Genesis 25:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: (These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.)

NIV: Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people.

NASB: These are the years of the life of Ishmael, 137 years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.

CSB: This is the length of Ishmael's life: 137 years. He took his last breath and died, and was gathered to his people.

NLT: Ishmael lived for 137 years. Then he breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death.

KJV: And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

NKJV: These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.

Ishmael's life is summed up here with his biographical information. He died at the age of 137, some 50 years or so after Abraham's death, allowing plenty of time to have seen God's blessing as his twelve sons began to establish their individual families and tribes. Though he was not the son given the promises of inheritance from Abraham (Genesis 17:18–19), Ishmael was given prosperity and success by God. This corresponds to the reassurance God gave to Ishmael's mother, Hagar (Genesis 16:10–12), long before she was evicted from the family at the request of Abraham's wife, Sarah (Genesis 21:8–14).

Genesis 25:1–18 adds details before describing the deaths of Abraham and then Ishmael. Abraham has taken another wife, other than Sarah, and has six sons with her. He gives them gifts but sends them all away to the east. Isaac will be his sole true heir. Still, when Abraham dies and is buried at the age of 175, Ishmael joins Isaac for the funeral. Ishmael's 12 sons are listed, along with a description of the region their tribes settled in. Finally, Ishmael dies, as well, at the age of 137.

Genesis 25 is packed with information. Abraham marries another wife, most likely before Sarah died, and has six sons with her. Abraham dies at the age of 175 and is buried by both Isaac and Ishmael at the family-owned cave where Sarah was buried. Ishmael's 12 sons are listed, along with the region their tribes settled in, to the east of what would later become Israel. And, finally, God grants Isaac's prayer for Rebekah to become pregnant by giving the couple twins: the feuding Jacob and Esau.

The previous chapter tells the story of how Abraham's servant found a wife for Isaac from among Abraham's people. This chapter rushes to fill in the details of the end of Abraham's life before beginning the story of Isaac's years as patriarch. Abraham marries another woman and has six sons with her, eventually sending them all away from Isaac. Abraham dies and is buried with Sarah. Ishmael's 12 sons are listed, and then his death is recorded, as well. Finally, Isaac's twin boys are born in response to his prayer to the Lord.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 5/3/2024 10:11:01 AM