Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 3/3/2008

Question
What's the deal with Ishmael? There seem to be 2 different accounts of him. One in which he grows in Abraham's household and is circumcised, therefore it is implied that in some way he will partake in the covenant. And this is before Isaac is born. But that doesn't seem to fit with the account in Genesis 21, after Isaac is born, in which he and Hagar are expelled from the house. In this passage Ishmael seems to be extremely young, certainly not 13 as the previous passage suggested. Either that or he is the most passive 13-year-old ever. In Genesis 21 he has no voice and no actions. It is all Hagar, her actions, and Ishmael passively allows her to do things to him (leave him to die, bring him a drink, etc.) The plain sense certainly makes him sound like an infant or toddler at best. Is this not a Biblical contradiction? can you give any insight on this?

Answer
Dear Lisha,

Thank you for your questions about Ishmael and the different passages in which he is mentioned.

There are several points here that are not apparent from a simple reading of the text: Ishmael was about 17, as he lived in Abraham’s household until Isaac was weaned, which, in that culture was probably 6-8 years of age. The bread and bottle (goatskin) of water must have been enough to last until they reached the next well. Abraham loved Ishmael, and surely would not have sent he and his mother off without sufficient food and water for the journey.

They wandered about in the wilderness: they evidently missed the well, and walked around for a long time looking for it. Their water ran out, and they were dying of thirst. Ishmael may have been more affected by it than Hagar, and may have been in delirium. Hagar, like any mother, couldn’t bear to hear the dying crying of her son, and found a shade tree for him to sit under before separating herself some distance from him.

The Hebrew word for “child” is sometimes rendered “young man,” while the word “cast” needs to be understood in the same sense as in Matt. 15.30 where the sick were “cast” at Jesus feet to be healed—implying committing a person, as in Ishmael’s case, to the shade of the tree as the only means of relieving his pain. Though despairing of his life, Hagar at least tried to make his last moments as comfortable as possible.

You’ll notice that God heard the voice of Ishmael crying—an audible or inarticulate prayer for help. And God heard that cry and sent His angel to Hagar with words of encouragement and a remedy for the lad’s pain—a nearby well where she could get water for herself and the boy.

So there’s really no contradiction here. It’s a matter of looking carefully at the text and comparing it with the culture of the day. Perhaps you don’t have the resources for this kind of research. I’m glad I could help.

Thanks again for your question. If you have others, feel free to write me directly at my e-mail address.

Visit my website where I’ve posted 18 of my books, 40 Bible study guides, and much more.

Always be ready for Jesus to come,
Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
Thurman@PettyPress.com