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JANUARY 11
12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be
January 1 1 displeasing in your sight because of the lad or
because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah
has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac
your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make
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Genesis 21:1–22:24
a nation of the son of the bondwoman,
And the LORD visited Sarah as He had because he is your seed.”
21 said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He 14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and
had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore took bread and a skin of water; and putting it
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Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to
of which God had spoken to him. And Abra- Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed
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ham called the name of his son who was born and wandered in the Wilderness of Beer-
to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac. sheba. And the water in the skin was used
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up, and she placed the boy under one of the
shrubs. Then she went and sat down across
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from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for
she said to herself, “Let me not see the death
21:1 the LORD visited Sarah. To the aged cou- of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted
ple (vv. 2,5,7), exactly as promised, a son was
born and the 25-year suspense was finally over her voice and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad. Then
with the laughter of derision turning to rejoic-
ing (v. 6). The barrenness of Sarah (11:26) had the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven,
ended. and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear
not, for God has heard the voice of the lad
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where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold
him with your hand, for I will make him a
4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac great nation.”
when he was eight days old, as God had com- 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a
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manded him. Now Abraham was one hun- well of water. And she went and filled the skin
dred years old when his son Isaac was born to with water, and gave the lad a drink. So God
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him. And Sarah said, “God has made me was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the
laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” wilderness, and became an archer. He dwelt
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7 She also said, “Who would have said to Abra- in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother
ham that Sarah would nurse children? For I took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
have borne him a son in his old age.” 22 And it came to pass at that time that
8 So the child grew and was weaned. And Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his
Abraham made a great feast on the same day army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with
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that Isaac was weaned. you in all that you do. Now therefore, swear
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, to me by God that you will not deal falsely with
whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. me, with my offspring, or with my posterity;
10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this but that according to the kindness that I have
bondwoman and her son; for the son of this done to you, you will do to me and to the land
bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, name- in which you have dwelt.”
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ly with Isaac.” And the matter was very displeas- 24 And Abraham said, “I will swear.”
ing in Abraham’s sight because of his son. 25 Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because
of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants
had seized. And Abimelech said, “I do not
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know who has done this thing; you did not tell
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21:10 Cast out…not be heir. Legal codes of me, nor had I heard of it until today.” So Abra-
Abraham’s day—e.g., of Nuzi and of Ham- ham took sheep and oxen and gave them to
murabi—forbade the putting out of a hand- Abimelech, and the two of them made a
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maiden’s son if a rightful,natural heir was born. covenant. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs
Sarah’s request, thus, offended social law, of the flock by themselves.
Abraham’s sensibilities,and his love for Ishmael 29 Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is
(v. 11). Abraham, however, was given divine the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which
approval and assurances to overcome his scru- you have set by themselves?”
ples before sending Hagar and Ishmael out into 30 And he said, “You will take these seven ewe
the wilderness (vv.12–15).
lambs from my hand, that they may be my wit-
ness that I have dug this well.” Therefore he
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