Genesis 25:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

NIV: She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.

NASB: She bore to him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

CSB: and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

NLT: She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

KJV: And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

NKJV: And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

God had promised to make Abraham the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4). He will clearly become the father of Israel through Isaac and his descendants. Abraham also fathered several nations and tribes through Ishmael, his son by Sarah's servant Hagar (Genesis 25:13–16).

This verse reveals six more sons, all by Abraham's wife Keturah: Zimram, whose people may have settled in Arabia, Jokshan, Medan, Midian—whose descendants become traders in the deserts around Israel; Moses's wife will be a Midianite—as well as Ishbak, namesake of a town in northern Syria, and Shuah, the name of a town near Babylon.

Clearly God kept his promise to make many nations from His much-blessed servant Abraham, as the following verses will continue to reveal.

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 5/2/2024 4:54:57 PM