Son of Abraham and Hagar the Egyptian (Gen. 16: 11-16; Gen. 17: 18-26). He was the child “born after the flesh” (Gal. 4: 23) and not the child “by promise,” and was sent from home on the birth of Isaac (Gen. 21: 8-21; see also Gen. 25: 9-17; Gen. 28: 9; Gen. 36: 3). His descendants, the Ishmaelites, appear to have been a wandering race (Gen. 16: 12), living by plunder, having commercial relations and intermarrying with the heathen nations of Canaan (Gen. 37: 25-28; Gen. 39: 1; Judg. 8: 24; Ps. 83: 6; see also Gal. 4: 21 - 5: 1).