CHAPTER X.

THIS chapter names the descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the three sons of Noah, by whom the earth was peopled again after the flood.

Reflections.

THOUGH this chapter contains nothing but the names of men and people, it is, nevertheless, very remarkable; as we see here the origin of all the nations of the world, and the first beginning of monarchy. What Moses here sets down, serves to confirm the genealogy of the patriarchs, from whom our Lord descended: so that this chapter furnishes us with a good and convincing proof of the truth of the sacred history, and of the divine authority of these books; what Moses here says being perfectly agreeable to the most ancient and most authentic histories of the several people of the world, and the countries which they have inhabited.

CHAPTER XI.

I. Moses informs us, in this chapter, that men attempting to build the city and tower of Babel, God confounded their language; which occasioned their being dispersed throughout the whole earth. II. He gives an account of the descendants of Shem, the son of Noah, down to Abraham.

Reflections.

I. THE relation Moses gives of the dispersion, that happened when the descendants of Noah undertook to build the tower of Babel, serves to instruct us in the sequel of the sacred history, and how the several countries of the world came to be inhabited. II. God thought fit thus to disperse those who pretended to secure themselves from any future deluge, by building this tower, that he might punish their pride and impiety; and likewise, that the earth might be more speedily inhabited. to the genealogy of the posterity of Shem, we must

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observe two things: one is, that though the lives of men were then much shorter than before the flood, they were, nevertheless, much longer than they are at present; the other is, that this genealogy was preserved, to show Abraham's descent from Shem, the son of Noah.

CHAPTER XII.

THIS chapter begins the history of Abraham; in which we are informed, I. That the patriarch left his own country, at God's command, to come into the land of Canaan, which the Lord promised to give him. II. That he was forced by a famine to go down into Egypt, where Pharaoh, the king, took away his wife from him, and afterwards restored her again.

Reflections.

WE are to consider, in this chapter, I. That God called Abraham, and made a covenant with him, in order to preserve the true religion among his posterity, from which the Messiah was one day to descend. II. That Abraham obeyed the calling of God, believing in his promises, though they were not immediately accomplished; that he was exposed to several troubles; that he dwelt in the land of Canaan as a stranger, and was forced by famine to go into Egypt, where he had like to have lost his wife. St. Paul teaches us the use we are to make of this account of the calling of Abraham, in the eleventh chapter to the Hebrews: By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country. Let us learn by this example of Abraham, to follow our call, and to obey God in all his commands, how difficult soever they may appear to us; to live like strangers in this world, and not to seek our true country here, but in heaven; waiting, like our father Abraham, for that city which is to come, whose

builder and maker is God. The plagues with which God smote the king of Egypt, because he had taken away Sarah with an intention to marry her, show, that adultery is a sin very odious in the sight of God. And we see, in the manner of Pharaoh's reproving Abraham, that that prince was not ignorant how great this sin was. It is, however, to be remarked, that the king of Egypt conferred many favours on Abraham, and that this patriarch carried away great riches out of that country: thus did he begin to experience the effects of the divine blessing and pro

tection.

CHAPTER XIII.

I. Abraham and Lot, being returned from Egypt into the land of Canaan, separated from each other, not being able to live together, by reason of their great possessions. II. Lot settled at Sodom, and Abraham dwelt in the land of Canaan, which God again promised to give him for an inheritance.

Reflections.

THE great riches which God gave to Abraham should be considered, as an effect of the blessing which he had promised him; by which we may learn, that the promises of God are always fulfilled, and that he does sometimes bestow upon them that fear him even the blessings of this present life. The dispute that happened between the servants of Lot, and the servants of Abraham, and the moderation of the latter, who gave his nephew Lot the choice of fixing where he pleased, is a lesson to us, to avoid those quarrels that are usually occasioned by worldly goods; to make the first advances towards an accommodation, and to renounce even our own advantage for the sake of peace. The choice that Lot made of the country of Sodom, which was very fruitful, and very pleasant, but its inhabitants, even then, very corrupt, and threatened with the judgments of God, teaches us, not always to look at the advantages and conveniences of life; that it is a dangerous

thing to live where ease and plenty reign, and that we ought to shun the company of bad men. Lastly, We may see in the repetition of the promises that God made to Abraham, God's unalterable love to his children, and the goodness wherewith he supports their faith, in those trials to which he exposes them.

CHAPTER XIV.

I. THIS chapter contains the history of the war between the king of Sodom, and his neighbours, and the king of Elam, and his confederates; in which war, the king of Sodom was overthrown, and Lot taken, with all his substance; but Abraham defeated the king of Elam, and delivered Lot. II. As he was returning from the victory, Melchizedek met him, and brought him bread and wine; and Abraham gave him the tenth part of the spoil which he had taken.

Reflections.

THE defeat of the king of Sodom, is to be looked upon as a punishment which God inflicted upon the inhabitants of that city, for their great wickedness, and as a presage of their total destruction. What befel Lot, who was taken prisoner in that war, shows, that they who dwell among the wicked, are often involved in the divine judgments which fall upon them; and that, therefore, it is dangerous to have any intercourse with them. Abraham's victory is a mark of God's blessing upon that patriarch, and of his protection of Lot. It shows also, that it is lawful to make war in a just cause, and in one's own defence. Lastly, What is here said of Melchizedek, who was king of Salem, and a priest of the most high God, proves, that the true God was known and worshipped in that country; and ought to put us in mind of what St. Paul saith in the epistle to the Hebrews, that this Melchizedek, who blessed Abraham, and to whom that patriarch gave the

tenth of all, represented Jesus Christ our Lord, the king and high-priest of the Church; who was to reign over all things, and exercise a more excellent and perfect priesthood than that of the Jewish highpriest, or of Melchizedek himself.

CHAPTER XV.

GOD renews the promise that he has made to Abraham, of giving him a son, and a numerous posterity, which should possess the land of Canaan, and confirms that promise to him by a sign.

Reflections.

In this chapter we observe three things: I. That God renewed the promises he had made to Abraham, and confirmed them by a miraculous sign. II. That Abraham's believing God, was imputed to him for righteousness. III. That God declared to him, that those promises should not be accomplished in his life, and even that his posterity should be afflicted for a time; which suggests to us these reflections: 1. That God in his goodness has, in all ages, thought fit to confirm the faith of all those he loves by external signs; which he still does in the Sacraments, which we ought to esteem at the highest rate. 2. That all those who believe in him and obey him, as Abraham did, shall be justified. 3. That the children of God do often meet with afflictions in this world; and will not, till after this life, see the full completion of those promises that God has made them.

CHAPTER XVI.

In this chapter we have, I. An account of the birth of Ishmael, the son of Hagar. II. Hagar's leaving her master's house, and flying from Sarah: and the angel's prediction, that Ishmael should be a powerful prince, and have a numerous posterity.

Reflections.

THE marriage of Abraham with Hagar must be