The Birth of Isaac
Genesis 21, verse 1. Now the Lord visited Sarah as He said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. Genesis 21, verse 2. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in old age, at the set time, of which God had spoken to him. Genesis 21, verse 3. So Abraham called the name of his son born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac. Genesis 21, verse 4. Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God commanded him. Genesis 21, verse 5. Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Genesis 21, verse 6. And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh; all who hear will laugh with me.” Genesis 21, verse 7. She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne a child in my old age.”
Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away
Genesis 21, verse 8. So the child grew and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the same day Isaac was weaned. Genesis 21, verse 9. Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, who was born to Abraham, playing with Isaac her son. Genesis 21, verse 10. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this maidservant and her son, for the son of this maidservant shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” Genesis 21, verse 11. And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight because of his son. Genesis 21, verse 12. But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of your son and your maidservant. Whatever Sarah said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Genesis 21, verse 13. Yet I will also make a great nation of the son of your maidservant, because he is your seed.” Genesis 21, verse 14. So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the wilderness, near the Well of Oath. Genesis 21, verse 15. When the water in the skin was used up, she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. Genesis 21, verse 16. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. Genesis 21, verse 17. But God heard the voice of the lad from the place where he was. Then the Angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Genesis 21, verse 18. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.” Genesis 21, verse 19. Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. Genesis 21, verse 20. Thus God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the desert, and became an archer. Genesis 21, verse 21. He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Abraham's Agreement with Abimelech
Genesis 21, verse 22. Now it came to pass at that time that Abimelech, and his friend Ochozath, and Phichol, the commander-in-chief of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all you do. Genesis 21, verse 23. Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, or with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the righteousness I did to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.” Genesis 21, verse 24. So Abraham said, “I swear.” Genesis 21, verse 25. Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water Abimelech's servants had seized. Genesis 21, verse 26. Abimelech replied, “I do not know who did this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today.” Genesis 21, verse 27. So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. Genesis 21, verse 28. Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Genesis 21, verse 29. Thus Abimelech asked Abraham, “Why have you placed these seven ewe lambs by themselves?” Genesis 21, verse 30. He replied, “You must take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, to witness that I dug this well.” Genesis 21, verse 31. Therefore he called that place, the Well of Oath, because the two of them swore an oath there. Genesis 21, verse 32. Thus they made a covenant at the Well of Oath. So Abimelech rose with Ochozath his friend and Phichol, the commander-in-chief of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines. Genesis 21, verse 33. Then Abraham planted a field at the Well of Oath, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the eternal God. Genesis 21, verse 34. So Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days.