†. Gen 25:1 . . Abraham took another wife, whose name was
Keturah.
According to 1Chrn 1:32, Ms. Keturah wasn't really a full fledged wife as
Sarah had been, but was a wife of a different color altogether. She was a
piylegesh (pee-leh'-ghesh) which means: a mistress or a paramour; viz: a
concubine. So that Gen 25:1 really should be translated: "Abraham took
another woman"
It was considered okay in those days for men to sire children by concubines
and nobody seemed to think much of it. But at Abraham's age!? Wow!
Earlier, at Gen 17:17, Abraham considered himself much to old to father a
child; and in truth, he was.
†. Heb 11:11-12 . . By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-- and
Sarah herself was barren --was enabled to become a father because he
considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one
man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars
in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
Not only was Sarah miraculously made fertile in her old age, but so was her
husband Abraham. In fact his libido, and his fertility, were so well repaired
that the old boy couldn't leave the ladies alone even after he was more than
140 years old!
†. Gen 25:2-4 . . She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian,
Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. The
descendants of Dedan were the Asshurim, the Letushim, and the
Leummim. The descendants of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Enoch,
Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.
According to a web site called Mr. Showbiz, Tony Randall, the Odd Couple
sitcom star, became a first-time father at age seventy-seven in May of 1997
when his wife, then 27 year-old Heather Harlan, gave birth to their daughter
Julia. A second baby came in June 1998. Mr. Randall would have been
ninety-eight when the first one graduated from college in 2019 had he lived.
Others have brought children into the world during their later years too--
e.g. Clint Eastwood, Charlie Chaplin, and Cary Grant. Anthony Quinn had his
thirteenth child at the age of 81. Some men can father children late in life;
although it's very risky. The chances for schizophrenia and other birth
defects increase as men age.
Keturah's age is uncertain. But she was obviously young enough to have
children; and in that day, women retained their strength pretty far up into
life. However, by the time Sarah was ninety, she was past menopause.
Where did Abraham find Keturah? Was she an Egyptian like Hagar? Was she
maybe a local Canaanite; possibly from Ephron's clan, the guy who sold
Abraham a plot for Sarah's cemetery? No. If Abraham wouldn't let Isaac
marry a woman of Canaan, then he sure wasn't going to sleep with one
himself. Was she from Haran; Rebecca's home town? Nobody really knows
and it doesn't even matter anyway. None of Keturah's children would share
in the ownership of Eretz Israel-- only Isaac's progeny. It all went to him by
Divine fiat.
†. Gen 25:5 . . Abraham willed all that he owned to Isaac;
Abraham had already willed all that he owned to Isaac even before any of
Keturah's boys were born. The servant told Becky's family so back in chapter
24. This verse is just to make sure nobody forgets that Isaac is the only son
that really matters.
†. Gen 25:6a . . but to Abraham's sons by concubines Abraham gave
gifts while he was still living,
When Ishmael was evicted with his mother back in chapter 21, there was no
mention of gifts. In fact, they left home with hardly anything at all.
Apparently, later on, Ishmael returned to visit his dad on occasion and
Abraham eventually compensated him for the loss of his firstborn rights.
Abraham's generosity towards his natural-born sons was a right thing to do.
†. 1Tim 5:8 . . If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for
his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.
Rather than stipulate his sons' inheritances in a written will, Abraham took
care of them all while he was still alive; probably to make sure there was no
squabbling over his estate in probate after he was dead and thereby possibly
jeopardizing Isaac's future.
†. Gen 25:6b . . and he sent them away from his son Isaac eastward,
to the land of the East.
Sending someone away is not really the same as driving them off; but more
like a bon voyage (e.g. Gen 24:59). It's far more likely Abraham helped
them all get settled outside of Canaan rather than leave them to the whims
of fate. Once settled into their own territories, the other boys would be less
inclined to muscle in on Isaac's turf or freeload off him in the event they fell
onto hard times.
Cont.
/
Keturah.
According to 1Chrn 1:32, Ms. Keturah wasn't really a full fledged wife as
Sarah had been, but was a wife of a different color altogether. She was a
piylegesh (pee-leh'-ghesh) which means: a mistress or a paramour; viz: a
concubine. So that Gen 25:1 really should be translated: "Abraham took
another woman"
It was considered okay in those days for men to sire children by concubines
and nobody seemed to think much of it. But at Abraham's age!? Wow!
Earlier, at Gen 17:17, Abraham considered himself much to old to father a
child; and in truth, he was.
†. Heb 11:11-12 . . By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-- and
Sarah herself was barren --was enabled to become a father because he
considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one
man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars
in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
Not only was Sarah miraculously made fertile in her old age, but so was her
husband Abraham. In fact his libido, and his fertility, were so well repaired
that the old boy couldn't leave the ladies alone even after he was more than
140 years old!
†. Gen 25:2-4 . . She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian,
Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. The
descendants of Dedan were the Asshurim, the Letushim, and the
Leummim. The descendants of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Enoch,
Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.
According to a web site called Mr. Showbiz, Tony Randall, the Odd Couple
sitcom star, became a first-time father at age seventy-seven in May of 1997
when his wife, then 27 year-old Heather Harlan, gave birth to their daughter
Julia. A second baby came in June 1998. Mr. Randall would have been
ninety-eight when the first one graduated from college in 2019 had he lived.
Others have brought children into the world during their later years too--
e.g. Clint Eastwood, Charlie Chaplin, and Cary Grant. Anthony Quinn had his
thirteenth child at the age of 81. Some men can father children late in life;
although it's very risky. The chances for schizophrenia and other birth
defects increase as men age.
Keturah's age is uncertain. But she was obviously young enough to have
children; and in that day, women retained their strength pretty far up into
life. However, by the time Sarah was ninety, she was past menopause.
Where did Abraham find Keturah? Was she an Egyptian like Hagar? Was she
maybe a local Canaanite; possibly from Ephron's clan, the guy who sold
Abraham a plot for Sarah's cemetery? No. If Abraham wouldn't let Isaac
marry a woman of Canaan, then he sure wasn't going to sleep with one
himself. Was she from Haran; Rebecca's home town? Nobody really knows
and it doesn't even matter anyway. None of Keturah's children would share
in the ownership of Eretz Israel-- only Isaac's progeny. It all went to him by
Divine fiat.
†. Gen 25:5 . . Abraham willed all that he owned to Isaac;
Abraham had already willed all that he owned to Isaac even before any of
Keturah's boys were born. The servant told Becky's family so back in chapter
24. This verse is just to make sure nobody forgets that Isaac is the only son
that really matters.
†. Gen 25:6a . . but to Abraham's sons by concubines Abraham gave
gifts while he was still living,
When Ishmael was evicted with his mother back in chapter 21, there was no
mention of gifts. In fact, they left home with hardly anything at all.
Apparently, later on, Ishmael returned to visit his dad on occasion and
Abraham eventually compensated him for the loss of his firstborn rights.
Abraham's generosity towards his natural-born sons was a right thing to do.
†. 1Tim 5:8 . . If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for
his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.
Rather than stipulate his sons' inheritances in a written will, Abraham took
care of them all while he was still alive; probably to make sure there was no
squabbling over his estate in probate after he was dead and thereby possibly
jeopardizing Isaac's future.
†. Gen 25:6b . . and he sent them away from his son Isaac eastward,
to the land of the East.
Sending someone away is not really the same as driving them off; but more
like a bon voyage (e.g. Gen 24:59). It's far more likely Abraham helped
them all get settled outside of Canaan rather than leave them to the whims
of fate. Once settled into their own territories, the other boys would be less
inclined to muscle in on Isaac's turf or freeload off him in the event they fell
onto hard times.
Cont.
/
