Ishmaelites
According to the Book of Genesis, Ishmaelites are the descendants of Ishmael, the elder son of Abraham.
Contents |
[edit] Traditional Origins
According to the Book of Genesis, Abraham's first wife was named Sarah and his second wife Hagar. However Sarah was old and barren, and could not conceive. According to Genesis 16:3 Sarah (then Sarai) gave her maid Hagar in marriage to Abraham, in order that Abraham might have an heir. Genesis 16: 3 states, "And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid....and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife”. Hagar conceived Ishmael from Abraham, and the Ishmaelites descend from him.
After Abraham pleaded with God for Ishmael to live under his blessing, Genesis 17:20 states, "But as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: behold I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation."
| Offspring of Ishmael (Book of Jasher) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sons of Nebaioth, the first born of Ishmael | Mend | Send | Mayon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sons of Kedar | Alyon | Kezem | Chamad | Eli | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sons of Adbeel | Chamad | Jabin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sons of Mibsam | Obadiah | Ebedmelech | Yeush | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sons of Mishma | Shamua | Zecaryon | Obed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sons of Dumah | Kezed | Eli | Machmad | Amed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sons of Masa | Melon | Mula | Ebidadon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sons of Chadad | Azur | Minzar | Ebedmelech | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sons of Tema | Seir | Sadon | Yakol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sons of Yetur | Merith | Yaish | Alyo | Pachoth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sons of Naphish | Ebed-Tamed | Abiyasaph | Mir | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sons of Kedma | Kedma | Calip | Tachti | Omir | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[edit] Rise to Greatness
Genesis goes on to record that the Ishmaelites went on to control the vast region north of Havilah stretching from Shur before Egypt northwest towards Assyria. Traditions regarding their rise to greatness are found in Midrashic works such as the Sefer Ha-Yashar which records that they had conquered the territory in a war with the sons of Tarshish.
[edit] Dissolution and Assimilation
Ishmaelites are no longer mentioned after the time of King David, having assimilated into other peoples according to the book of Jubilees. Some are shown in Judges as having become part of the Midianites. Others are mentioned living amongst the Israelites. The Hagarites split off as a separate group from the rest of the Ishmaelites and were conquered and assimilated by the Israelites during the reign of Saul. The extra-biblical Book of Jubilees claims that the sons of Ishmael intermingled with the children of Keturah from Abraham and were called "Arabs" and Ishmaelites:
Book of Jubilees 20:13 And Ishmael and his sons, and the sons of Keturah and their sons, went together and dwelt from Paran to the entering in of Babylon in all the land which is towards the East facing the desert. And these mingled with each other, and their name was called Arabs, and Ishmaelites.
