24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. (Galatians 4:24-25)
Brethren NT Commentary
Which things are an allegory, or, which things are a figurative sign of something else, viz., the two covenants.
— These are the two covenants, or “these women” (R. V.) is better, viz., Hagar and Sarah. Each represents a covenant, or testament, i. e., the foundations of two systems of religion, — one by Moses, the other by the Messiah.
— The one (covenant) from mount Sinai, where Moses received the law. Hagar, Abraham’s bondmaid, was the type of Sinai.
— Which gendereth to bondage. Hagar having been a bondmaid, her children were of course bond children, of whom Ishmael was the first. Sinai having been typified by Hagar, it is here used figuratively as the mother of those who were brought under the bondage of the covenant law delivered to Moses upon it. (Compare Ga 5:1.) It therefore “gendereth to bondage.”
— Which is Agar, or, Hebrew, Hagar, i. e., Sinai, of which Hagar is the type.
For this Agar is mount Sinai. The article before Hagar, being in the neuter gender, agreeing with that of Sinai, seems to determine the meaning to be this, viz., that the figurative meaning of Hagar as a type is equal to or points to Sinai.
— In Arabia. (See on Ga 1:17.)
— Answereth to Jerusalem which now is, i. e., Sinai (personified) received the covenant of bondage, the law of Moses, which continued with and remained upon the Israelites until they came to Jerusalem in Syria. Sinai, therefore, “answereth to” or is of the same rank, class or line as Jerusalem which now is, i. e., one is like the other as regards bondage.
— Is in bondage with her children. The present (at Paul’s writing) Jerusalem is in bondage under the Mosaic law with her children, the Jews, the same as the Israelites were when they began to tabernacle at Sinai, as typified by Hagar and Ishmael under the bondage of Abraham.