Commentary on Genesis chapter 16

Answer 1

Abram was married to Sarai who couldn't have children. She had a servant called Hagar and because Sarai was so desperate for children she told Abram to sleep with Hagar and if Hagar got pregnant, she would have the baby and then Abram and Sarai would raise it as their own. Abram agreed and Hagar got pregnant. Hagar began to hate Sarai and Sarai was upset and said that God should judge whether Sarai or Abram was right or wrong. Abram told her that Hagar was her servant and she should do what she wanted with her. Sarai was horrible to Hagar and Hagar ran away. While Hagar was running away, she saw an angel who aksed her what she was doing and she told the angel that she was running away from Sarai. The angel told her to go back to Sarai. The angel also told her to name the child Ishmael and that no-one would like him.

Answer 2

Much of the Book of Genesis is concerned with the ealry Hebrews trying to explain where they came from, why they were here and what their proper relationship should be with other peoples of the world. Genesis 16 is part of this, providing a biblical explanation of the origins of the Arabic people - the Ishmailites. The story sets out to make Ishmail a little less legitimate than the children of Sarai, and portrays them as properly supplicant to the Hebrews by virtue of Hagar being Sarai's maidservant.