Genesis Vol 3.pdf - College Press

PART THIRTY
THE STORY OF ABRAHAM:
THE OLD COVENANT
(Genesis 17:l-27)
1. Synopsis of Chapter Seventeen
“Again thirteen years rolled away, and still the Promise
was not fulfilled. But when hope might almost have
ceased to hope, God appeared once more to Abram, re-
capitulated the main outline of the Covenant-Promise,
changed his name from Abram (a high father), to Abra-
ham (the father of a multitude), and assured him that at
length the long-expected time was well-nigh come. But
in prospect of the peculiar blessing about to be bestowed
upon him, he himself, and all his seed after him, must
carry about with them a perpetual pledge of their covenant
relation to Jehovah. The rite of Circumcision must now
be adopted by him, and instead of being the badge of any
favored class amongst the nation destined to spring from
his loins, was, on pain of excommunication, to be open to
the lowliest member of the Hebrew commonwealth, even
to the bond-servant and the stranger. At the same time
it was intimated to the patriarch that his wife Sarai, whose
name also was now changed to SARAH (princess), and no
other, was to be the mother of the promised child, that he
would be born during the next year, and be called Isaac
(Laughter) ; while Ishmael also, for whom Abraham had
prayed, would not be forgotten, but be a partaker in the
Divine blessing, and become the father of twelve princes,
the ancestors of a great nation. Thereupon Abraham com-
plied with the Divine command, and was circumcised, to-
gether with Ishmael, now thirteen years of age, and all the
male members of his household” (COTH, 38-39).
2. The Covenant-Promise ( 17 : 1 - 8 )
I And when Abram was ninety years old and nine,
Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, 1 am God
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