Genesis 21:8-21
Expanded Bible
Hagar and Ishmael Leave
8 Isaac grew, and when he ·became old enough to eat food [was weaned], Abraham gave a great feast [L on the day of his weaning]. 9 But Sarah saw ·Ishmael [L the son of Hagar the Egyptian] ·making fun of Isaac [laughing; or playing]. 10 So Sarah said to Abraham, “·Throw [Drive] out this slave woman and her son. Her son should not inherit anything; my son Isaac should receive it all [Gal. 4:21—5:1].”
11 This ·troubled [distressed; upset] Abraham very much because Ishmael was also his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Don’t be ·troubled [distressed; upset] about the boy and the slave woman. Do ·whatever [all] Sarah tells you. ·The descendants I promised you will be from [L The seed will be named for you through] Isaac. 13 I will also make the ·descendants of Ishmael [L the son of your slave woman] into a great nation because he is your ·son [L seed], too.”
14 Early the next morning Abraham [L got up and] took some food and a ·leather bag full [skin] of water. He gave them to Hagar and sent her away. Carrying these things and her son [L on her shoulder], Hagar went and wandered [C the verb may imply moving aimlessly and without hope] in the ·desert [wilderness] of Beersheba [C an area in the northern part of the Negev, southern Canaan].
15 Later, when all the water was ·gone [finished] from the ·bag [skin], Hagar put her son under a bush. 16 Then she went a good way off, the distance of a bowshot, and sat down across from him. She thought, “My son will die, and I cannot watch this happen.” She sat there across from him and began to cry.
17 God heard the ·boy crying [L sound/voice of the boy], and God’s ·angel [messenger; 16:7] called to Hagar from heaven. He said, “What is wrong, Hagar? Don’t be afraid! God has heard the ·boy crying [L the sound/voice of the boy] there. 18 ·Help [Get up and lift] him up and take him by the hand. I will make ·his descendants [L him] into a great nation.” [C Ishmael is considered the ancestor of the Arab people.]
19 Then God [L opened her eyes and] showed Hagar a well of water. So she went to the well and filled her ·bag [skin] with water and gave the boy a drink.
20 God was with the boy as he grew up. Ishmael lived in the ·desert [wilderness] and became an archer. 21 He lived in the Desert of Paran [C a region in the eastern Sinai peninsula], and his mother found a wife for him in Egypt [C Hagar’s original homeland].
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