ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS

[In response to Mother’s Day article]

We wrote:
Sarah, with her good intentions gave her handmaid to her husband. What this resulted in is still seen today. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all can be traced back to her. The Christian Messiah was a Jew and came from the Hebrew faith. Hagar, her Arabic servant became a surrogate mother, gave birth to Ishmael, which is where we get followers of Islam. Imagine wanting a child so bad, that you would let another woman give birth for you.

You asked:
Carefully read several times the above passage and then tell me the mental picture you get between the mother child interactions what is the age of the child. If the mental picture is that of a 17 year old child being carried on the shoulder of his mother, being physically placed in the bush, crying like a baby, mother having to give him water to drink, than the Islamic viewpoint is null and void. Why is there no verbal communications between mother and (17 YEAR OLD) child?

Your first question: Tell you the mental picture I get between the mother and child interactions? My mental picture is of two people at a lost of what to say. Not that they did not speak but as nothing is recorded, I believe in my mind it was basically what a normal person would say. Why us, what did we do? We did what was asked of us, and now this why. Yes I can see both of them crying and very distraught. They both had to be on an emotional roller coaster at this point.

What is the age of the child? You figured that one out yourself. Genesis 16:17 Abram was 86 years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. Genesis 17:24, 25 Tells us that Abram was 99 and Ishmael was 13 when they where circumcised. Genesis 21:4 Abraham was 100 when Isaac was born. According to records we have we can determine that a child was weaned at age 3 to 4, at that time. That would give us an age of between 15 and 17. Not a baby, a child, but not an adult. We also have to take in consideration the time at which this happened, when a life span was much more then a hundred years.

You said: The age of Ishmael at this stage is crucial to the Abrahamic faiths. If he is 17 than the JUDEO/CHRISTIAN point of view about the Abrahamic covenant is correct. This has devastating theological consequences of unimaginable proportions.
This makes the conflict between Ishmael and Isaac and there descendants a work of fiction. I would strongly suggest it is clear cut case of racial discrimination and nothing to do with god almighty. The scribes have deliberately tried to make Isaac the only son and legitimate heir to the throne of Abraham??
Please can you rationally explain this anomaly?

To explain how Isaac is considered the only son we have to look to the scriptures, the same scriptures that we have gotten the rest of our information from. In Genesis 16: 10-12 The Angel of the Lord makes a promise to Hagar about the child she is carrying.
Bible, King James Version
Gen.16 Verses 10 to 16

[10] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
[11] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
[12] And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
[13] And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
[14] Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
[15] And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
[16] And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Next we will look at the promise that God made to Abram concerning Ishmael.

Bible, King James Version
Gen.17 Verses 19 to 22

[19] And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
[20] And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
[21] But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
[22] And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

The promise was not to Ishmael because God had told Abraham that He and his wife Sarah would have a child, and that child is to whom the promise was made. Abraham and Sarah acted on their own. they took matters into their own hands. Because Abraham asked the Lord concerning this child [Ishmael] God said that He would also bless him. But the promises to Abraham children did not include Ishmael.

You said: I have asked many persons including my nephews and nieces - unbiased minds with no religious backgrounds but with reasonable command of the English language about this passage and they all agree that the child in the passage is an infant.
AS THE DESCRIPTION OF ISHMAEL IN GENESIS 21:14-21 IS THAT OF AN INFANT IT CAN BE ASSUMED SOMEONE HAS MOVED THIS PASSAGE FROM AN EARLIER PART OF SCRIPTURE!!! AND HAVE GOT THERE KNICKERS IN A TWIST.

Now you will notice that I used the King James Version but also I am including here a number of translations, which you can read for yourself. I am only versed in the English language. In past articles we have explained why we do use the KJV. But first let me give you a description of the CEV that you used.

In translating the CEV, the translators followed three translation principles. They were: The CEV must be understood by people without stumbling in speech, The CEV must be understood by those with little or no comprehension of "Bible" language, and the CEV must be understood by all. The CEV uses gender-sensitive language for humanity and not for the Godhead. The translation also takes care to simplify "Bible" terms into more understandable words and phrases. An example can be found in Exodus 20:14, where the word adultery is translated Be faithful in marriage. The translators have also taken great care to translate the Greek phrase hoi Ioudaioi (literally, "the Jews") as "the Jewish leaders," especially in the Gospel of John (as in John 18:14). The CEV translators believe, along with many (but not all) biblical scholars, that the Greek phrase hoi Ioudaioi in the Gospel of John primarily refers to the Jewish leadership, not to the Jewish people, as a whole. Therefore, their translation as "the Jewish leaders" is intended to increase translation accuracy. One result of this translation decision is a reduction of the perception of Anti-Semitism in the New Testament. Other modern language versions of the Bible include the New Living Translation and the New Century Version.

Because much is lost in these translations that read more as a story, we do not follow their teachings. We might on occasion use them as references, but we hold to the teachings of the King James which can be traced back to before even the Quran was wrote.

SCRIPTURES
Genesis 21:14-21 (New International Version)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. 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.
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 nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, "I cannot watch the boy die." And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob.
17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; 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."
19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer.
21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.

Genesis 21:14-21 (New American Standard Bible)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 When the water in the skin was used up, she left the boy under one of the bushes.
16 Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, "Do not let me see the boy die." And she sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice and wept.
17 God heard the lad crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter with you, Hagar? (Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.
18 "Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him."
19 Then 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 God was with the lad, and he grew; and he lived in the wilderness and became an archer.
21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Genesis 21:14-21 (The Message)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

14-16 Abraham got up early the next morning, got some food together and a canteen of water for Hagar, put them on her back and sent her away with the child. She wandered off into the desert of Beersheba. When the water was gone, she left the child under a shrub and went off, fifty yards or so. She said, "I can't watch my son die." As she sat, she broke into sobs.
17-18 Meanwhile, God heard the boy crying. The angel of God called from Heaven to Hagar, "What's wrong, Hagar? Don't be afraid. God has heard the boy and knows the fix he's in. Up now; go get the boy. Hold him tight. I'm going to make of him a great nation."
19 Just then God opened her eyes. She looked. She saw a well of water. She went to it and filled her canteen and gave the boy a long, cool drink.
20-21 God was on the boy's side as he grew up. He lived out in the desert and became a skilled archer. He lived in the Paran wilderness. And his mother got him a wife from Egypt.

Genesis 21:14-21 (Amplified Bible)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a bottle of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulders, and he sent her and the youth away. And she wandered on [aimlessly] and lost her way in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 When the water in the bottle was all gone, Hagar caused the youth to lie down under one of the shrubs.
16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about a bowshot, for she said, Let me not see the death of the lad. And as she sat down opposite him, he lifted up his voice and wept and she raised her voice and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the youth, and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven and said to her, What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the youth where he is.
18 Arise, raise up the youth and support him with your hand, for I intend to make him a great nation.
19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the [empty] bottle with water and caused the youth to drink.
20 And God was with the youth, and he developed; and he dwelt in the wilderness and became an archer.
21 He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.

Genesis 21:14-21 (New Living Translation)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

14 So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush.
16 Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears.
17 But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.
18 Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”
19 Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.
20 And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer,
21 and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt.

Genesis 21:14-21 (King James Version)

14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

Genesis 21:14-21 (English Standard Version)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes.
16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, "Let me not look on the death of the child." And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.
18 Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation."
19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
20 And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow.
21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Genesis 21:14-21 (Contemporary English Version)
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society

14 Early the next morning Abraham gave Hagar an animal skin full of water and some bread. Then he put the boy on her shoulder and sent them away. They wandered around in the desert near Beersheba,
15 and after they had run out of water, Hagar put her son under a bush.
16 Then she sat down a long way off, because she could not bear to watch him die. And she cried bitterly.
17 When God heard the boy crying, the angel of God called out to Hagar from heaven and said, "Hagar, why are you worried? Don't be afraid. I have heard your son crying.
18 Help him up and hold his hand, because I will make him the father of a great nation."
19 Then God let her see a well. So she went to the well and filled the skin with water, then gave some to her son.
20-21 God blessed Ishmael, and as the boy grew older, he became an expert with his bow and arrows. He lived in the Paran Desert, and his mother chose an Egyptian woman for him to marry.

Genesis 21:14-21 (New King James Version)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and 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 God heard the voice of the lad. Then the 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 I will make him a great nation.”
19 Then 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 was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21 He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Genesis 21:14-21 (Young's Literal Translation)

14 And Abraham riseth early in the morning, and taketh bread, and a bottle of water, and giveth unto Hagar (placing [it] on her shoulder), also the lad, and sendeth her out; and she goeth on, and goeth astray in the wilderness of Beer-Sheba;
15 and the water is consumed from the bottle, and she placeth the lad under one of the shrubs.
16 And she goeth and sitteth by herself over-against, afar off, about a bow-shot, for she said, `Let me not look on the death of the lad;' and she sitteth over-against, and lifteth up her voice, and weepeth.
17 And God heareth the voice of the youth; and the messenger of God calleth unto Hagar from the heavens, and saith to her, `What to thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath hearkened unto the voice of the youth where he [is];
18 rise, lift up the youth, and lay hold on him with thy hand, for a great nation I set him.'
19 And God openeth her eyes, and she seeth a well of water, and she goeth and filleth the bottle [with] water, and causeth the youth to drink;
20 and God is with the youth, and he groweth, and dwelleth in the wilderness, and is an archer;
21 and he dwelleth in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother taketh for him a wife from the land of Egypt.

Genesis 21:14-21 (Darby Translation)

14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a flask of water, and gave [it] to Hagar, putting [it] on her shoulder -- and the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
15 And the water was exhausted from the flask; and she cast the child under one of the shrubs,
16 and she went and sat down over against [him], a bow-shot off; for she said, Let me not behold the death of the child. And she sat over against [him], and lifted up her voice and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad. And the Angel of God called to Hagar from the heavens, and said to her, What [aileth] thee, Hagar? Fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad there, where he is.
18 Arise, take the lad, and hold him in thy hand; for I will make of him a great nation.
19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the flask with water, and gave the lad drink.
20 And God was with the lad, and he grew; and he dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran. And his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

Genesis 21:14-21 (New Life Version
Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International

14 So Abraham got up early in the morning. He took bread and a leather bag of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder. He gave her the boy, and sent her away. She left, and went from place to place in a place where no people live in Beersheba.
15 When the water was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes.
16 Then she sat down as far away from him as an arrow flies. For she said, "Do not let me see the boy die." As she sat there, she cried a loud cry.
17 But God heard the voice of the boy. Then the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said, "Why are you so troubled, Hagar? Do not be afraid. For God has heard the cry of the boy.
18 Get up. Lift up the boy and hold him by the hand. For I will make a great nation of him."
19 Then God opened Hagar's eyes. And she saw a well of water. She went and filled the leather bag with water and gave the boy a drink.
20 God was with the boy and he grew. He lived in a place where no people live, and became very good in using the bow.
21 While living in the desert of Paran, his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Genesis 21:14-21 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

14 Early in the morning Abraham got up, took bread and a waterskin, [put them] on Hagar's shoulders, and sent her and the boy away. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beer-sheba.
15 When the water in the skin was gone, she left the boy under one of the bushes.
16 Then she went and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, "I can't [bear to] watch the boy die!" So as she sat nearby, she wept loudly.
17 God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What's wrong, Hagar? Don't be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy from the place where he is.
18 Get up, help the boy up, and sustain him, for I will make him a great nation."
19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the waterskin and gave the boy a drink.
20 God was with the boy, and he grew; he settled in the wilderness and became an archer.
21 He settled in the Wilderness of Paran, and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Genesis 21:14-21 (New International Reader's Version)
Copyright © 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society

14 Early the next morning Abraham got some food and a bottle of water. The bottle was made out of animal skin. He gave the food and water to Hagar. He placed them on her shoulders. Then he sent her away with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba.
15 When the water in the bottle was gone, she put the boy under a bush.
16 Then she went off and sat down nearby. She was about as far away as a person can shoot an arrow. She thought, "I can't stand to watch the boy die." As she sat nearby, she began to sob.
17 God heard the boy crying. Then the angel of God called out to Hagar from heaven. He said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid. God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up. Take him by the hand. I will make him into a great nation."
19 Then God opened Hagar's eyes. She saw a well of water. So she went and filled the bottle with water. And she gave the boy a drink.
20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and learned to shoot with a bow.
21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got him a wife from Egypt.

Genesis 21:14-21 (New International Version - UK)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. 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.
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 nearby, about a bow-shot away, for she thought, I cannot watch the boy die. And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob.
17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; 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.
19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer.
21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.

Genesis 21:14-21 (Today's New International Version)
© Copyright 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society

14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. 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.
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 began to sob.
17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; 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."
19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer.
21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.

In looking at all these translations it is easy to see by only reading the one, that you come to the conclustion you came to. The only version that puts this young man on her shoulders is the CEV. By looking also at the KJV, ESV, YLT, and Darby it is also easy to see that if one reads them without the comma’s they to would read that the young man was on her shoulders. But the comma’s are important.

The only conclustion I can come to is this : Ishmael was between age 15 and 17 and certainly was not a baby, but was considered a child or youth. To also look at she cast him under the bush, I look up the translation of that work cast.

1) to throw, cast, hurl, fling
a) (Hiphil)
1) to throw, cast, throw away, cast off, shed, cast down
2) to cast (lots) (fig)
b) (Hophal)
1) to be thrown, be cast
2) to be cast forth or out
3) to be cast down
4) to be cast (metaph)

The translation from the Hebrew into the English is not clear. I do not believe that she threw him, but in casting put him away from her so that she would not in fact have to watch him die. In Webster’s the definition that came closest to me was: to let go, set loose.

No they did not move it from an earlier part of scripture and the translation that you are reading from is incorrect. Look at this explanation from the Geneva Study Bible.

The 1599 Geneva Study Bible
Chapter 21
21:2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his (a) old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
(a) Therefore the miracle was greater.
21:7 And she said, (b) Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born [him] a son in his old age.
(b) She accuses herself of ingratitude, that she did not believe the angel.
21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, (c) mocking.
(c) He derided God's promise made to Isaac which the apostle calls persecution (Galatians 4:29).

Galatians 4
4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

The KJV Strong's Version
21:12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be (d) called.
(d) The promised seed will be from Isaac, and not from Ishmael, (Romans 9:7;
Romans 9 Read This Chapter
9:7
Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

The KJV Strong's Version
Hebrews 11:18).
Hebrews 11 Read This Chapter
11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

The KJV Strong's Version
21:13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make (e) a nation, because he [is] thy seed.
(e) The Ishmaelites will come from him.
21:14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave [it] unto Hagar, putting [it] on her shoulder, and the child, and (f) sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
(f) True faith renounces all natural affections to obey God's commandment.
21:17 And God (g) heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he [is].
(g) For his promise sake made to Abraham; and not because the child had discretion and judgment to pray.
21:19 And God (h) opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
(h) Unless God opens our eyes, we can neither see, nor use the means which are before us.
21:20 And God was (i) with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
(i) Concerning outward things God caused him to prosper.

I hope that this has answered your questions. It has certainly been a joy searching the scriptures for the answer. We hope in the days and weeks ahead to actually do a paper on Abraham, Isaac and on Ishmael. Surely the bothers got alone okay, well enough that they buried their father together when Abraham passed away. Not to mention the fact that Isaac’s son Esau married a daughter of Ishmael.

I would like to mention here that both of us encourage everyone continually to read and study the Bible, to ask God to open your eyes to understanding. We must be careful of the translations that we read from. With out a full understanding of the truth, it is quite easy to read this scripture and believe that Ishmael was in fact a baby.

Thank you and God bless
rECj/LJG