Wesley Corpus

Chapter XXV The sacred historian in this chapter, Takes his leave of Abraham with an account, Of his children by another wife, ver. 1 - 4. Of his last will and testament, ver. 5, 6. Of his age, death and burial, ver. 7, 8, 9, 10. He takes his leave of Ishmael, with a short account, Of his children, ver. 12 - 16. Of his age and death, ver. 17, 18. He enters upon the history of Isaac; His posterity, ver. 11. The conception and birth of his two sons, with the oracle of God concerning them, ver. 19 - 26. Their different characters, ver. 27, 28. Esau's selling his birth - right to Jacob, ver. 29 - 34. Five and thirty years Abraham lived after the marriage of Isaac, and all that is recorded concerning him during that time lies here in a very few verses: we hear no more of God's extraordinary appearances to him, or trials of him; for all the days even of the greatest saints are not eminent days, some slide on silently, and neither come nor go with observation: such were these last days of Abraham. We have here an account of his children by Keturah, another wife, which be married after the death of Sarah. He had buried Sarah, and married Isaac, the two dear companions of his life, and was now solitary; his family wanted a governess and it was not good for him to he thus alone; he therefore marries Keturah, probably the chief of his maid servants, born in his house, or bought with money. By her he had six sons, in whom the promise made to Abraham concerning the great increase of his posterity was in part fulfilled. The strength he received by the promise still remained in him, to shew how much the virtue of the promise exceeds the power of nature. And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac - As he was bound to do in justice to Sarah his first wife, and to Rebekah who married Isaac upon the assurance of it. He gave gifts - Or portions to the rest of his children, both to Ishmael, though at first he was sent empty away, and to his sons by Keturah. It was justice to provide for them; parents that do not that, are worse than infidels.