What was the relationship between Abraham and Ishmael?
Ishmael was Abraham’s first son. Abraham prayed to God for him, and God promised to bless him. Genesis 16:15-16; Genesis 17:18-20
What the Bible says
Genesis 17:18
And he said to God: O that Ismael may live before thee.
Genesis 17:20
And as for Ismael I have also heard thee. Behold, I will bless him, and increase, and multiply him exceedingly: he shall beget twelve chiefs, and I will make him a great nation.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Did you know?
When Sarah asked him to send Ishmael away, Abraham was greatly distressed, because Ishmael was his son. Genesis 21:11