Ishmael

Role: son of Abraham · First appears: The Covenant Of The Pieces

Before his birth, Hagar was told he would be called Ishmael; later, God revealed to Abraham that Ishmael would turn to righteousness while his father was alive. The next morning, Abraham sent him away with Hagar. After Sarah’s evil glance left him sick and feverish, Hagar carried him, and God caused a well to spring up for him. Hagar then took him to Egypt to choose a wife.

Ishmael divorced his first wife, and later took another wife in Canaan, bringing her to his tent. At the end of three years, Abraham visited and blessed him; Ishmael later journeyed with his wife, children, and possessions to his father in the land of the Philistines, where they dwelt together for many days. After Isaac was born, Abraham cast Ishmael out of his house. When Isaac spoke of willingly obeying a command to be offered, Ishmael was present; later, Ishmael repented of his evil ways and subordinated himself to Isaac.

On the journey to Moriah, Abraham took Ishmael and Eliezer along, then left them with the ass while he and Isaac went farther. Ishmael died the night before Esau’s wedding to Mahalath, his daughter; Nebaioth, Ishmael’s son, gave his sister in marriage in his father’s place.