16:3. She took Agar the Egyptian her handmaid, ten years after they first dwelt in the land of Chanaan, and gave her to her husband to wife. To wife.... Plurality of wives, though contrary to the primitive institution of marriage, Gen. 2.24, was by divine dispensation allowed to the patriarchs: which allowance seems to have continued during the time of the law of Moses. But Christ our Lord reduced marriage to its primitive institution. Matt. 19. 16:4. And he went in to her. But she perceiving that she was with child, despised her mistress. 16:5. And Sarai said to Abram: Thou dost unjustly with me: I gave my handmaid into thy bosom, and she perceiving herself to be with child, despiseth me. The Lord judge between me and thee. 16:6. And Abram made answer, and said to her: Behold thy handmaid is in thy own hand, use her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai afflicted her, she ran away. 16:7. And the angel of the Lord having found her, by a fountain of water in the wilderness, which is in the way to Sur in the desert, 16:8. He said to her: Agar, handmaid of Sarai, whence comest thou? and whither goest thou? And she answered: I flee from the face of Sarai, my mistress. 16:9. And the angel of the Lord said to her: Return to thy mistress, and humble thyself under her hand. 16:10. And again he said: I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, and it shall not be numbered for multitude. 16:11. And again: Behold, said he, thou art with child, and thou shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Ismael, because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. 16:12. He shall be a wild man: his hand will be against all men, and all men’s hands against him: and he shall pitch his tents over against all his brethren. 16:13. And she called the name of the Lord that spoke unto her: Thou the God who hast seen me. For she said: Verily, here have I seen the hinder parts of him that seeth me. 16:14. Therefore she called that well, the well of him that liveth and seeth me. The same is between Cades and Barad. 16:15. And Agar brought forth a son to Abram: who called his name Ismael. 16:16. Abram was four score and six years old when Agar brought him forth Ismael. Genesis Chapter 17 The Covenant of circumcision. 17:1. And after he began to be ninety and nine years old, the Lord appeared to him: and said unto him: I am the Almighty God: walk before me, and be perfect. 17:2. And I will make my covenant between me and thee: and I will multiply thee exceedingly. 17:3. Abram fell flat on his face. 17:4. And God said to him: I am, and my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 17:5. Neither shall thy name be called any more Abram: but thou shalt be called Abraham: because I have made thee a father of many nations. Abram.... in the Hebrew, signifies a high father: but Abraham, the father of the multitude; Sarai signifies my Lady, but Sara absolutely Lady.