Ishmael (Abraham's son)

Ishmael is the son of Abraham born to Sarah's handmaid Hagar. Though he was the firstborn of Abraham, he was not the promised son that God was going to give him. That took place about thirteen years later when Isaac was born. Ishmael along with his mother Hagar was sent away into the wilderness, where he grew up learning archery. His mother got for him a wife from Egypt.
== Biography ==
=== Birth ===
God had promised to Abram and Sarai a child.Genesis 15: They were already old (Abram was at least 75Genesis 12:4) when God made this promise. Sarai was tired of waiting and figured she wasn't supposed to be the biological mother of the promised child, so she had Abram sleep with her maidservant Hagar.Genesis 16:1-3 Hagar became pregnant and despised Sarai.Genesis 16:4 Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled.Genesis 16:5-6
At one point, Hagar stopped at a spring in the desert.Genesis 16:7 The Angel of the came to her and asked where she came from and where she was going. Hagar admitted to him that she was running away from her master, Sarai.Genesis 16:8 The Angel told her to go back to Sarai and be her slave.Genesis 16:9 The Angel said she would have a son named Ishmael because he heard her cry for help. Ishmael would be very wild with everyone against him.Genesis 16:11-12
She gave birth to Ishmael some time later; at this point Abram was 86 years old.Genesis 16:15-16
=== Early Life ===
When Ishmael was 13 years oldGenesis 17:25, the came to Abram and made a covenant with him — the Covenant of Circumcision.Genesis 17 God changed Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai's name to Sarah.Genesis 17:5, 15 This covenant included as a sign of the covenant that every male in Abraham's household be circumcised, including Ishmael.Genesis 17:10-11 It was at this time that God told Abraham that Sarah was to be the mother of the promised child.Genesis 17:16 Abraham laughed at this and wondered how a couple so old could bear children. Then he said he wanted Ishmael to live under God's blessing.Genesis 17:17-18 God said that Sarah would still have a son, and Ishmael would be blessed, although it was with Sarah's coming son whom God's covenant would be established.Genesis 17:19-21 After God finished talking with Abraham, He went back into Heaven, then Abraham circumcised every male in his household.Genesis 17:22-27
The next year, Sarah did give birth to a son, whom they named Isaac. Isaac was circumcised according to the covenant on the eighth day. Ishmael was about 14 years old when Isaac was born, and Abraham was 100 years old.Genesis 21:1-7
Some time later, when Isaac was weaned, Abraham held a large feast.Genesis 21:8 Sarah caught Ishmael mocking Isaac and demanded that Abraham get rid of Hagar and Ishmael.Genesis 21:9-10 This distressed Abraham but God told him not to be distressed. Then He said to listen to Sarah and reconfirmed His promise.Genesis 21:11-13 The next morning, Abraham prepared provisions and gave them to Hagar and Ishmael and sent them away.Genesis 21:14
Eventually, the skin of water that Abraham gave them ran out. Hagar hid her son under a bush and went about a bowshot away for she didn't want to watch Ishmael die.Genesis 21:15-16 Both she and Ishmael cried. God heard Ishmael crying and the Angel of the called out to Hagar from Heaven and told her not to be afraid for God heard Ishmael crying.Genesis 21:17 He then commanded her to lift up Ishmael and take him by the hand, and he promised to make Ishmael into a great nation.Genesis 21:18 Then God opened Hagar's eyes and she saw a well. She then filled the skin with water and gave Ishmael some of it.Genesis 21:19
== Etymology ==
Ishmael is the English translation of the Hebrew יִשְׁמָעֵאל (transliterated: yishmâ‛ê'l). The name means God will hear. יִשְׁמָעֵאל comes from two Hebrews words meaning to hear and God.
== Verses ==
Category:Old Testament People
Category:People
Category:Persons
Category:Men
Category:Old Testament Men