-
The Birth of Ishmael
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not given birth to any children, but she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.
-
So after Abram had lived in Canaan for ten years, Sarai, Abram’s wife, gave Hagar, her Egyptian servant, to her husband to be his wife.
-
He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. Once Hagar realized she was pregnant, she despised Sarai.
-
Abram said to Sarai, “Since your servant is under your authority, do to her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai treated Hagar harshly, so she ran away from Sarai.
-
The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring of water in the wilderness—the spring that is along the road to Shur.
-
He said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She replied, “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai.”
-
So Hagar named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen one who sees me!”
-
So Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son, whom Abram named Ishmael.
-
(Now Abram was 86 years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael.)
-
But Sarah noticed the son of Hagar the Egyptian—the son whom Hagar had borne to Abraham—mocking.
-
Early in the morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He put them on her shoulders, gave her the child, and sent her away. So she went wandering aimlessly through the wilderness of Beer Sheba.
-
But God heard the boy’s voice. The angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and asked her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Don’t be afraid, for God has heard the boy’s voice right where he is crying.
-
Then God enabled Hagar to see a well of water. She went over and filled the skin with water, and then gave the boy a drink.
-
The Sons of Ishmael
This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham.
-
These things may be treated as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.
-
Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.