About the Book
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Chapter Analysis
Chapter 16: Hagar and Ishmael
Background History and Timeline:Â Genesis, traditionally attributed to Moses, was written around the 15th century BCE. It covers events from the creation of the world to the patriarchs of Israel.
Locations Mentioned:Â The chapter primarily focuses on the household of Abram and Sarai in the land of Canaan.
Themes and Conflicts:Â Genesis 16 recounts the story of Abram and Sarai's attempt to fulfill God's promise of descendants through their own efforts, leading to the birth of Ishmael. It explores themes of faith, human frailty, and the consequences of impatience.
Main Characters:Â Abram (Abraham), Sarai (Sarah), Hagar, and Ishmael are the main characters in this chapter.
Specific Passages:
Genesis 16:2-3: "And Sarai said to Abram, 'Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.' And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife."
Genesis 16:11-12: "And the angel of the Lord said to her, 'Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has listened to your affliction. He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.'"
Explanation:Â Genesis 16 describes how Sarai, unable to bear children, suggests that Abram have a child with her maidservant Hagar. Hagar conceives and gives birth to Ishmael, causing tension and conflict within the household.
The chapter illustrates the consequences of Abram and Sarai's attempt to fulfill God's promise through human means rather than waiting for God's timing. It also highlights God's compassion toward Hagar and the foretelling of Ishmael's character and destiny.
Genesis 16 serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of impatience and the importance of trusting in God's timing and faithfulness.
Moses is traditionally attributed as the author of Genesis, including Chapter 16.
Religious Text
Gen 16:1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name
was Hagar.
Gen 16:2 And Sarai said to Abram, "Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to
my servant; it may be that | shall obtain children by her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
Gen 16:3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the
Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife.
Gen 16:4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked
with contempt on her mistress.
Gen 16:5 And Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done to me be on you! | gave my servant to your embrace,
and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you
and me!"
Gen 16:6 But Abram said to Sarai, "Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please." Then Sarai
dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.
Gen 16:7 The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to
Shur.
Gen 16:8 And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?" She
said, "| am fleeing from my mistress Sarai."
Gen 16:9 The angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress and submit to her."
Gen 16:10 The angel of the LORD also said to her, "I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be
numbered for multitude."
Gen 16:11 And the angel of the LORD said to her, "Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall
call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction.
Gen 16:12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him,
and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen."
Gen 16:13 So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God of seeing," for she said,
"Truly here | have seen him who looks after me."
Gen 16:14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.
Gen 16:15 And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
Gen 16:16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.