Movatterモバイル変換

Numbers 10:12
And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.

Numbers 12:16
And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.

Numbers 13:3,26
And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those menwere heads of the children of Israel…

a wife.

Genesis 24:3,4
And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: …

Genesis 26:34,35
And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: …

Genesis 27:46
And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as thesewhich are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

his mother got a wife for him
In ancient Near Eastern culture, it was customary for parents to arrange marriages for their children. Hagar, Ishmael's mother, takes on this responsibility, indicating her continued role in his life and her concern for his future. This action also reflects the matriarchal influence in Ishmael's upbringing, as Hagar was an Egyptian and likely sought a wife who shared cultural and familial ties. The choice of a wife is crucial for establishing Ishmael's lineage and fulfilling God's promise of making him a great nation.

from the land of Egypt
Egypt holds significant historical and cultural importance in the biblical narrative. It was a place of refuge and sustenance, as seen in Abraham's earlier journey there during a famine (Genesis 12:10). For Hagar, an Egyptian by birth, returning to her homeland to find a wife for Ishmael suggests a connection to her roots and heritage. This choice may also imply a strategic alliance, as Egypt was a powerful nation. Theologically, Egypt often represents a place of both refuge and bondage, foreshadowing future events in Israel's history. The marriage alliance with Egypt could be seen as a way to ensure Ishmael's prosperity and survival, aligning with God's promise to bless him.

• The verse picks up with Ishmael’s life after God saved him and Hagar in the desert (Genesis 21:17-20).

• Scripture states, “God was with the boy as he grew; and he settled in the wilderness and became an archer” (Genesis 21:20). This shows that Ishmael’s new home was no accident but a divinely guided placement, fulfilling the promise that he would become “a great nation” (Genesis 17:20).

• Unlike Isaac, who remains near Abraham’s tents, Ishmael’s dwelling foreshadows a life lived on the margins—yet still under God’s providence (Psalm 139:7-10).

• Paran lies between Canaan and Egypt (Numbers 10:12;Deuteronomy 1:1). It is a harsh, expansive desert, emphasizing Ishmael’s identity as a rugged, independent man (Genesis 16:12).

• God often meets His people in wilderness settings—Moses at Horeb (Exodus 3:1), Israel’s forty-year journey (Deuteronomy 8:2), and Elijah’s renewal (1 Kings 19:4-8). Ishmael’s wilderness home signals that isolation need not equal abandonment; God’s presence reaches there, too.

• Paran later becomes a launching point for Israel’s exploration of Canaan (Numbers 13:3), linking Ishmael’s territory to the unfolding story of redemption.

• Hagar takes the initiative, just as Abraham arranges a bride for Isaac (Genesis 24:3-4) and later Isaac directs Jacob (Genesis 28:1-2). Parental involvement in marriage honored God-given authority and safeguarded covenant values.

• The move underscores Hagar’s continued care and God-given responsibility toward her son, echoing the earlier angelic instruction, “Lift up the boy and take him by the hand” (Genesis 21:18).

• Though Ishmael is now a capable archer, family influence still shapes his future, reminding us that individual freedom and parental guidance can work together under God’s design (Ephesians 6:1-3).

• Hagar herself is Egyptian (Genesis 16:1), so returning to her homeland for a wife keeps Ishmael connected to his maternal heritage.

• Marrying an Egyptian distinguishes Ishmael from Isaac, whose bride comes from Abraham’s kin in Mesopotamia (Genesis 24:4). This divergence affirms two separate lines: the covenant line through Isaac (Galatians 4:28) and the non-covenant but still God-blessed line through Ishmael (Genesis 17:20).

• Egypt often symbolizes worldly strength (Isaiah 31:1), yet God still works within that context to fulfill His promise that Ishmael would father twelve princes (Genesis 25:13-16). His mixed background anticipates God’s later inclusion of all nations through Christ (Revelation 7:9), even while maintaining the unique covenant with Israel.

Genesis 21:21 records three simple facts—where Ishmael lived, who secured his marriage, and where his wife came from—but each detail reveals God’s ongoing faithfulness. In the wild expanse of Paran, Ishmael grows under divine care. Through Hagar’s active role, God provides a wife, anchoring Ishmael’s future. By drawing from Egypt, the Lord keeps His promise to bless Hagar’s son while distinguishing Ishmael’s line from Isaac’s covenant line. The verse testifies that even outside the promised land and covenant family, God remains present, guiding lives and fulfilling every word He has spoken.

Parallel Commentaries ...