Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

Genesis 16

Hagar is the person mostly concerned in the story of this chapter, an obscure Egyptian woman, whose name and story we never should have heard of if Providence had not brought her into the family of Abram. Probably she was one of those maid-servants whom the king of Egypt, among other gifts, bestowed upon Abram, Genesis 14:16. Concerning her, we have four things in this chapter:—I. Her marriage to Abram her master, Genesis 16:1-16:3. II. Her misbehaviour towards Sarai her mistress, Genesis 16:4-16:6. III. Her discourse with an angel that met her in her flight, Genesis 16:7-16:14. IV. Her delivery of a son, Genesis 16:15, 16:16. MHBCC 17.1