Genesis 25:14

14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa,

Genesis 25:14 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 25:14

And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa.
] Of Mishma and Massa, and of their posterity, there is not anything said elsewhere, unless the Masani, Ptolemy ^F16 places near Arabia Felix, came from Massa. Dumah seems to be the same Isaiah speaks of in ( Genesis 21:11 ) ; and in Arabia Deserta, where some of Ishmael's posterity settled, is a place called Dumaetha, by Ptolemy ^F17, which perhaps had its name from this son of his. The Targum of Jonathan translates these three names,

``hearing, silence, and patience;''

which the Jews use as a proverb, when they would signify that there are some things to be heard and not spoken of, and to be patiently borne. If Ishmael had in view to teach such lessons by the names he gave his children, he will seem to be a better man than he is usually thought to be.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Georaph. l. 16. p. 528. 534. 536.
F17 lbid.

Genesis 25:14 In-Context

12 This is the account of the descendants of Abraham's son Ishmael. He was the son of Sarah's Egyptian slave Hagar and Abraham.

13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth (Ishmael's firstborn), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,

14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa,

15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

16 These are the sons of Ishmael and their names listed by their settlements and camps--12 leaders of their tribes.