Because The LORD Had Heard Your Affliction
According to the Gospel of King James version, Ishmael's mother was an Egyptian who was told by an angel to name her son, also an Abraham's son, Ishmael:
Gen 16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Gen 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
Gen 16:3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
Gen 16:4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
Gen 16:5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
Gen 16:6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thine hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
Gen 16:7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
Gen 16:8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
Gen 16:9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
Gen 16:10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
Gen 16:11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
Gen 16:12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
Gen 16:13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
Gen 16:14 Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
Gen 16:15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
Gen 16:16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
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Interestingly, the angel said, "And he [Ishmael] will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."
It is interesting that a wife and a man of a nomad tribe could have a handmaid who was an Egyptian, that is, very civilized people with tradition of the Egyptian Civilization.
Abraham and Sarai must have more authentic family lineage that could compete with Egyptians.
Or from the beginning, would nomads respect any family lineage that involves traditions of any agricultural tribe?
Abraham and Sarai must have a kind of linkage with the Mesopotamian Civilization.
Indeed, their family had left Mesopotamia just after the last kingdom of Sumerians collapsed.
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GENESIS-16 and GENESIS-32 both include very human, holy, and fatal reports, so vividly and trustfully as so honestly.
They are neatly and holily compiled. I like both the Chapters very much.
(Last night in Japan, the History Channel presented a taped conversation between Richard Nixon and Mr. Henry Kissinger in the White House. The then President said, "...Dixon said...," referring to Jeane Dixon.
[http://www.goodbyemag.com/jan97/dixon.html]
But, holiness is more important than any prophecy or miracle. Good examples of prophets are still Jonah, Daniel, and Jesus Christ.
Or, Herman Melville, in addition to EE(E) Reporter? Put simply, please do not make a sale of such an ability, even if truly divine, at the White House.)
"HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD LIVES FOREVER"