Genesis 25:13

25:13 These are the names of Ishmael’s sons, by their names according to their records: 1  Nebaioth (Ishmael’s firstborn), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,

Genesis 25:18

25:18 His descendants 2  settled from Havilah to Shur, which runs next 3  to Egypt all the way 4  to Asshur. 5  They settled 6  away from all their relatives. 7 

1 tn The meaning of this line is not easily understood. The sons of Ishmael are listed here “by their names” and “according to their descendants.”

2 tn Heb “they”; the referent (Ishmael’s descendants) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

3 tn Heb “which is by the face of,” or near the border. The territory ran along the border of Egypt.

4 tn Heb “as you go.”

5 sn The name Asshur refers here to a tribal area in the Sinai.

6 tn Heb “he fell.”

7 tn Heb “upon the face of all his brothers.” This last expression, obviously alluding to the earlier oracle about Ishmael (Gen 16:12), could mean that the descendants of Ishmael lived in hostility to others or that they lived in a territory that was opposite the lands of their relatives. While there is some ambiguity about the meaning, the line probably does give a hint of the Ishmaelite-Israelite conflicts to come.