Sarah has a son

1The LORD was good to Sarah and kept his promise. 2Although Abraham was very old, Sarah had a son exactly at the time God had said.21.2: He 11.11. 3Abraham named his son Isaac, 4and when the boy was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, just as the LORD had commanded.21.4: Gn 17.12; Ac 7.8.

5Abraham was a hundred years old when Isaac was born, 6and Sarah said, “God has made me laugh.21.6 God has made me laugh: In Hebrew “Isaac” sounds like “laugh”. Now everyone will laugh with me. 7Who would have dared to tell Abraham that some day I would have a child? But in his old age, I have given him a son.”

8The time came when Sarah no longer had to nurse Isaac,21.8 no longer had to nurse Isaac: In ancient Israel mothers nursed their children until they were about three years old. Then there was a family celebration. and on that day Abraham gave a big feast.

Hagar and Ishmael are sent away

9-10One day, Sarah noticed Hagar's son Ishmael21.9,10 Ishmael: The son of Abraham and Hagar, who was Sarah's slave woman (see 16.1-16). playing,21.9,10 playing: Hebrew; one ancient translation “playing with her son Isaac”. and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that Egyptian slave woman and her son! I don't want him to inherit anything. It should all go to my son.”21.9,10 Get rid…son: When Abraham accepted Ishmael as his son, it gave Ishmael the right to inherit part of what Abraham owned. But slaves who were given their freedom lost the right to inherit such property.21.10: Ga 4.29,30.

11Abraham was worried about Ishmael. 12But God said, “Abraham, don't worry about your slave woman and the boy. Just do what Sarah tells you. Isaac will inherit your family name,21.12: Ro 9.7; He 11.18. 13but the son of the slave woman is also your son, and I will make his descendants into a great nation.”

14Early 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, 15and after they had run out of water, Hagar put her son under a bush. 16Then she sat down a long way off, because she could not bear to watch him die. And she cried bitterly.

17When 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. 18Help him up and hold his hand, because I will make him the father of a great nation.” 19Then God let her see a well. So she went to the well and filled the skin with water, then gave some to her son.

20-21God 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.

A peace treaty

22About this time Abimelech and his army commander Phicol said to Abraham, “God blesses everything you do!21.22: Gn 26.26. 23Now I want you to promise in the name of God that you will always be loyal to me and my descendants, just as I have always been loyal to you in this land where you have lived as a foreigner.” 24And so, Abraham promised.

25One day, Abraham told Abimelech, “Some of your servants have taken over one of my wells.”

26“This is the first I've heard about it,” Abimelech replied. “Why haven't you said something before? I don't have any idea who did it.” 27Abraham gave Abimelech some sheep and cattle, and then the two men made a peace treaty.

28Abraham separated seven female lambs from his flock of sheep, 29and Abimelech asked, “Why have you done this?”

30Abraham told him, “I want you to accept these seven lambs as proof that I dug this well.” 31So they called the place Beersheba,21.31 Beersheba: Meaning “Well of Good Fortune” or “Peace Treaty Well”. because they made a treaty there.

32When the treaty was completed, Abimelech and his army commander Phicol went back to the land of the Philistines. 33Abraham planted a tamarisk tree21.33 tamarisk tree: A tall shade tree that has deep roots and needs little water. in Beersheba and worshipped the eternal LORD God. 34Then Abraham lived a long time as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines.