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The Birth of Ishmael

16:1 Now Sarai,1 the wife of Abram, had borne him no children,2 but she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.3 16:2 So Sarai said to Abram, “Since4 the LORD has prevented me from bearing children, go into5 my maidservant; perhaps I can be built up into a family6 from her.” And Abram obeyed Sarai.7

16:3 So after Abram had lived8 in Canaan for ten years, Sarai the wife of Abram took Hagar, her Egyptian handmaiden,9 and gave her to her husband to be his wife.10 16:4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she conceived, her mistress was despised11 in her opinion.12 16:5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You have brought this wrong on me.13 I gave my handmaiden to your embrace14 and when she realized15 that she had conceived, I became worthless16 in her opinion. May the LORD judge between me and you.”17

16:6 And Abram said to Sarai his wife, “Your18 handmaiden is under your authority;19 do to her whatever you think best.”20 Then Sarai mistreated her,21 and she fled from her presence.

16:7 The22 Angel of the LORD23 found Hagar near a spring of water in the desert, the spring along the way to Shur. 16:8 And he said, “Hagar, maidservant of Sarai, from whence have you come, and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from24 Sarai my mistress.”

16:9 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit25 to her authority.” 16:10 But26 the Angel of the LORD added,27 “I will greatly multiply28 your descendants so that they will be innumerable.”29 16:11 And the Angel of the LORD said to her,

16:13 So Hagar called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are the God who sees me,”37 for she said, “I have here seen the One who sees me!”38 16:14 That is why the well was called,39 Beer Lahai Roi.40 It is located41 between Kadesh and Bered.

16:15 So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram42 called the name of his son whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16:16 Now Abram was eighty six years old43 when Hagar bore him birth to Ishmael

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