Read Genesis 21:1-34 at Bible Gateway.
the teaching tools of scripture
Hebrew paragraph divisions
Gen 21:1-21 {p} Isaac becomes Abraham’s heir when he is weaned
Gen 21:22-34 {p} Abimelech and Abraham make a covenant of peace
genesis 21, the God who fulfills His word
Strong themes of the parashah
Gen 18:1-19:38 {s} Abraham’s intercession and the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah
Gen 20:1-18 {s} Abimelech takes but then restores Sarah, Abraham’s wife
Gen 21:1-21 {p} Isaac becomes Abraham’s heir when he is weaned
Gen 18:1-21:21 {s+s+p} The promised seed prophesied/ opposed/ born
strong theme chiastic structure
1a) Gen 18:1-15, The birth of Isaac prophesied;
1b) Gen 18:16-33, Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah (Abraham an intercessor);
central axis) Gen 19:1-38 {s} Sodom and Gomorrah overthrown;
2b) Gen 20:1-18 {s} Abimelech takes but then restores Sarah, Abraham’s wife (Abraham a prophet);
2a) Gen 21:1-21 {p} The birth of Isaac.
Gen 21:1-21 {p} chiastic structure
1a) Gen 21:1-3 YHVH took note of Sarah, and fulfilled His promise concerning Isaac;
1b) Gen 21:4 Abraham did unto Isaac according to the word of YHVH;
1c) Gen 21:5-7 The son of Sarah caused the laughter of joy;
central axis) Gen 21:8, “The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.” (i.e., Isaac officially became Abraham’s heir;)
2c) Gen 21:9 The son of Hagar laughed in mockery of Isaac;
2b) Gen 21:10-14 Abraham did unto Ishmael according to the word of YHVH, and sent them away;
2a) Gen 21:15-21 YHVH took note of Hagar, and fulfilled His promise concerning Ishmael.
Gen 21:22-34 {p} is a loose end for this parashah’s structure, but is an integral component for the chiastic structure of Gen 18:1-22:24, annual cycle vayeira, “And he appeared.”
Gen 21:22-34 {p} chiastic structure
1a) Gen 21:22-23, Abimelech + Phicol seek a covenant with Abraham;
1b) Gen 21:24, Abraham said, “I will swear;”
1c) Gen 21:25-26, Abraham rebuked Abimelech because his servants had seized Abraham’s well.
central axis) Gen 21:27, “Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant;”
2c) Gen 21:28-30, The seven ewe lambs prove that the well is Abraham’s;
2b) Gen 21:31, Beersheba means “well of the oath;”
2a) Gen 21:32-34, Abimelech + Phicol made a covenant with Abraham.
Theme of the parashah
When the Seed of Promise comes, the Gentile and the Hebrew will be in a covenant of peace.
Finding Messiah in Torah
Yeshua is the Seed of Promise. When He comes, there will be neither Jew nor Greek, male or female, but in Him we will walk in peace with each other.
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