Genesis 25:8-17

25:8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man who had lived a full life. ¹  He joined his ancestors. ²  25:9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah ³  near Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar, the Hethite. 25:10 This was the field Abraham had purchased from the sons of Heth. ⁴  There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 25:11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed ⁵  his son Isaac. Isaac lived near Beer Lahai Roi. ⁶ 

The Sons of Ishmael

25:12 This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, ⁷  whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham.

25:13 These are the names of Ishmael’s sons, by their names according to their records: ⁸  Nebaioth (Ishmael’s firstborn), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 25:14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 25:15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 25:16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names by their settlements and their camps – twelve princes ⁹  according to their clans.

25:17 Ishmael lived a total of ¹⁰  137 years. He breathed his last and died; then he joined his ancestors. ¹¹ 

¹ tn Heb “old and full.”

² tn Heb “And he was gathered to his people.” In the ancient Israelite view he joined his deceased ancestors in Sheol, the land of the dead.

³ sn The cave of Machpelah was the place Abraham had purchased as a burial place for his wife Sarah (Gen 23:17-18).

⁴ tn See the note on the phrase “sons of Heth” in Gen 23:3.

⁵ sn God blessed Isaac. The Hebrew verb “bless” in this passage must include all the gifts that God granted to Isaac. But fertility was not one of them, at least not for twenty years, because Rebekah was barren as well (see v. 21).

⁶ sn Beer Lahai Roi. See the note on this place name in Gen 24:62.

⁷ sn This is the account of Ishmael. The Book of Genesis tends to tidy up the family records at every turning point. Here, before proceeding with the story of Isaac’s family, the narrative traces Ishmael’s family line. Later, before discussing Jacob’s family, the narrative traces Esau’s family line (see Gen 36).

⁸ tn The meaning of this line is not easily understood. The sons of Ishmael are listed here “by their names” and “according to their descendants.”

⁹ tn Or “tribal chieftains.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “And these are the days of the years of Ishmael.”

¹¹ tn Heb “And he was gathered to his people.” In the ancient Israelite view he joined his deceased ancestors in Sheol, the land of the dead.