The Birth of Ishmael

After living in the land of Canaan for ten years, Sarai, who remained childless, instructed Abram to go in to her Egyptian handmaid, Hagar, so that Sarai might obtain children by her (Genesis 16:2-3). Abram hearkened to Sarai's voice, and Hagar conceived. When Hagar realized she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. Sarai then complained to Abram, who told her that her maid was in her hand to do as she pleased. Consequently, Sarai dealt hardly with Hagar, and Hagar fled from her presence (Genesis 16:4-6).

The angel of the Lord found Hagar by a fountain of water in the wilderness, on the way to Shur. The angel asked where she came from and where she was going; Hagar replied that she was fleeing from her mistress Sarai. The angel instructed Hagar to return to her mistress and submit herself under her hands (Genesis 16:7-9). The angel further stated that her seed would be multiplied so that it could not be numbered for multitude. Hagar was told she would bear a son and should call his name Ishmael, because the Lord had heard her affliction (Genesis 16:10-11).

The angel described the child as a wild man whose hand would be against every man and every man's hand against him. Hagar called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, "Thou God seest me," and the well was called Beer-lahai-roi (Genesis 16:12-14). Hagar subsequently bore Abram a son in accordance with the prophecy. The text does not say how Hagar returned to the household, but it records that Abram called his son's name Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old at the time of the birth (Genesis 16:15-16).