The Birth of Isaac

21:1 The Lord visited1 Sarah just as he had said he would and did2 for Sarah what he had promised.3 21:2 So Sarah became pregnant4 and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the appointed time that God had told him. 21:3 Abraham named his son—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac.5 21:4 When his son Isaac was eight days old,6 Abraham circumcised him just as God had commanded him to do.7 21:5 (Now Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.)8

21:6 Sarah said, “God has made me laugh.9 Everyone who hears about this10 will laugh11 with me.” 21:7 She went on to say,12 “Who would13 have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have given birth to a son for him in his old age!”

21:8 The child grew and was weaned. Abraham prepared14 a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.15 21:9 But Sarah noticed16 the son of Hagar the Egyptian—the son whom Hagar had borne to Abraham—mocking.17 21:10 So she said to Abraham, “Banish18 that slave woman and her son, for the son of that slave woman will not be an heir along with my son Isaac!”

21:11 Sarah’s demand displeased Abraham greatly because Ishmael was his son.19 21:12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be upset20 about the boy or your slave wife. Do21 all that Sarah is telling22 you because through Isaac your descendants will be counted.23 21:13 But I will also make the son of the slave wife into a great nation, for he is your descendant too.”

21:14 Early in the morning Abraham took24 some food25 and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He put them on her shoulders, gave her the child,26 and sent her away. So she went wandering27 aimlessly through the wilderness28 of Beer Sheba. 21:15 When the water in the skin was gone, she shoved29 the child under one of the shrubs. 21:16 Then she went and sat down by herself across from him at quite a distance, about a bowshot30 away; for she thought,31 “I refuse to watch the child die.”32 So she sat across from him and wept uncontrollably.33

21:17 But God heard the boy’s voice.34 The angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and asked her, “What is the matter,35 Hagar? Don’t be afraid, for God has heard36 the boy’s voice right where he is crying. 21:18 Get up! Help the boy up and hold him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 21:19 Then God enabled Hagar to see a well of water.37 She went over and filled the skin with water, and then gave the boy a drink.

21:20 God was with the boy as he grew. He lived in the wilderness and became an archer. 21:21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran.38 His mother found a wife for him from the land of Egypt.39

21:22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you40 in all that you do. 21:23 Now swear to me right here in God’s name41 that you will not deceive me, my children, or my descendants.42 Show me, and the land43 where you are staying,44 the same loyalty45 that I have shown you.”46

21:24 Abraham said, “I swear to do this.”47 21:25 But Abraham lodged a complaint48 against Abimelech concerning a well49 that Abimelech’s servants had seized.50 21:26 “I do not know who has done this thing,” Abimelech replied. “Moreover,51 you did not tell me. I did not hear about it until today.”

21:27 Abraham took some sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech. The two of them made a treaty.52 21:28 Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs apart from the flock by themselves. 21:29 Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these53 seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” 21:30 He replied, “You must take these seven ewe lambs from my hand as legal proof54 that I dug this well.”55 21:31 That is why he named that place56 Beer Sheba,57 because the two of them swore58 an oath there.

21:32 So they made a treaty59 at Beer Sheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, returned60 to the land of the Philistines.61 21:33 Abraham62 planted a tamarisk tree63 in Beer Sheba. There he worshiped the Lord,64 the eternal God. 21:34 So Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for quite some time.65