Isaac is born – Genesis, chapter 21

Agar and Ismael are cast forth.

[1] And the Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled what he had spoken. [2] And she conceived and bore a son in her old age, at the time that God had foretold her. [3] And Abraham called the name of his son, whom Sara bore him, Isaac. [4] And he circumcised him the eighth day, as God had commanded him, [5] When he was a hundred years old: for at this age of his father was Isaac born.

[6] And Sara said: God hath made a laughter for me: whosoever shall hear of it will laugh with me. [7] And again she said: Who would believe that Abraham should hear that Sara gave suck to a son, whom she bore to him in his old age. [8] And the child grew and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast on the day of his weaning. [9] And when Sara had seen the son of Agar the Egyptian playing with Isaac her son, she said to Abraham: [10] Cast out this bondwoman, and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.

[11] Abraham took this grievously for his son. [12] And God said to him: Let it not seem grievous to thee for the boy, and for thy bondwoman: in all that Sara hath said to thee, hearken to her voice: for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. [13] But I will make the son also of the bondwoman a great nation, because he is thy seed. [14] So Abraham rose up in the morning, and taking bread and a bottle of water, put it upon her shoulder, and delivered the boy, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Bersabee. [15] And when the water in the bottle was spent, she cast the boy under one of the trees that were there.

[16] And she went her way, and sat over against him a great way off as far as a bow can carry, for she said: I will not see the boy die: and sitting over against, she lifted up her voice and wept. [17] And God heard the voice of the boy: and an angel of God called to Agar from heaven, saying: What art thou doing, Agar? fear not: for God hath heard the voice of the boy, from the place wherein he is. [18] Arise, take up the boy, and hold him by the hand: for I will make him a great nation. [19] And God opened her eyes: and she saw a well of water, and went and filled the bottle, and gave the boy to drink. [20] And God was with him: and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became a young man, an archer.

[21] And he dwelt in the wilderness of Pharan, and his mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt. [22] At the same time Abimelech, and Phicol the general of his army said to Abraham: God is with thee in all that thou dost. [23] Swear therefore by God, that thou wilt not hurt me, nor my posterity, nor my stock: but according to the kindness that I have done to thee, thou shalt do to me, and to the land wherein thou hast lived a stranger. [24] And Abraham said: I will swear. [25] And he reproved Abimelech for a well of water, which his servants had taken away by force.

[26] And Abimelech answered: I knew not who did this thing: and thou didst not tell me, and I heard not of it till today. [27] And Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech: and both of them made a league. [28] And Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs of the flock. [29] And Abimelech said to him: What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set apart? [30] But he said: Thou shalt take seven ewe lambs at my hand: that they may be a testimony for me, that I dug this well.

[31] Therefore that place was called Bersabee: because there both of them did swear. [32] And they made a league for the well of oath. [33] And Abimelech, and Phicol the general of his army arose and returned to the land of the Palestines. But Abraham planted a grove in Bersabee, and there called upon the name of the Lord God eternal. [34] And he was a sojourner in the land of the Palestines many days.

Commentary

[3] “Isaac”: This word signifies laughter.

[31] “Bersabee”: That is, the well of oath.