Free Bible Commentary
“Genesis 25:1-6”
Categories: Genesis“Now Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. She bore to him Zimran and Jokshan and Medan and Midian and Ishbak and Shuah. Jokshan became the father of Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim and Letushim and Leummim. The sons of Midian were Ephah and Epher and Hanoch and Abida and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah. Now Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac; but to the sons of his concubines, Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the east.”
---End of Scripture verses---
“Now Abraham took another wife...” (verse 1) As the author of Genesis wraps up the account of the remarkable life of this extraordinary man of excellence, faith and accomplishment, he includes this abbreviated and challenging history of a separate and undocumented life. Commentaries are divided in their judgment as to whether Abraham took Keturah to wife before or after the death of Sarah. Nahum Sarna observed the following: “Over forty years earlier the patriarch had judged himself to be too old to sire children; it is hardly likely that he had six sons after the age of one hundred and forty. Hence, the present report does not relate to a time subsequent to Sarah's death and Isaac's marriage, but to many years before. That is why verse 6, like 1 Chronicles 1:32, refers to Keturah as a 'concubine,' not a wife.”
That is a strong argument and there is even greater evidence still to suggest that Abraham may have had this otherwise unknown concubine during the lifetime of his “primary” wife. But there are convincing arguments on the other side as well and some biblical statements that make it difficult to support the position that Abraham had children with Keturah while married to Sarah. When Abraham was 75 years old he lamented to the Lord that the only member of his household qualified to be his heir was a servant named “Eliezer of Damascus?” (Genesis 15:2) At the age of 85, and still childless, Ishmael was born to Abraham by Hagar. “As Abraham was 137 years of age at Sarah’s death, and lived to be 175, it is quite possible that, left solitary by Isaac’s marriage, he took Keturah to wife, and had by her six sons.” (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers) I personally favor this view, and as we know, all things are possible with God!!!
“Whose name was Keturah.” (verse 1) “The name 'Keturah' is obviously related to Hebrew ketoret, 'spices.' There was a universal and sustained demand in the ancient world for frankincense, myrrh, and other aromatic resins and gums. These were needed for the requirements of the cults, for the manufacture of medicines, and in the preparation and preservation of food. The prime source and producer was southern Arabia, especially the Hadramaut region, which is modern Yemen...the most fertile part of the Arabian Peninsula. Because of her name, it is reasonable to assume that the key factor behind the organization of the Keturah tribes was the spice trade—the production, shipment, and distribution of this precious commodity. It so happens that both biblical and Assyrian sources mention many of the names here listed as those peoples or localities involved in this particular branch of international commerce.” (Nahum Sarna)
“She bore to him Zimran and Jokshan and Medan and Midian and Ishbak and Shuah.” (verse 3) “Of the six names listed, the first three have not been identified with any degree of confidence, but they most likely refer to peoples or oases along the international trade routes. The least three are well documented. Zimran may be the Arab tribe of Zamareni mentioned by Pliny the Elder... Jokshan is otherwise unknown. Medan may be a variant of the place-name Badana, situated south of Tema, which is mentioned in the Annals of Tiglath-pileser... The Midianites were traders in frankincense according to the testimony of Isaiah 60:6.... This people was hostile to Israel during the wilderness wanderings; its fertility cult proved to be a provocative and corrupting influence; it engaged in a bloody clash with Israel, and in the time of the Judges, it exerted hegemony over the Israelites, who fought a war of liberation under Gideon to rid themselves of the yoke of the hated oppressor... The story of Moses' flight from Pharaoh to Midian, where he found refuge and intermarried with the priestly family, corroborates the inference of an earlier record of amicable relationships between Israel and Midian.” (Nahum Sarna)
“Now Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac.” (verse 5) The author leaves no doubt to the most favored status of the son of promise, who was Abraham's sole, legitimate heir to his entire estate. But that is not to insinuate that Abraham left his other children unloved or unprovided for. “But to the sons of his concubines, Abraham gave gifts while he was still living.” (verse 6) Abraham was a very powerful and influential man of significant property and wealth, and he shared his blessings generously with the beloved members of his household. But, to distinguish and insulate Isaac, Abraham “sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the east.” “That they might not be troublesome to him and his family; and that there, might be no contention among them about inheriting the land of Canaan given to him and his seed: and this Abraham did while he yet lived; or otherwise after his death a separation would not have been easily made; but his authority had weight with them: and they were sent by him eastward, into the east country; into Arabia, and the parts thereabout, which lay east from the place where Abraham was; these are the children of the east, mentioned along with the Midianites, who sprung from Keturah, Judges 6:3).” (Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible)
Please read Genesis 25:7-11 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
