e¹ i k¹ 1,2. Promise of seed to Abram.
l 3-. Prostration of Abram, and reverence.
k² -3-8. God's talk with Abram. His seed.
j 9-14. Circumcision. Command.
k³ 15,16. Promise of seed to Sarah.
l 17. Prostration of Abraham, and joy.
k4 18-22. God's talk with Abraham. Sarah's seed.
j 23-27. Circumcision. Obedience.1897 B.C.
Genesis 17)
1 And when Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to
Abram, and said to him, "I am the Almighty God (El Shaddai. First occ. This title assures Abram that He Who has called him was almighty to supply all his needs. Cp. first occ. in N.T. 2 Cor. 16:18 which assures us of the same supply); continue to walk before Me, and you be perfect.
2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly." (= greatly, greatly)
3 And Abram fell on his face: (Cp. Mary, John 11:32, and contrast Martha, John 11:21)
and God (Elohim = Creator. Used in this chapter because He created new names [vv. 5,15], a new Sign of Covenant [vv. 9-14], and a new thing, from one as good as dead [Heb. 11:12].) talked with him saying,
4 "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. (Fig. of Speech used for emphasis)
5 Neither shall your name be any more be called Abram (= high father), but your name shall be Abraham (The fifth letter of the Heb. alphabet [h] put in the middle of his name, #5=Grace. His name means father of a multitude); for a father of many nations have I made you.
6 And I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you (Abraham was the progenitor not only of Israel, but of Ishmaelites, Midianites, Arabians, &c.), and kings shall come out of you.
7 And I will establish My covenant (unconditional) between Me and you and your seed after you in all their generations for an everlasting covenant (Hence Israel called. Isa.44:7); to be God to you, and to your seed after you.
8 And I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land wherein you are a stranger (= land of your sojournings), all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
9 And God said to Abraham, "You shall keep My covenant therefore, you, and your seed after you in their
generations.
10 This is My covenant, which you all shall keep, between Me and you and all your seed after you; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
11 And you all shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant between
Me and you. (Still practiced by Ishmaelites and others. Non-circumcision was the "reproach" of Egypt-Josh. 5:9. Today it is not necessary, but can be done for cleanliness. Today both men and women need to be circumcised of the heart = mind, to put off things of this flesh world and to accept the sacrifices of Christ Jesus, Who did fulfill and became these things, and they were done away with forever [i.e. blood rituals])
12 And he that is 8 days old (8 = the number of Resurrection; associated here with circumcision, the sign of death) shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of your seed.
13 He that is born in your house, and he that is bought with your money, must be circumcised and My covenant shall be in your whole person for an everlasting covenant.
14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul (person) shall be cut off from his people: he has broken My covenant."
15 And God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai (= princely), but Sarah shall be her name. (Sarah = princess, the fifth letter "h" being added = Grace, as in Abraham's case, and Joshua's [Num.13:16], the letter "h" is common to both the names of Yahaveh and Elohim)
16 And I will bless her, and give you a son also of her: yes I will bless her; and kings of people shall be of her."
17 Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed for joy (cp. John 8:56, "rejoiced to see my day....and was glad". The laughter of faith, Rom. 4:19. Sarah did not fall down as Abraham did), and said in his heart (= mind), "Shall a child be born to him that is 100 years old? and shall Sarah, that is 90 years old, bear?"
18 And Abraham said to God, "O that Ishmael may live before You!" (as though he though Ishmael was to die: showing his faith in Isaac's birth. This is proven in v. 20)
19 And God said, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed; and you shall call his name Isaac
(= laughter): and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you (showing the subject of Abraham's prayer): Behold, I have blessed him, and will multiply him exceedingly; 12 princes (#12=governmental perfection/completeness) shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
21 But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear to you at the set time in the next year." (only 4 appointed times in Gen. 1:14; here, 18:14; 21:2)
22 And He left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. (Notice God ended the conversation)
23 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said to him.
24 And Abraham was 99 years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
25 And Ishmael his son was 13 years old (Symbolic; and in contrast with Isaac on the 8th day. Ishmaelites and Arabians still circumcise in the 13th year. #13 denotes rebellion, apostasy, defection, disintegration, revolution, &c.), when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
26 In the selfsame day was Abram circumcised, and Ishmael his son.
27 And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with the money of the stranger, were circumcised
with him.