Abram marrieth Agar, who bringeth forth Ismael.
16:1. Now Sarai, the wife of Abram, had brought forth no children: but
having a handmaid, an Egyptian, named Agar,
16:2. She said to her husband: Behold, the Lord hath restrained me from
bearing: go in unto my handmaid, it may be I may have children of her
at least. And when he agreed to her request,
16:3. She took Agar the Egyptian her handmaid, ten years after they
first dwelt in the land of Chanaan, and gave her to her husband to
wife.
To wife. . .Plurality of wives, though contrary to the primitive
institution of marriage, Gen. 2.24, was by divine dispensation allowed
to the patriarchs: which allowance seems to have continued during the
time of the law of Moses. But Christ our Lord reduced marriage to its
primitive institution. Matt. 19.
16:4. And he went in to her. But she perceiving that she was with
child, despised her mistress.
16:5. And Sarai said to Abram: Thou dost unjustly with me: I gave my
handmaid into thy bosom, and she perceiving herself to be with child,
despiseth me. The Lord judge between me and thee.
16:6. And Abram made answer, and said to her: Behold thy handmaid is in
thy own hand, use her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai afflicted
her, she ran away.
16:7. And the angel of the Lord having found her, by a fountain of
water in the wilderness, which is in the way to Sur in the desert,
16:8. He said to her: Agar, handmaid of Sarai, whence comest thou? and
whither goest thou? And she answered: I flee from the face of Sarai, my
mistress.
16:9. And the angel of the Lord said to her: Return to thy mistress,
and humble thyself under her hand.
16:10. And again he said: I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, and it
shall not be numbered for multitude.
16:11. And again: Behold, said he, thou art with child, and thou shalt
bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Ismael, because the
Lord hath heard thy affliction.
16:12. He shall be a wild man: his hand will be against all men, and
all men's hands against him: and he shall pitch his tents over against
all his brethren.
16:13. And she called the name of the Lord that spoke unto her: Thou
the God who hast seen me. For she said: Verily, here have I seen the
hinder parts of him that seeth me.
16:14. Therefore she called that well, the well of him that liveth and
seeth me. The same is between Cades and Barad.
16:15. And Agar brought forth a son to Abram: who called his name
Ismael.
16:16. Abram was four score and six years old when Agar brought him
forth Ismael.