Hager and Ishmael

Click here to read Genesis 16.

Chapter 16 deals with marital problems. Abram's wife Sarai was becoming quite old and they had no children. Sarai had a "handmaid" named Hager. She gave her maid to Abram so he might have descendants. Hagar conceived and thought herself better than Sarai and would not return to her duties as a handmaid. Conflict between the two women grew and Hager, who was an Egyptian, headed for Egypt. We have here recorded the first mention in scripture of an Angel appearing on earth. The Angel stopped Hager and made her return and be subject to the hand of Sarai. He told her that she was with child and that she would bear a son and would call his name Ishmael and that he would be a man of conflict. Hager bore Abram a son when he was 86 years old.

Previous Chapter

Return to Outline

Ask Questions

Next Chapter