Hagar's Story - 1

1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

2Sarai said to Abram, “See now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my handmaid. It may be that I will obtain children by her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

3Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.

4He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

5Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my handmaid into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Yahweh judge between me and you.”

6But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.

7Yahweh’s angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur.

8He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s handmaid, where did you come from? Where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.”

9Yahweh’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.”

10Yahweh’s angel said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, that they will not be numbered for multitude.”

11Yahweh’s angel said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction.

12He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposite all of his brothers.”

13She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?”

14Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

15Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.

16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless.

2I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”

3Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying,

4“As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations.

5Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

6I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you.

7I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you.

8I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God.”