Background and Birth:
Ishmael is a significant figure in the biblical narrative, known as the firstborn son of Abraham. His account is primarily found in the Book of Genesis. Ishmael was born to Abraham and Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian maidservant, as a result of Sarah's initial barrenness and her suggestion that Abraham have a child with Hagar. This event is recorded in Genesis 16:1-4 : "Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, 'Look now, the LORD has prevented me from having children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.' And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai."

Covenant and Promise:
Despite Ishmael being Abraham's firstborn, God established His covenant with Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah. However, God also made promises concerning Ishmael. In Genesis 17:20 , God says, "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him and make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation."

Life and Legacy:
Ishmael grew up in the household of Abraham until tensions arose between Sarah and Hagar, leading to Hagar and Ishmael's departure. God reassured Hagar of Ishmael's future, as recorded in Genesis 21:17-18 : "But God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, 'What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he lies. Get up, lift up the boy, and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.'"

Daughter of Ishmael:
Ishmael's lineage continued through his children, and he became the father of twelve princes, as God had promised. One of his daughters, Mahalath (also known as Basemath), is noted in the biblical narrative for her marriage to Esau, the son of Isaac and Rebekah. This marriage is mentioned in Genesis 28:9 : "So Esau went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had."

Marriage to Esau:
The marriage of Ishmael's daughter to Esau is significant in the context of Esau's relationships and the broader family dynamics of Abraham's descendants. Esau's marriage to Mahalath is seen as an attempt to align himself more closely with the Abrahamic lineage, as he was aware of his parents' disapproval of his previous Canaanite wives. This union further intertwines the lineages of Ishmael and Isaac, the two sons of Abraham, and reflects the complex familial relationships that characterize much of the Genesis narrative.

Significance:
Ishmael's role in the biblical account is multifaceted. He is both a recipient of God's promises and a figure whose life intersects with the broader narrative of God's covenant with Abraham. His descendants, through his twelve sons, are seen as fulfilling God's promise to make him a great nation. Ishmael's account is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises, even outside the primary covenant line through Isaac.Genesis 28:9
Then went Esau to Ishmael, and took to the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.
Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 36:2,3
Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;
Nave's Topical Index

The Book of Jubilees
... Keturah; before his death Abraham summoned Ishmael and his ... was a king in Edom, Balak
son of Beor ... adultery which had been delivered to Abraham and transmitted by ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of jubilees.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... And now these merchants, sons of Ishmael, Again did poor ... I am The God of thy forefathers,
Abraham And Isaac ... and will bring thee back; And thy son Joseph there ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

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