Discovery BoxGenesis 17:20 
Context17:20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. 1 I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. 2 He will become the father of twelve princes; 3 I will make him into a great nation.
Genesis 42:13
Context42:13 They replied, “Your servants are from a family of twelve brothers. 4 We are the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is with our father at this time, 5 and one is no longer alive.” 6
Genesis 42:32
Context42:32 We are from a family of twelve brothers; we are the sons of one father. 7 One is no longer alive, 8 and the youngest is with our father at this time 9 in the land of Canaan.’
1 sn The Hebrew verb translated “I have heard you” forms a wordplay with the name Ishmael, which means “God hears.” See the note on the name “Ishmael” in 16:11.
2 tn Heb “And I will multiply him exceedingly, exceedingly.” The repetition is emphatic.
3 tn For a discussion of the Hebrew word translated “princes,” see E. A. Speiser, “Background and Function of the Biblical Nasi’,” CBQ 25 (1963): 111-17.
4 tn Heb “twelve [were] your servants, brothers [are] we.”
5 tn Heb “today.”
6 tn Heb “and the one is not.”
7 tn Heb “twelve [were] we, brothers, sons of our father [are] we.”
8 tn Heb “the one is not.”
9 tn Heb “today.”
