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God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah.
Verse 15. Sara, princess of all the nations of the faithful, not simply of one family. Menochius.
I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.”
Verse 16. Bless, and enable her to have a son, who shall also have many children.—Whom. This is referred to Sara, in Hebrew and Chal.; but to Isaac, in the Syriac. The blessing, at any rate, reverts to the mother; who was a figure of the blessed Virgin, and of the Church; both persecuted with their children; both, in the end, triumphant. Galatians 4:23. Calmet.
Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?”
Verse 17. Laughed for joy and admiration at such unexpected news. “He rejoiced,” says the Chal.: the faith of Abraham is never called into question. Romans 4:19.
Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!”
Verse 18. Before thee, under thy protection, and in a virtuous manner. Menochius.—He seems to be satisfied, though Go should not bless him with any more children, provided this one may live worthy of God. Bible.
God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.
Verse 19. Isaac, “laughter,” alluding to the exultation of Abraham, more than to the laughter of Sara, which deserved some reprehension. G. 21:6.
Isaac means “he laughs”.
As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
Verse 20. Nation of Arabs, who are still divided into twelve tribes. See G. 25:13. Calmet.
But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”
When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.