Genesis 25:1

Because no law concerning virginity or chastity had been set down, lest desire ever make a stain in the mind of that just man.

(Chapter 25, Verse 1) And Abraham added and took another wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. And Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah. And Abraham gave everything that he had to Isaac.

The holy apostle always offers us opportunities for spiritual understanding and shows the zealous signs by which one may recognize in all things that "the law is spiritual." Though few, these signs are nevertheless necessary.Paul says, discussing Abraham and Sarah in a certain passage, "not weakened in faith." Scripture says, "He considered his own body dead, since he was almost a hundred years old, and Sarah's womb dead." This man, therefore, whom Paul says to have been dead in his body at the age of 100 and to have begotten Isaac more by the power of his faith than by the fertility of his body, Scripture now relates has taken a wife named Keturah and has begotten more sons from her when he seems to have been about 137 years old. For Sarah his wife is recorded to have been ten years younger than he. Since Sarah died in her 127th year, it shows that Abraham was more than 137 years old when he took Keturah as his wife. What then? Are we to suppose that inducements of the flesh have flourished in so great a partriarch at that time? And shall he who is said to have been dead long ago in his natural impulses now be supposed to have been revived for passion? Or, as we have already often said, do the marriages of the patriarchs indicate something mystical and sacred, as also he suggests who said of wisdom: "I decided to take her as my wife"? Perhaps, therefore, already at that time Abraham also thought something like this. And, although he was wise, for this very reason never-theless he knew that there is no end of wisdom, nor does old age impose a limit on learning. For when can that man who has been accustomed to share a marriage in that manner in which we indicated above, that is, who is accustomed to have virtue in marriage, cease from such a union? For indeed the death of Sarah is to be understood as the consummation of virtue.

By her he had six sons, in whom the promise made to Abraham concerning the great increase of his posterity was in part fulfilled. The strength he received by the promise still remained in him, to shew how much the virtue of the promise exceeds the power of nature.

By her he had six sons, in whom the promise made to Abraham concerning the great increase of his posterity was in part fulfilled. The strength he received by the promise still remained in him, to shew how much the virtue of the promise exceeds the power of nature.

Then again Abraham took a wife,.... Three years after the death of Sarah, and when his son Isaac was married, and he alone, and now one hundred and forty years of age: and her name was Keturah; who she was, or of what family, is not said. An Arabic writer (z) says she was a daughter of the king of the Turks; another (a) of them calls her the daughter of King Rama; and another (b) the daughter of Pactor, king of Rabbah; but there were then no such people in being.

Then again Abraham took a wife - When Abraham took Keturah we are not informed; it might have been in the lifetime of Sarah; and the original ויסף vaiyoseph, and he added, etc., seems to give some countenance to this opinion. Indeed it is not very likely that he had the children mentioned here after the death of Sarah; and from the circumstances of his age, feebleness, etc., at the birth of Isaac, it is still more improbable. Even at that age, forty years before the marriage of Isaac, the birth of his son is considered as not less miraculous on his part than on the part of Sarah; for the apostle expressly says, Rom 4:19, that Abraham considered not his own body Now Dead, when he was about a hundred years old, nor the Deadness of Sarah’s womb; hence we learn that they were both past the procreation of children, insomuch that the birth of Isaac is ever represented as supernatural. It is therefore very improbable that he had any child after the birth of Isaac; and therefore we may well suppose that Moses had related this transaction out of its chronological order, which is not infrequent in the sacred writings, when a variety of important facts relative to the accomplishment of some grand design are thought necessary to be produced in a connected series. On this account intervening matters of a different complexion are referred to a future time. Perhaps we may be justified in reading the verse: “And Abraham had added, and had taken a wife (besides Hagar) whose name was Keturah,” etc. The chronology in the margin dates this marriage with Keturah A. M. 2154, nine years after the death of Sarah, A. M. 2145. Jonathan ben Uzziel and the Jerusalem Targum both assert that Keturah was the same as Hagar.

- The Death of Abraham 1. קטוּרה qeṭûrâh, “Qeturah, incense.” 2. זמרן zı̂mrān, “Zimran, celebrated in song.” יקשׁן yāqshān, “Joqshan, fowler.” מדן medān, “Medan, judge.” מדין mı̂dyān, “Midian, one who measures.” לאבק yı̂shbāq, “Jishbaq, he leaves.” שׁוּח shûach, “Shuach, pit.” 3. לטוּשׁם leṭûshı̂ym, “Letushim, hammered, sharpened.” לאמים le'umı̂ym, “Leummim, peoples.” 4. עיפה ‛êypâh, “‘Ephah, darkness.” עפר ‛êper, “‘Epher, dust.” אבידע 'ǎbı̂ydā‛, “Abida‘, father of knowledge.” אלדעה 'eldā‛âh, “Elda‘ah, knowing?” Another family is born to Abraham by Keturah, and portioned off, after which he dies and is buried.