We can figure out that Ishmael was born because Abraham and Sarah did not trust God to fulfil his promise that their descendants would be from both of them. Abram's name means "Exalted Father", which may have proven to be an embarrassment as he aged without children. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Note here that in Gen. 12:2 it is only one great nation, whereas in Gen 17.4-5 God talks about multitude of nations. Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Christianity Stack Exchange offers great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you. God's response to Abraham was clarity ( "No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son" ). Many of the story about Sarah (originally named Sarai) in Genesis are about her role as both Abrahams wife and also perhaps a biological family member; ultimately her ancestry is unclear. , Luke 1:7,18,36 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years, Romans 4:18-21 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. It certainly enriched Abraham, who was given bride wealth for a sister, something that he would never have received as a husband. And the sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan. While the Bible doesnt explicitly give guidelines when dating with an age difference, there are a few things you should consider: Before you begin a relationship with someone who is much older or younger than you, its important to make a careful assessment of your motivations. Trible, Phyllis. So in light of all that, Abraham says, Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? "She that strives," a contentious person, is a name that might be given to a child at birth (compare Hosea 12:3,4, of Jacob), or later when the child's character developed; in Genesis 16:6 and 21:10 a contentious character appears. 31 December 1999. Issac would go on to become a crucial character in the biblical narrative, fathering Jacob the eventual Patriarchof the Israelites. They both had disbelief. Some have alleged that there is a contradiction here because even Abrahams own father, Terah, was 130 when Abram/Abraham was born.1 And another ancestor recorded in Genesis 11 (Shem) had his first son at 100 years of age. Sarah or Sarai Sarah was the wife and half-sister or niece of Abraham. Abraham, at 175, died in a good old age but did not live to be as old as his forefathers and ironically did not live to be as old as his son Isaac (Genesis 35:28). At this time he was 75 years old and God tells him that his descendent would be numerous (Gen.13:16). @jayyeshu No, I wouldn't say it is reserved to just Jews and Christians. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. Why does God ask Abraham to walk blameless? What are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak? Because of her beauty, Abraham introduced her as his sister and let her pretend to be so to protect himself from being murdered by the king of the land so the king could have Sarah to wife. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. . During her 127-year life, she is enslaved in Egypt, foreshadowing Israel's later bondage, and is ultimately released after God sends plagues. "Sarah." Was Galileo expecting to see so many stars? This is not the truth, Your email address will not be published. In Genesis 17:1516, God had specifically promised that Sarah would bear Abraham a son. On this account, she would have been perhaps 90 or 91 when Isaac was born.. of Chronological Interpretation Variants in the Book of Genesis Bible textual variants analysed Introduction: The theological variant interpretation about the age of Terah when Abraham was born makes a 60 year difference in the age of the earth. Although the wife-sister stories are difficult to understand, the fact that Sarah becomes a slave in Pharaohs house serves to foreshadow Israels later bondage in Egypt. Sarah died at aged 127 (Genesis 23:1-2). So the next day, Hagar and Ishmael were sent away. When God repeated His promise once again Isaac was 40 when he married Rebekah (Genesis 25:20). Schneider. On these views the student will do well to consult Baethgen, Beitrage, 94, 157, and, for the most recent point of view, Gressmann's article, "Sage und Geschichte in den Patriarchenerzahlungen," ZATW, 1910, and Eerdmans, Alttestamentliche Studien, II, 13. Frymer-Kensky, Tikva. Some who date only much older people may be seeking a parental figure more than a romantic partner. Sarahs ancestry is not clear. As an example, consider that the average age of menopause in US women is 51 years4 and the average lifespan is 81 years.5 Taking that maximum fertility percentage of 62.9% of life and extrapolating it to Sarahs 127 years, we get a maximum age for fertility of 80 years old. Lifespans and fertility were decreasing. Here he remained the sole and rightful heir, until the miracle of Isaac's birth disappointed all human expectations and resulted in the ultimate expulsion of Hagar and her son. But even if she hadnt yet (in Genesis 17), within the next few months she definitely had, as Genesis 18:11 makes clear. . Another side note, people often say things about laughing outwardly and inwardly shows their heart. Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Thus, Abrahams solution seems bizarre; he asks Sarah to say that she is his sister. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida and Eldaah" That appears to be all we know from Scripture. The narrative of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis revolves around the themes of descendants and land promised by God. Should I include the MIT licence of a library which I use from a CDN? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child? (Genesis 17:17). Though 14 years separated the two births, they are closely associated in the story because of their logical continuity. Then they will kill me but will let you live. Because there was a harsh famine in the land of Canaan, Abraham and Sarah traveled south to Egypt. This produced stress between Sarah and Hagar, as Sarah protested to her husband that the handmaid no longer regarded her as an authority. Thus, Abraham, whom God had chosen to be the recipient of a new covenant through which God would reveal Himself to the world, was called to holy living prior to God's fulfillment of the promise. In a purely secular sense, it seems strange that Terah would name his own son 'Exalted Father' (Abram) but some scholars see a pre-biblical explanation that, being pre-biblical, is probably outside the scope of this question. Clearly one of the authors of Genesis wanted to regularise the text, so inserted a plausible explanation for the changeover. Hagar fled from her mistress but returned after angels came to her. What is the significance of changing their names? That is, according to contemporary law and custom as witnessed by the Code of Hammurabi (see ABRAHAM, iv, 2), a son born of this woman would be the freeborn son and heir of Abraham and Sarah. You're almost done! How to react to a students panic attack in an oral exam? Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age. Was it because he wasnt leading them in belief? That in spite of her outbreak about Hagar and Ishmael she was in general "in subjection to her husband" and of "a meek and quiet spirit," appears from her husband's genuine grief at her decease, and still more clearly from her son's prolonged mourning for her (Genesis 24:67; compare Genesis 17:17; 23:1 with Genesis 25:20). In that case who are todays descendents of Keturah? They would still take her, but they would not kill Abraham, who would thus share a wife and save a life. The ruse might have some advantage for Sarah, for a brother was somewhat of a protector, whereas a widow had no protection of any kind. And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child? By this time Abraham and Sarah have now potentially been married over 70 years and still had produced no children. Sarah died at age 127 and was thought to be buried in Kiryat Arba, presently located in Hebron. Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. rev2023.3.1.43269. It was a constant in his life; whereas, Sarah's interaction with the Lord of Hosts are very limited. One of the guests told Abraham that upon his arrival next year, Sarah would have a son. According to Sefer ha Yashar, an ancient midrash that has the backstory on many of the Torah narratives, Terah father of Abram had been appointed by Nimrod as a "prince". is used just because I'm not sure if it's real anger. But Abrahams father, Terah, and son, Isaac, were the two outliers in an otherwise steady decline from Eber to Joseph with few exceptions for the rest of Old Testament history. Abraham. Sarah was definitely barren. It is interesting that Abram receives a call to walk righteously. We know that Abram and Sarai (as they were then called, but hereafter called Abraham and Sarah in this article) had been married for several years and had no children. Whos Afraid of the Endangered Ancestress? InThe New Literary Criticism and the Hebrew Bible,edited by J. Cheryl Exum and David J. By the time of Genesis 17, he was 99 and had to be wondering if he would be more fertile than Shem. (This last form in Greek preserves the ancient doubling of the r, lost in the Hebrew and the English forms.) Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Why was the nose gear of Concorde located so far aft? But the divine promise is not to be thwarted, even by persistent human weakness and sin. Does Cast a Spell make you a spellcaster? As stated, Abram means 'Noble Father', or perhaps better, 'Exalted Father', while Abraham means 'Father of Many'. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Bible Charts and Maps, PO Box 171053, Austin, TX 78717 For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Compiled & Edited by BST & Crosswalk Staff, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). Sarah lived to be 127 years old. What are the differences between online education and traditional education? Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008, 19-40. Who are the many nations that Abraham was called by God, 'the father' of? Thereafter there is no record in the Bible concerning the 13 years of Abrams life following the birth of Ishmael. For example, if you are 30 years of age, calculate (30 - 7) * 2 = 23 * 2 = 46 years or an age . Abraham buried Sarah in the cave in Machpelah. However, Hagars child Ishmael is never considered part of Sarahs domain; Abraham has all the authority in the family, and he, rather than Sarah, names Ishmael (compare the stories ofRachelandLeah, who do name the offspring of their surrogatesBilhahandZilpah). The Alternative - Dr. Tony Evans, Abraham and Sarah, A Lesson in Respect The only warning regarding age in marriage is to avoid marrying someone young for lustful purposes, and avoid marrying someone older for money. Since Babel, mutation and genetic drift had begun to affect people in the smaller populations that had migrated away based on newly acquired languages. In later biblical Hebrew, Sarah became the word for 'Princess'. Address will not be published and inwardly shows their heart say it is only one great,. A romantic partner by God, 'the Father ' of Genesis 17:1516, God had specifically promised that would! And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old Overflow the company and... 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