Genesis 25:12 Commentary and Bible Study

The record of the generations of Ishmael is included to show the fulfilment of prophecy. Two separate prophecies had been made concerning him. One was made to Hagar, his mother, ‘Then the Angel of the LORD said to her: "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude"’ (Genesis 16:10). The other was to Abraham at the time of the giving of the covenant of circumcision: ‘And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation’ (Genesis 17:20).Abraham had pleaded with God for his son Ishmael. In response God had promised that this son too would be blessed, but with earthly blessings. Ishmael was outside the covenant of grace and is a type of all those who are circumcised in the flesh but who have no life in them. He is a picture of the Jew who never exercises faith in God but who receives the sign of circumcision in the flesh. Receiving this sign, he yet failed to enter the promise land and so did not even enjoy the typical blessings given to God’s typical people. But God out of love for his servant Abraham did not leave even this son destitute. From this son God had promised would come twelve princes who would be the head of twelve tribes. But no further history is given in the Bible concerning Ishmael except as the father of Mahalath, whom Esau took as an additional wife (Genesis 28:9). The death of Ishmael is recorded here even though the birth of Isaac’s children which follows occurred a considerable time earlier. Moses tidies up this discussion of Ishmael’s history so that he can move on to deal with the life of Isaac without interruption. The twelve princes are recorded in the genealogies in Chronicles, but apart from this, only a few other details about them are provided by Scripture. Nebaioth is recorded as the brother of Esau’s additional wife. Tema is mentioned in the prophets as an Arabian nation. The largest number of references are to Kedar who appears in Psalms and Song of Solomon and in all three of the major prophets. He is depicted as an Arabian nation living in tents in the wilderness to the east, shepherding his flocks and trading with Tyre. Ishmael also died, not living to the same great age as his father or grandfather. He dwelt among his people who had spread across a wide area to the north of the Arabian Peninsula.