Genesis 21

Birth of Isaac

1Then Adonai visited Sarah just as He had said, and Adonai did for Sarah just as He had spoken.

2So Sarah became pregnant and gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time that God had told him.

3Abraham named his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore for him—Isaac.

4Then Abraham circumcised Isaac, his eight-day-old son, just as God had commanded him.

5Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac his son was born to him.

6So Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me! Everyone who hears will laugh with me.”

7She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham, ‘Sarah has nursed children’? For I have given birth to a son in his old age!”

Ishmael Banished, Yet Delivered

8The child grew and was weaned—Abraham made a big feast on the day Isaac was weaned.

9But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian whom she had born to Abraham—making fun.

10So she said to Abraham, “Drive out this female slave and her son, for the son of this female slave will not be an heir with my son—with Isaac.”

11Now the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s eyes on account of his son.

12But God said to Abraham, “Do not be displeased about the boy and your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For through Isaac shall your seed be called.

13Yet I will also make the son of the slave woman into a nation, because he is your seed.”

14So Abraham got up early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away. She went and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

15When the water from the skin was finished, she abandoned the child under one of the bushes.

16Then she went and sat herself down opposite, about a bowshot away, for she had said, “I can’t bear to see the child dying!” So she sat down opposite and lifted up her voice and wept.

17Then God heard the boy’s voice and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and He said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid, because God has heard the boy’s voice where he is.

18Get up! Lift the boy up, and hold on to him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”

19Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water, and she went and filled the water skin, and gave the boy a drink.

20God was with the boy and he grew. He dwelled in the wilderness and became an archer.

21He dwelled in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Covenant of Abimelech and Abraham

22Now it came about at that same time that Abimelech—with Phicol the commander of his army---said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do.

23So now, make a pledge to me here, by God, that you will not violate your word with me or with my descendants or with my offspring. As I have shown loyalty to you, show the same to me, and to the land in which you have lived as an outsider.”

24Abraham said, “I make a pledge.”

25Now Abraham had rebuked Abimelech because of the well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized.

26So Abimelech said, “I don’t know who did this thing. Nor did you tell me, nor did I hear about it until today.”

27Then Abraham took a flock of sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant.

28Abraham set seven young ewe-lambs apart from the flock of sheep by themselves.

29Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe-lambs that you’ve set by themselves mean?”

30He said, “You are to accept the seven ewe-lambs from my hand, so that they may be a witness for me that I dug this well.”

31That is why that place is named Beer-sheba, because there both of them made a pledge,

32and they made a covenant in Beer-sheba. Then Abimelech got up, with Phicol the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines.

33Then he planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba and called there on the Name of Adonai, the Everlasting God.

34He lived as an outsider in the land of the Philistines for many days.

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Genesis 21

God Provides for Hagar and Ishmael

1The Lord came to help Sarah and did for her what he had promised. 2So she became pregnant, and at the exact time God had promised, she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. 3Abraham named his newborn son Isaac. 4When Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. 5Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born.

6Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. 7Who would have predicted to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet, I have given him a son in his old age.”

8The child grew and was weaned. On the day Isaac was weaned, Abraham held a big feast. 9Sarah saw that Abraham’s son by Hagar the Egyptian was laughing at Isaac. 10She said to Abraham, “Get rid of this slave and her son, because this slave’s son must never share the inheritance with my son Isaac.” 11Abraham was upset by this because of his son Ishmael. 12But God said to Abraham, “Don’t be upset about the boy and your slave. Listen to what Sarah says because through Isaac your descendants will carry on your name. 13Besides, I will make the slave’s son into a nation also, because he is your child.”

14Early the next morning Abraham took bread and a container of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder. He also gave her the boy and sent her on her way. So she left and wandered around in the desert near Beersheba. 15When the water in the container was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16Then she went about as far away as an arrow can be shot and sat down. She said to herself, “I don’t want to watch the boy die.” So she sat down and sobbed loudly.

17God heard the boy crying, and the Messenger of God called to Hagar from heaven. “What’s the matter, Hagar?” he asked her. “Don’t be afraid! God has heard the boy crying from the bushes. 18Come on, help the boy up! Take him by the hand, because I’m going to make him into a great nation.”

19God opened her eyes. Then she saw a well. She filled the container with water and gave the boy a drink.

20God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became a skilled archer. 21He lived in the desert of Paran, and his mother got him a wife from Egypt.

Abraham’s Agreement with Abimelech

22At that time Abimelech, accompanied by Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. 23Now, swear an oath to me here in front of God that you will never cheat me, my children, or my descendants. Show me and the land where you’ve been living the same kindness that I have shown you.”

24Abraham said, “I so swear.”

25Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well which Abimelech’s servants had seized. 26Abimelech replied, “I don’t know who did this. You didn’t tell me, and I didn’t hear about it until today.”

27Abraham took some sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made an agreement. 28Then Abraham set apart seven female lambs from the flock. 29Abimelech asked him, “What is the meaning of these seven female lambs you have set apart?”

30Abraham answered, “Accept these lambs from me so that they may be proof #21:30 Or “a witness.” that I dug this well.” 31This is why that place is called Beersheba,#21:31 Beersheba can mean either “Well of the Seven” or “Well of the Oath.” because both of them swore an oath there.

32After they made the treaty at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, left and went back to the land of the Philistines. 33Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba and worshiped the Lord, the Everlasting God, there. 34Abraham lived a long time in the land of the Philistines.

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