And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
Return to thy mistress, and, submit thyself under her hands. The counsel was given in kindness as well as wisdom; for, by continuing to penetrate further into the wilderness, she must inevitably have perished, and all her prospects of maternity been blasted. These circumstances were sufficient to lead her to ponder over the perils of her wayward course; while the fore-shadowing of her son's great destiny, the accomplishment of which, however, depended upon her maintaining a connection with Abram's family, was held out as an inducement for her immediately to retrace her steps to Hebron. The whole tenor of the communication was calculated to soothe and animate.