| Geneva Study Bible And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and {n} called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God. (n) That is, he worshipped God in all points of true religion. Wesley's Notes 21:33 And Abraham planted a grove - For a shade to his tent, or perhaps an orchard of fruit trees; and there, though we cannot say he settled, for God would have him while he lived to be a stranger and a pilgrim, yet he sojourned many days. And called there on the name of the Lord - Probably in the grove he planted, which was his oratory, or house of prayer: he kept up publick worship, to which probably his neighbours resorted, and joined with him. Men should not only retain their goodness wherever they go, but do all they can to propagate it, and make others good. The everlasting God - Though God had made himself known to Abraham as his God in particular; yet he forgets not to give glory to him as the Lord of all, the everlasting God, who was before all worlds, and will be when time and days shall be no more. King James Translators' Notes grove: or, tree Scofield Reference Notes [1] everlasting God (1) The Hebrew "Olam" is used in Scripture: (a) of secret or hidden things (e.g. Lev 5:2 "hidden"; 2Ki 4:27, "hid"; Ps 10:1, "hidest"); (b) an indefinite time or age Lev 25:32, "at any time"; Josh 24:2 "in old time"). Hence the word is used to express the eternal duration of the being of God, Ps 90:2. "From everlasting to everlasting"), and is the Hebrew synonym of the Greek "aion," age or dispensation. See Scofield Note: "Gen 1:26", note (4). (2) The ideas therefore of things kept secret and of indefinite duration combine in this word. Both ideas inhere in the doctrine of the dispensations or ages. They are among the "mysteries" of God Eph 1:9,10 3:2-6 Mt 13:11. The "everlasting" God (El Olam) is therefore that name of Deity in virtue of which He is the God whose wisdom has divided all time and eternity into the mystery of successive ages or dispensations. It is not merely that He is everlasting, but that He is God over everlasting things. See, for other names of Deity: See Scofield Note: "Gen 1:1" See Scofield Note: "Gen 2:4" See Scofield Note: "Gen 2:7" See Scofield Note: "Gen 14:18" See Scofield Note: "Gen 15:2" See Scofield Note: "Gen 17:1" See Scofield Note: "1Sam 1:3" Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 33. Abraham planted a grove-Hebrew, "of tamarisks," in which sacrificial worship was offered, as in a roofless temple. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 21:22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham. It is wise to connect ourselves with those who are blessed of God; and we ought to requite kindness to those who have been kind to us. Wells of water are scarce and valuable in eastern countries. Abraham took care to have his title to the well allowed, to prevent disputes in future. No more can be expected from an honest man than that he be ready to do right, as soon as he knows he has done wrong. Abraham, being now in a good neighbourhood, stayed a great while there. There he made, not only a constant practice, but an open profession of his religion. There he called on the name of the Lord, as the everlasting God; probably in the grove he planted, which was his place of prayer. Abraham kept up public worship, in which his neighbours might join. Good men should do all they can to make others so. Wherever we sojourn, we must neither neglect nor be ashamed of the worship of Jehovah. Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary Verses 33-34 Observe, 1. Abraham, having got into a good neighbourhood, knew when he was well off, and continued a great while there. There he planted a grove for a shade to his tent, or perhaps an orchard of fruit-trees; and there, though we cannot say he settled, for God would have him, while he lived, to be a stranger and a pilgrim, yet he sojourned many days, as many as would consist with his character, as Abraham the Hebrew, or passenger. 2. There he made, not only a constant practice, but an open profession, of his religion: There he called on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God, probably in the grove he planted, which was his oratory or house of prayer. Christ prayed in a garden, on a mountain. (1.) Abraham kept up public worship, to which, probably, his neighbours resorted, that they might join with him. Note, Good men should not only retain their goodness wherever they go, but do all they can to propagate it, and make others good. (2.) In calling on the Lord, we must eye him as the everlasting God, the God of the world, so some. Though God had made himself known to Abraham as his God in particular, and in covenant with him, yet he forgets not to give glory to him as the Lord of all: The everlasting God, who was, before all worlds, and will be, when time and days shall be no more. See Isa. 40:28. |