The Hebrew Name Game - Ishmael Style. Genesis 25:12-18

May the mumbling commence!

It’s back to The Hebrew Name Game – Ishmael style.  Read from Peterson’s The Message:

This is the family tree of Ishmael son of Abraham, the son that Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maid, bore to Abraham.

These are the names of Ishmael’s sons in the order of their births: Nebaioth, Ishmael’s firstborn, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah – all sons of Ishmael.  Their settlements and encampments were named after them.  Twelve princes with their twelve tribes.

Ishmael lived 137 years.  When he breathed his last and died he was buried with his family.  His children settled down all the way from Havilah near Egypt eastward to Shur in the direction of Assyria.  The Ishmaelites didn’t get along with any of their kin.  (Genesis 25:12-18)

Now read the same passage from the NIV translation:

This is the account of Abraham's son Ishmael, whom Sarah's maidservant, Hagar the Egyptian, bore to Abraham. 

These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah.  These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are the names of the twelve tribal rulers according to their settlements and camps.  Altogether, Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people.  His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the border of Egypt, as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.  (Genesis 25:12-18)

There are not a whole lot of differences between the NIV and Peterson’s work in this passage.  And, even the differences are minimal.  They do not change the Spirit and heart of the passage.

And the Ishmael style is evident in the passage.  His sons are not merely sons.  They’re princes… tribal rulers… twelve in all.  They foreshadow the twelve sons of Isaac’s son, Jacob (Israel).  Ishmael had no trouble in procreating!

The children of Ishmael wanted to be the king of the mountain, so to speak.  And they were willing to live in hostility toward each other… and toward their half cousins as well, I’m sure.  And anyone else that got in their way.  Might is right was born in this long ago.  The idea did not come original to any of the world powers of this day… or any other day.

Ishmael died and was gathered to his people.  And note that he was not buried in the cave at Machpelah, as his father and step-mother was.  Ishmael was outside the promise given to Abraham and deeded to Isaac.

Note also that it’s not said of Ishmael that he died old and full of years… or as Peterson would put it – he did not “die happy, at a ripe old age”.  It’s an interesting omission. 

Ishmael did live to be 137.  He was no slouch.  But the text seems to intimate that Ishmael did not have a happy existence.  Perhaps, he died bitter, still holding grudges, still grasping for power.  It would be the way of all his descendants.  Let’s not live our lives that way.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out