Did Abraham have two sons?

[hwinston]

I know about Isaac, but didn’t he have a son with his servant too?
Thanks,
HW

 

[DaveBj]

In chronological order, Abraham had Ismael by his wife’s servant girl Hagar, Isaac by Sarah, and Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah by his second wife Keturah. That last brood is mentioned in Gen. 25:1-2.

DaveBj

 

[RobedWithLight]

Yes. Abraham has another son named Ishmael, which means God hears. He is Abraham’s son with Hagar, Sarah’s handmaid. Modern day Arabs consider Ishmael as their ancestor. Please see Genesis 16:1-4.

Gerry

 

[ahimsaman72]

hwinston:

I know about Isaac, but didn’t he have a son with his servant too?
Thanks,
HW

Yes, Ishmael was born by a handmaid to him. The story about Ishamel and Isaac is well worth the reading. It is pictured in the New Testament in Galatians 4:22-26 as symbolic also.

 

[jimmy]

hwinston:

I know about Isaac, but didn’t he have a son with his servant too?
Thanks,
HW

Yes Isaac was the younger brother of Ishmael. He stole Ishmaels blessing. Abraham was sick or something. Ishmael was a harry person so Isaac put on sheep skin and went into Abraham and was blessed.

 

[Ecce_Homo]

jimmy:

Yes Isaac was the younger brother of Ishmael. He stole Ishmaels blessing. Abraham was sick or something. Ishmael was a harry person so Isaac put on sheep skin and went into Abraham and was blessed.

Actually, that is the story of Jacob and Esau, Isaac’s sons. Jacob, who was born second, “purchased” his brother’s birthright with a bowl of stew and tricked his nearly blind father Isaac into giving him the blessing reserved for the first-born son by placing hairy clothing on his arms.

In contrast, Isaac was the son of the free woman, whereas Ishmael was the son of the slave. Hence, the birthright and blessing already belonged to Isaac. He did not steal it.

 

[RobedWithLight]

Ecce Homo:

Actually, that is the story of Jacob and Esau, Isaac’s sons. Jacob, who was born second, “purchased” his brother’s birthright with a bowl of stew and tricked his nearly blind father Isaac into giving him the blessing reserved for the first-born son by placing hairy clothing on his arms.

In contrast, Isaac was the son of the free woman, whereas Ishmael was the son of the slave. Hence, the birthright and blessing already belonged to Isaac. He did not steal it.

There are some similarities though. In Ishmael and Isaac’s case, Ishmael [the elder son] was in a sense “exiled” because of conflicts between his mother Hagar and Sarah, since Sarah wanted her son Isaac to be Abraham’s sole heir (Genesis 21). In both cases, the elder gave way to the younger.

Gerry

 

[jimmy]

Ecce Homo:

Actually, that is the story of Jacob and Esau, Isaac’s sons. Jacob, who was born second, “purchased” his brother’s birthright with a bowl of stew and tricked his nearly blind father Isaac into giving him the blessing reserved for the first-born son by placing hairy clothing on his arms.

In contrast, Isaac was the son of the free woman, whereas Ishmael was the son of the slave. Hence, the birthright and blessing already belonged to Isaac. He did not steal it.

I am mixing stories up. Sorry about that.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Note that eldest sons do poorly throughout the Bible, right down to the older brother of the Prodigal.

 

[stillsmallvoice]

Hi all!

By telling Abraham to listen to Sarah, God showed that He wanted Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. But God certainly didn’t similarly endorse Sarah’s harsh treatment of Hagar. Many of our Sages criticize Sarah for this. One of very great medieval Sages, Nahmanides (ou.org/about/judaism/rabbis/ramban.htm), says that the root of our problems with the Arabs/Muslims is payback for the way our mother mistreated their mother.

Our Sages ask why Abraham sent Ishmael away with a single loaf of bread & one skin of water. Abraham was a very wealthy man. Moreover, he sent Ketura’s children away with lavish gifts. So why the almost nothing for Ishmael? Ketura’s children were no threat to Isaac, to his status as the heir of the Abrahamic notion of ethical monotheism and the worship of the One God. Thus, they could be sent away in style. But Ishmael presented just such a threat to Isaac and indeed challenged Isaac’s status as the heir of the Abrahamic notion of ethical monotheism and the worship of the One God (much as his descendants still do to this day). Thus, Ishmael was sent away with almost nothing, in order to make a point; being sent away in style could be interpreted as Abraham making him his heir.

Genesis 25:9 tells us that:

And Isaac and Ishmael buried him [Abraham] in the cave of Machpelah…

Our Sages say that Isaac & Ishmael reconciled when they came together to bury their father Abraham. I know & pray that one day the Children of Isaac & the Children of Ishmael will similarly reconcile.

Be well!

ssv