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Ishmael's Descendants and the Origins of Islam

Ishmael, whose name means "God hears," was the firstborn son of Abraham, born to Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian handmaid, when Abraham was eighty-six years old [1, 4]. His birth occurred in Abraham's household while they resided in the plain of Mamre [1]. Ishmael was circumcised at the age of thirteen, at the same time the covenant of circumcision was instituted, and God renewed His promise concerning him [1].

The biblical narrative records Ishmael's generations, noting that Hagar bore him to Abraham [8]. He is identified as Abraham's son alongside Isaac in 1 Chronicles 1:28 [5]. Ishmael grew up with a "wild and wayward" spirit, characteristic of a child of the desert [4]. This nature became evident during the weaning of Isaac, when Ishmael's expressions of insult and mockery led Sarah to demand his expulsion along with Hagar [4]. Abraham, influenced by a divine admonition, subsequently sent them away [4].

Ishmael's descendants are known as Ishmaelites [3, 7]. They were divided into twelve tribes, each named after one of Ishmael's sons [2, 11]. These sons, listed in Genesis 25:13-15 and 1 Chronicles 1:29-31, include Nebaioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah [2, 6]. Adbeel, for instance, is identified as a son of Ishmael and likely the progenitor of an Arab tribe [6].

The Ishmaelites are also referred to as Hagarites or Hagarenes, a direct reference to Ishmael's mother, Hagar [2]. They are further identified with the Arabians [2]. The northern desert of Arabia, including the entire neck of the peninsula, was colonized by these tribes [12]. Commentators like Jamieson, Fausset & Brown suggest that modern Arab tribes bearing names corresponding to Ishmael's sons provide evidence of this historical connection [12].

The promises concerning Ishmael, as recorded in Genesis, included the greatness and independence of his posterity [13]. God had promised Abraham that Ishmael would be fruitful, multiply greatly, and become the father of twelve princes, forming a great nation [11]. Adam Clarke notes that from Ishmael proceeded the various tribes of the Arabs, also known as Saracens by Christian writers, who have historically been a numerous and powerful people [11]. Bishop Newton, cited by Clarke, remarked on the "somewhat wonderful" consistency of Ishmael's descendants in retaining similar inclinations, habits, and customs throughout ages, comparing them in this regard to the Jews [11].

The original possessions of the Ishmaelites are described in Genesis 25:18 [2]. They were governed by kings, as mentioned in Jeremiah 25:24, and typically dwelt in tents [2]. Their economy was characterized by wealth in cattle and the use of gold ornaments [2]. They were prominent merchants of the East, traveling in large companies or caravans, as seen in the account of Joseph being sold to Ishmaelite traders [2]. However, they were also known to waylay and plunder travelers [2].

The connection between Ishmael's descendants and the origins of Islam is a subject of historical and theological discussion. While the biblical texts identify Ishmael as the progenitor of various Arab tribes, they do not directly mention Islam. However, Islamic tradition traces its lineage through Ishmael. Josephus, the ancient Jewish historian, also connected Ishmael to the Arabians, referring to "the Arabians, who were his posterity" [9].

It is important to distinguish between the biblical accounts of Ishmael and later Islamic traditions. The Bible describes Ishmael as a significant figure in Abraham's family line and the ancestor of numerous peoples in the Arabian peninsula [1, 2, 4]. The fulfillment of God's promises regarding Ishmael's numerous descendants and their independent nature is noted by biblical commentators [13]. The Ishmaelites and Midianites, both descendants of Abraham, are sometimes mentioned together in biblical contexts [10].

The biblical record primarily focuses on Ishmael's role within the patriarchal narratives and the establishment of his descendants as distinct peoples. The genealogies in 1 Chronicles, for instance, meticulously list the sons of Abraham, including Ishmael and his posterity, before moving on to Isaac and his lineage [14, 15]. This demonstrates the biblical recognition of Ishmael's significant place in the broader family tree originating from Abraham.

The concept of Ishmael's descendants forming the basis for later Arab nations is consistently presented in biblical scholarship. The "twelve princes" promised to Ishmael are understood as the heads of the twelve tribes that populated the Arabian desert [11, 12]. This historical and genealogical framework, rooted in the Old Testament, provides the backdrop for understanding the later emergence of Arab peoples and, subsequently, the historical context in which Islam arose. The biblical texts themselves, however, do not explicitly link Ishmael's descendants to the religion of Islam, which developed much later in history.

Sources

  1. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Ishmael — (whom God hears). + The son of Abraham by Hagar the Egyptian his concubine; born when Abraham was fourscore and six years old. (Genesis 16:15,16) (B.C. 1910.) Ishmael was the first-born of his father. He was born in Abraham's house when he dwelt in the plain of Mamre; and on the institution of the covenant of circumcision, was circumcised, he being then thirteen years old (Genesis 17:26) With the institution of the covenant, God renewed his promise respecting Ishmael. He does not again appear in the narrative until the weaning of Isaac. At the great feast ma”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ishmaelites, The — Descended from Abraham's son, Ishmael -- Ge 16:15,16; 1Ch 1:28. Divided into twelve tribes -- Ge 25:16. Heads of tribes -- Ge 25:13-15; 1Ch 1:29-31. Called Hagarites. -- 1Ch 5:10. Hagarenes. -- Ps 83:6. Arabians. -- Isa 13:20. Original possessions of -- Ge 25:18. Governed by kings -- Jer 25:24. Dwelt in tents -- Isa 13:20. Rich in cattle -- 1Ch 5:21. Wore ornaments of gold -- Jdj 8:24. Were the merchants of the east -- Ge 37:25; Eze 27:20,21. Travelled in large companies or caravans -- Ge 37:25; Job 6:19. Waylaid and plundered travellers -- Jer 3:2”
  3. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Ishmaelite — (decendant of Ishmael). [[648]Ishmael]”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ishmael — God hears. (1.) Abraham's eldest son, by Hagar the concubine (Gen. 16:15; 17:23). He was born at Mamre, when Abraham was eighty-six years of age, eleven years after his arrival in Canaan (16:3; 21:5). At the age of thirteen he was circumcised (17:25). He grew up a true child of the desert, wild and wayward. On the occasion of the weaning of Isaac his rude and wayward spirit broke out in expressions of insult and mockery (21:9, 10); and Sarah, discovering this, said to Abraham, "Expel this slave and her son." Influenced by a divine admonition, Abraham dismis”
  5. I Chronicles “I Chronicles 1:28 (YLT) — Sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.”
  6. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Adbeel — (offspring of God), a son of Ishmael, (Genesis 25:13; 1 Chronicles 1:29) and probably the progenitor of an Arab tribe. (B.C. about 1850.)”
  7. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Ishmeelite — (1 Chronicles 2:17) and Ish'me-elites (descendants of Ishmael), (Genesis 37:25,27,28; 39:1) the form in which the descendants of Ishmael are given in a few places in the Authorized Version.”
  8. Genesis “Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bore to Abraham. -- Genesis 25:12”
  9. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 12, section 1: . Concerning Abimelech; And Concerning Ismael The Son Of Abraham; And Concerning The Arabians, Who Were His Posterity.”
  10. Jude (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jude 8:24: 8:24 Ishmaelites and Midianites were both descendants of Abraham (Gen 16:15; 25:2).”
  11. Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 17:20: Twelve princes shall he beget, etc. - See the names of these twelve princes, Gen 25:12-16. From Ishmael proceeded the various tribes of the Arabs, called also Saracens by Christian writers. They were anciently, and still continue to be, a very numerous and powerful people. "It was somewhat wonderful, and not to be foreseen by human sagacity," says Bishop Newton, "that a man's whole posterity should so nearly resemble him, and retain the same inclinations, the same habits, and the same customs, throughout all ages! These are the only people besides the Jews who hav”
  12. 1 Chronicles (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Chronicles 1:29: SONS OF ISHMAEL. (Ch1 1:29-31) These are their generations--the heads of his twelve tribes. The great northern desert of Arabia, including the entire neck, was colonized by these tribes; and if we can recover, in the modern geography of this part of the country, Arab tribes bearing the names of those patriarchs, that is, names corresponding with those preserved in the original catalogue of Scripture, we obtain at once so many evidences, not of mere similarity, but of absolute identification [FORSTER]. Nebaioth--gave rise to the NabathÃ&brvbran”
  13. Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 25:18: DESCENDANTS OF ISHMAEL. Before passing to the line of the promised seed, the historian gives a brief notice of Ishmael, to show that the promises respecting that son of Abraham were fulfilled--first, in the greatness of his posterity (compare Gen 17:20); and, secondly, in their independence. (Gen 25:12-18) he died--rather, "it [their lot] fell" in the presence of his brethren (compare Gen 16:12).”
  14. 1 Chronicles (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Chronicles 1:28: The sons of Abraham,.... The famous and well known ancestor of the Jews; of Ishmael his firstborn, and his posterity; of his sons by Keturah; and of Isaac and his sons, an account is given from hence to the end of Ch1 1:34 entirely agreeing with that in Gen 25:1. . 1 Chronicles 1:35 ch1 1:35 ch1 1:35 ch1 1:35The sons of Esau,.... The firstborn of Isaac; his posterity are named in this and the two following verses, as in Gen 36:1 only it should be observed, that Timna, Ch1 1:36 is not the name of a man, but was the concubine of Eliphaz, the eldest son o”
  15. 1 Chronicles (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Chronicles 1:28: The sons of Abraham,.... The famous and well known ancestor of the Jews; of Ishmael his firstborn, and his posterity; of his sons by Keturah; and of Isaac and his sons, an account is given from hence to the end of Ch1 1:34 entirely agreeing with that in Gen 25:1. . 1 Chronicles 1:35 ch1 1:35 ch1 1:35 ch1 1:35The sons of Esau,.... The firstborn of Isaac; his posterity are named in this and the two following verses, as in Gen 36:1 only it should be observed, that Timna, Ch1 1:36 is not the name of a man, but was the concubine of Eliphaz, the eldest son of Esau,”
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