Genesis 21:9-20

9 Sarah saw Hagar's son laughing, the one Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham.

10 So she said to Abraham, "Send this servant away with her son! This servant's son won't share the inheritance with my son Isaac."

11 This upset Abraham terribly because the boy was his son.

12 God said to Abraham, "Don't be upset about the boy and your servant. Do everything Sarah tells you to do because your descendants will be traced through Isaac.

13 But I will make of your servant's son a great nation too, because he is also your descendant."

14 Abraham got up early in the morning, took some bread and a flask of water, and gave it to Hagar. He put the boy in her shoulder sling and sent her away. She left and wandered through the desert near Beer-sheba.

15 Finally the water in the flask ran out, and she put the boy down under one of the desert shrubs.

16 She walked away from him about as far as a bow shot and sat down, telling herself, I can't bear to see the boy die. She sat at a distance, cried out in grief, and wept.

17 God heard the boy's cries, and God's messenger called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "Hagar! What's wrong? Don't be afraid. God has heard the boy's cries over there.

18 Get up, pick up the boy, and take him by the hand because I will make of him a great nation."

19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well. She went over, filled the water flask, and gave the boy a drink.

20 God remained with the boy; he grew up, lived in the desert, and became an expert archer.

Genesis 21:9-20 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.