ISHMAEL. Sarai, Abram's wife, was barren (Gen., 11:30). Impatient at the long delay of the promise, Sarah agreed for Abram to cohabit with her maid Hagar, and as a result Ishmael was born eleven years after Abram and Sarah entered Canaan (Gen., 16:1-16). He was finally cast out of Abram's house at Sarah's request and the Lord's approval, for Abram's descendants were to be counted from Isaac (Gen., 21:1-21).

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