand Against Every Man
Every Man's Hand Against Him
Jehovah Roi
The Beerlahairoi Well
Ishmael Born
Abram 106 Years Old
Historical Background
Sarai gives
Hagar to her husband Abram as his wife, Sarai despises her
mistress, and Hagar flees from Sarai, the angel of the Lord
commands Hagar to return and submit herself to Sarai, Hagar
bears a son - Ishmael.
Quick Reference Map
Map of the Jordan River
(Click to Enlarge)
Maps
Map of the Giants and Early Inhabitants of Ancient Israel
Map of the Canaanite Nations
Map of the World of Abraham
Map of the Journeys of Abraham
Clothing in the Time of Abraham
This is how a man or a patriarch would have dressed in ancient
times about the time of Abraham which was around 1800 BC. From
inside to out he wore an under garment which was bound by a
girdle.
The Old Testament
Genesis Resources
Creation
Adam and Eve
The
Flood
The Tower of Babel
Abraham the First Hebrew
Isaac, Son of Promise
Jacob
and the 12 Tribes
Joseph
and Egypt