Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

THE NATION OF ISHMAEL, Part 1

This entry was posted on 03-03-2010 and is filed under STUDIES IN GENESIS.

When Abraham died, his sons Ishmael (by Hagar) and Isaac (by Sarah) buried him alongside Sarah in the cave of Macpelah (Gen. 25:9). This is perhaps the first time they had seen each other since Ishmael and his mother were sent packing by Sarah. There is no record of their conversation at the funeral, if indeed there was any. Remember that God had also promised Abraham that he would make a nation out of Ishmael (Gen. 21:13). Ishmael had 12 sons (just as Jacob/Israel would have 12 sons). Ishmael's sons are named in Genesis 25:13-14. Take special note of his second-born son, Kedar. The following is excerpted from my book The Biblical Roots of Islam, 5th printing, 2009).

Remember the chilling prophecy in Genesis 16? Ishmael would be: (1) a wild donkey of a man; (2) his hand will be against everyone; (3) everyone's hand will be against him; (4) he will live [in hostility] to the east of his brothers. Genesis 25:18 NASB contains the fulfillment: "And they settled from Havilah to Shur which is east of Egypt as one goes toward Assyria; he settled in defiance of all his relatives." Israel would bear the brunt of Ishmael for centuries.

Some believe that Muhammad descended from the tribe of Kedar, the second-born son of Ishmael (Davis Dictionary of the Bible).Ishmael was an archer and his descendants, the "mighty men" of the sons of Kedar, according to Isaiah 21:17, were archers. They are described in Psalm 120 as hating peace and wanting war. "Woe is me that I dwell in Meschech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! My soul had dwelt too long with one who hates peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war" (Psa. 120:5-7).

The desert-dwelling twelve tribes of Ishmael became known as the Ishmaelites (sometimes called Midianites, Gen. 37:25-28; Judges 8:5, 12, 22, 24). More on this tomorrow.