Hagar and Ishmael Depart(A)

So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar (B)the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, (C)scoffing.[a] 10 Therefore she said to Abraham, (D)“Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” 11 And the matter was very [b]displeasing in Abraham’s sight (E)because of his son.

12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for (F)in Isaac your seed shall be called. 13 Yet I will also make (G)a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your [c]seed.”

14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and [d]a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and (H)sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. 15 And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. 16 Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.

17 And (I)God heard the voice of the lad. Then the (J)angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for (K)I will make him a great nation.”

19 Then (L)God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. 20 So God (M)was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, (N)and became an archer. 21 He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother (O)took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 21:9 Lit. laughing
  2. Genesis 21:11 distressing
  3. Genesis 21:13 descendant
  4. Genesis 21:14 A water bottle made of skins

Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away

The child grew and was weaned,(A) and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham(B) was mocking,(C) 10 and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman(D) and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”(E)

11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son.(F) 12 But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring[a] will be reckoned.(G) 13 I will make the son of the slave into a nation(H) also, because he is your offspring.”

14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar.(I) He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.(J)

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she[b] began to sob.(K)

17 God heard the boy crying,(L) and the angel of God(M) called to Hagar from heaven(N) and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid;(O) God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.(P)

19 Then God opened her eyes(Q) and she saw a well of water.(R) So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

20 God was with the boy(S) as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. 21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran,(T) his mother got a wife for him(U) from Egypt.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 21:12 Or seed
  2. Genesis 21:16 Hebrew; Septuagint the child

A Perpetual Covenant of Peace

54 “Sing, O (A)barren,
You who have not borne!
Break forth into singing, and cry aloud,
You who have not labored with child!
For more are the children of the desolate
Than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.

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The Future Glory of Zion

54 “Sing, barren woman,(A)
    you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,(B)
    you who were never in labor;(C)
because more are the children(D) of the desolate(E) woman
    than of her who has a husband,(F)
says the Lord.

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