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The dismissal of Ishmael


Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born. Sara said: « God made laughter of me and anyone that will hear will laugh with me. » And she said: « Who would have told Abraham that Sara would nurse infants, that she would give him a son in his old age! » The child grew and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned. And Sara saw the son of Hagar, the Egyptian, whom she had born to Abraham, mocking and she said to Abraham: « Dismiss this maidservant and her son for the son of this servant will not have an inheritance with my son. » And in Abraham’ s eyes, this was very grievous because of his son. But God said to Abraham: « Do not be distressed because of your son and your maidservant. Heed all that Sara says to you for Isaac will perpetuate your posterity. But I will also make a nation of the son of your maidservant for he is your seed. » Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a bottle of water and gave it to Hagar, placing it on her shoulder and sent her away with her child.

Genesis 21: 5 - 14


Later, in that same region, Abraham will seek a cave to bury Sara. He chooses the cave, which is the legendary burial site of Adam and Eve. The Biblical text recalls the acquisition of the cave as follows:




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