Genesis 21:8-21

New International Reader's Version

Abraham Sends Hagar and Ishmael Away

⁸ Isaac grew. The time came for his mother to stop breast-feeding him. On that day Abraham prepared a big celebration. ⁹ But Sarah saw Ishmael making fun of Isaac. Ishmael was the son Hagar had by Abraham. Hagar was Sarah’s Egyptian slave. ¹⁰ Sarah said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman! Get rid of her son! That woman’s son will never have a share of the family’s property. All of it belongs to my son Isaac.”

¹¹ What Sarah said upset Abraham very much. After all, Ishmael was his son. ¹² But God said to Abraham, “Do not be so upset about the boy and your slave Hagar. Listen to what Sarah tells you, because your family line will continue through Isaac. ¹³ I will also make the son of your slave into a nation. I will do it because he is your child.”

¹⁴ Early the next morning Abraham got some food and a bottle of water. The bottle was made out of animal skin. He gave the food and water to Hagar, placing them on her shoulders. Then he sent her away with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.

¹⁵ When the water in the bottle was gone, she put the boy under a bush. ¹⁶ Then she sat down about as far away as a person can shoot an arrow. She thought, “I can’t stand to watch the boy die.” As she sat there, she began to sob.

¹⁷ God heard the boy crying. Then the angel of God called out to Hagar from heaven. He said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid. God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. ¹⁸ Lift up the boy and take him by the hand. I will make him into a great nation.”

¹⁹ Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the bottle with water and gave the boy a drink.

²⁰ God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and learned to shoot a bow and arrow. ²¹ While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.