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Genesis 21:13

And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation,.... A great nation, as is promised, Genesis 17:20; and such the Ishmaelites and Saracens have been, and the Turks now are, the descendants of Ishmael. The Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it, a people of thieves, or a thieving people; as were the Saracens, and who are thought to have that name from the Arabic word "sarac" {y}, to thieve; though they would have it derived from Sarah: but it is not agreeable to the promise of God to Abraham, that when for his comfort he is told that his son Ishmael and his descendants should become a great nation, that they should be described as a company of thieves and robbers; and especially when the reason of the promise is given,

because he is thy seed; or thy son; here the word "seed" is again used of a single individual; see Genesis 4:25.


{y} "furatus fuit, furto abstulit", Golius, col. 1167. Castel. col. 2626.

 

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