Why do people think that Ishmael was an illegitimate son?

Question

Seperation? Or was a more a means of unity? :)

It didn't say he was or was not, and did it make a differance that is the Question. Does it make a differance that you state Jesus was the son, or did the message mean more than the fact that he was a daughter or son of anything other than Mary! My goodness!

That is what christians and jews claim but the truth is this : The Bible states: How could a great prophet like Abraham have an illegal wife and a son out of wedlock? Genesis 16:3 "...and (Sarah) gave her (Hager) to her husband Abram to be his wife" HMMM wonder what that means?

If the marriage was not legal, how could their offspring be illegal then! Is a marriage between two foreigners, a Chaldean and an Egyptian, not more legal than a marriage between a man with ha daughter of his father? Whether it was a lie of Abraham or not, its stated Genesis 20:12 "And yet indeed she (Sarah) is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. Are you sure now of what your saying?

Answer 1

They just don't know their Bible. We cannot judge it based on modern day laws. I'm certain you know that Gen. 16:1-6 says that Sarai, because she could bear no children, 'took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife." Hagar bore his first son Ishmael. Hagar's downfall was that she was arrogant/despised Sarai. Sarai confronted the situation and asked that the Lord judge between the two and Abram gave her permission to do as she pleased regarding Hagar. Remember the angel told Hagar to return and submit to Sarai. Great thing that Hagar did and Ishmael was granted inheritance. Adultery and iIlegitimacy did not come into effect until the 10 commandments were given - Exodus 20:1-17. Most likely you know the rest of the story/history of establishing them. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Because, technically and Biblically, he was; his father was Abraham, who was married to Sarah, and his mother was Hagar, Sarah's servant. (See Genesis 16:1-4. By the way, in this passage, Sarah - Sarai at the time - and Abraham - Abram at this time - were doubting that God would fulfill His promise of giving them a son through Sarah. They tried to "help God along", but in the end, God was faithful to do exactly what He said He was going to do. They just had to be patient.)
God bless you!

Answer 3

Christians are not that bright when it comes to the Tanakh (old testament). Anyways in Judaism there is no concept of a child being illegitimate.

The only thing that can really put a mark on a child is if it was born from incest or if the married mother got pregnant from a man who is not her husband. These people are called mamzars and can only marry each other.

I should add that Mamzars can only be Jews, so if a non Jew was born from incest or from a cheating wife, he or she is not a manzar, even if he or she later converts to Judaism.

Edit Genesis 22:2 says "take your son, your favored one" Not ONLY son. This is what I'm talking about with Christians having no clue about the Old Testament. Read a Jewish translation of the Tanakh, not a corrupt Christian one.

Answer 4

Illegitimate is the WRONG word to use when referring to Ishmael ........ I do not think that word discribed out of wed lock children back then..... and besides, the story realy has nothing to do with illegitimate or not....... Ishmael was NOT the son of promise.... Isaac was...... the meanings behind the two sons births go deaper than people realize...... Ishmael represents law and legalism while Isaac represents the promise/Grace...... and as the law and grace can NOT mix today, neither could they mix then....... that is the point..... God bless

Answer 5

According to the Genesis account Abraham took Sarai's hand-maiden Hagar to his bed because Sarai wanted a son. God had promised a son to them, but it seemed Sarai was incapable of producing the heir. So they lost faith temporarily and used the human means. Doubtless Hagar was pretty and sexual relations of that sort were not unusual in those times.

God said later that He in fact wanted Abraham's line to be reckoned through Sarai, and renamed her Sarah. Finally she gave birth to Isaac. He said he would bless Ismael but his salvation purposes were to be through Isaac's line - which is why all the prophets up to Jesus and the Messiah Himself come from Isaac.

There has been a blessing on Ishmael, but a material one. From a christian view, you like us (mostly gentiles) should come to Isaac's descendant Jesus for salvation. In natural biological descent terms you are closer to Isaac than most christians.

Answer 6

Hagar was a slave from Egypt. Even God said to Abraham, "Take your son, your ONLY son..."

But remember also that God cared for Hagar and provided for her when she and Ishmael almost died in the wilderness.


For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar-- for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children-- but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. Galatians 4

Answer 7

He was a legitimate son of Abraham. However, GOD said that Sarah would give birth to a child. GOD never intended for Abraham to "help" GOD by having a son with Hagar. Ishmael was not chosen by GOD. He was, however, blessed with a nation of his own. This is where the separation lies between Christianity and Islam.

GOD bless

Answer 8

Was Abraham married to Hagar?

Answer 9

Well, although not illegitimate (both Abraham and Sarah arranged it), God Himself seems to indicate Ishmael is not Abraham's son, or not the son of the promise. Check out Genesis 22:2
Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac ..."

Blessings,

Jack

Answer 10

He was the result of a liaison with Hagar the hand maiden of Sarah.