Through faith also Sara Though at first she laughed at the promise through unbelief; received strength Εις καταβολην σπερματος, for the conception of seed; and was delivered of a child when she was past age That is, beyond the due time of age for such a purpose, when she was ninety years old, and in the course of nature absolutely incapable of being a mother. “I believe,” says Dr. Owen, “that this was not a mere miraculous generation, but that she received a general restoration of her nature for the production of a child, which was before decayed, as Abraham afterward, who, after his body was in a manner dead, received strength to have many children by Keturah.” Because she judged him faithful who had promised And that, as he could, so he would fulfil his promise, whatever difficulties might stand in the way of its fulfilment. Therefore By this mighty principle of faith in her and in Abraham; sprang there even of one Of one father; and him as good as dead
Till his strength was supernaturally restored; so many as the stars of the sky in multitude This expression was first used by God himself, who brought Abraham forth abroad, and bade him look toward heaven, and number the stars, if he were able; and then said, So shall thy seed be. It is evident that at the first view, as they were shown to Abraham, not being reduced into constellations, there can perhaps be no greater appearance of what is innumerable, than the stars. Probably too in this comparison not only their number, but their beauty and order were intended. In the other allusion, as the sand which is by the sea-shore, they are declared to be absolutely innumerable. It is not said that they shall be as many as the sand by the sea-shore, but as innumerable, to which the event wonderfully corresponded.