The Bible narrates the origin of many powerful empires during the time of Israel. For example, Lot’s daughters became the origin of Moab and Oman. But perhaps one of the most powerful nations that has continued to exist until today with a different name originates from a man named Ismail, the founder of the Ismailis.
Ismail had a humble origin. Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel, was tired of God’s promise while waiting for a child from Sarah, his older wife. Therefore, he has sex with Hagar, Sarah’s maid (probably without her consent) and from this relationship, Ishmael is born.
Despite this, God also promises Ishmael that a great generation will be born from him. Today we want to know more about the Ismailis, their origins and their teachings.
Introduction:
Ismailis are one of the most important groups in the Bible that are mentioned in the texts of the Old Testament. They were the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham’s eldest son, through Hagar, the Creed. In this article, we are going to examine the life and role of the Ismailis in the Bible and examine some of the concepts and teachings that are extracted from their story.
The life and role of the Ismailis in the Bible:
Ishmael’s Life: Ishmael, Abraham’s son through Hagar, survives and establishes a large tribe of his descendants known as the Ishmaelites.
Relations with the Israelites: Frequently in the Bible, the relations of the Ishmaelites with the generation of Israel, i.e. the children of Isaac, are mentioned. These relations are sometimes positive and sometimes negative and show confrontations between two tribes.
Historical and cultural importance: Ismailis have played an important role in the history and culture of the Middle East region. The life and developments of this tribal group have had a profound impact on the culture and history of the region.
The fate of Ishmael in the Bible
Given that the Bible does not provide much information about the Ismailis, we cannot draw many conclusions from the lack of textual evidence.
However, examining the biography of the founder of this group is not without grace.
As mentioned earlier, Hagar, Sarah’s handmaiden, bore Abraham a son named Ishmael. Although Abraham loved Ishmael, years later, he had a miraculous son, Isaac, through Sarah. These two sons, who were from two different mothers, soon caused problems in the family.
Sarah gave birth to Isaac when Ishmael had reached the age of adolescence—known as adulthood in the patriarchal, Israeli society of the time.
A few years later, Ishmael insults Ishaq. Sarah takes this issue to heart and tells Ibrahim that he should throw Ismael and Hagar out of the house.
They flee to the desert and Hagar prepares herself for death due to heatstroke and hunger. In the previous chapter, Hagar met God when she was still pregnant. God told him that he sees him and understands his sufferings. He promised that Hagar would give birth to a son who would become the father of a great nation. He also told him that the Ismailis were a warlike people with many enemies.
Now that we return to the story of Ishmael and Hagar in the desert, God again promises Ishmael that he will make him the leader of a great nation. Ishmael becomes skilled in archery, and Hagar finds him a wife in Egypt (Genesis, chapter 21). Since Hagar was from Egypt, it is natural for her to choose a wife from her native land.
After Genesis 21, we don’t get much information about Ishmael. In the 25th chapter of Genesis, we read that after the death of Abraham, Ishmael joins together with Isaac to bury their father. We also know that Ishmael lived long after he was 100 years old and had many sons. As promised, his people became great and powerful.
Conclusion:
As one of the important groups in the Bible, the Ismailis have played an important role in the history and religious and cultural culture of the Middle East region. Their lives and roles show how interactions between this tribal group and other ethnic groups and tribes in the region have had great effects on historical and political currents. By paying close attention to the story of the Ismailis, one can gain the best understanding of religious and cultural concepts and principles related to them.
Today in the article : Who are the Ismailis in the Bible? We reviewed useful information about the Bible and the way of Jesus. If you wish, you can view other articles of Ali Vahidi about Christianity
