What does Genesis 25:9 mean?
Genesis 23 describes in detail Abraham's acquisition of the cave of Machpelah immediately following the death of Sarah. Now Isaac and Ishmael reunite to bury Abraham's body in that cave alongside Sarah.Abraham had sent away Ishmael, along with his mother Hagar. Ishmael was 16 or so and Isaac was around two (Genesis 21:8–14). Now the step-brothers would be somewhere around 89 and 75, respectively. Ishmael's presence at Abraham's burial may imply there was some contact between Isaac and his birth family over the years. Despite this meeting to honor their father, God's prophetic remarks about Ishmael would prove true (Genesis 16:11–12). His descendants would become the enemies of Israel.