slave; and when Ishmael is born, both are abused and flee. Ishmael’s descendants will be numerous, but they will be a pariah people. Abraham also has other slaves in his household. When the king of Gerar, Abimelech, is attracted to Sarah, Abraham lies and says that she is his sister and is thus available. When she is seized, he is too cowardly to defend her, and he still insists that she is “really” his sister. Lot is a ne’er-do-well who deserts Abraham and settles down in Sodom. When the inhabitants