Genesis 21:15-25

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she left the child under a bush,

16 and went and sat down, looking the other way, about a bow-shot's distance from him; because she said, "I can't bear to watch my child die." So she sat there, looking the other way, crying out and weeping.

17 God heard the boy's voice, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What's wrong with you, Hagar? Don't be afraid, because God has heard the voice of the boy in his present situation.

18 Get up, lift the boy up, and hold him tightly in your hand, because I am going to make him a great nation."

19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went, filled the skin with water and gave the boy water to drink.

20 God was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the desert and became an archer.

21 He lived in the Pa'ran Desert, and his mother chose a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

22 At that time Avimelekh and Pikhol the commander of his army spoke to Avraham. They said, "God is with you in everything you do.

23 Therefore, swear to me here by God that you will never deal falsely with me or with my son or grandson; but according to the kindness with which I have treated you, you will treat me and the land in which you have lived as a foreigner.

24 Avraham said, "I swear it."

25 Now Avraham had complained to Avimelekh about a well which Avimelekh's servants had seized.

Genesis 21:15-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 21

This chapter gives an account of the conception, birth, circumcision, and weaning of Isaac, Ge 21:1-8; of the mocking of Ishmael, and of the casting out of him and his mother from Abraham's house, at the request of Sarah, which, though grievous to Abraham, he complied with at the direction of God, Ge 21:9-13; of the provision Abraham made for their departure, and of the supply they met with in the wilderness from God, where Ishmael was brought up, and where he married, Ge 21:14-21; and of a covenant between Abraham and Abimelech, king of Gerar, Ge 21:22-32; and of Abraham's planting a grove, and calling on the name of the Lord, Ge 21:33; and the chapter is closed with this observation, that Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many days, Ge 21:34.