Isaac was 5 years old when Ishmael (19) threatened him and was subsequently put out of Abraham’s camp with his mother Hagar. After they left, Hagar found a wife (Meribah from among her people in Egypt) for Ishmael.
I love how Yasher fills in the gaps in Torah and gives us a better chronology of events; this is the reason I built my chronology of events for Abraham’s life. Between Genesis chapter 21:21 and verse 22, seven years have gone by and Ishmael, with his 2nd wife and children (Meribah was given a bill of divorce for being a bit.., er, wicked woman) returned to Abraham’s camp and stayed there many years.
Yasher 22:1 And Ishmael then rose up and took his wife and his children and his cattle and all belonging to him, and he journeyed from there and he went to his father in the land of the Philistines.
Yasher 22:4 And the days increased and reached twenty-six years, and after that Abraham with his servants and all belonging to him went from the land of the Philistines and removed to a great distance, and they came near to Beersheba, and they remained there, and the servants of Abraham dug wells of water, and Abraham and all belonging to him dwelt by the water, and the servants of Abimelech king of the Philistines heard the report that Abraham’s servants had dug wells of water in the borders of the land.
Abraham walked with Yehovah!
This portion of Yasher has lots to say about how Abraham walked with Yehovah in Beersheva and about Isaac’s formative years; go figure, he was not sent to a public school.
Yasher 22:11 And Abraham planted a large grove in Beersheba, and he made to it four gates facing the four sides of the earth, and he planted a vineyard in it, so that if a traveler came to Abraham he entered any gate which was in his road, and remained there and ate and drank and satisfied himself and then departed.
12 For the house of Abraham was always open to the sons of men that passed and re-passed, who came daily to eat and drink in the house of Abraham.
13 And any man who had hunger and came to Abraham’s house, Abraham would give him bread that he might eat and drink and be satisfied, and any one that came naked to his house, he would clothe him with garments as he might choose, and give him silver and gold and make known to him Yehovah who had created him in the earth; this did Abraham all his life.Yasher 22:40 And Isaac the son of Abraham was growing up in those days, and Abraham his father taught him the way of Yehovah to know Yehovah, and Yehovah was with him.
Isaac was 37 when Ishmael (52) came bragging to him about what a great man of the faith he was.
Yasher 22:41 And when Isaac was thirty-seven years old, Ishmael his brother was going about with him in the tent.
42 And Ishmael boasted of himself to Isaac, saying, I was thirteen years old when Yehovah spoke to my father to circumcise us, and I did according to the word of Yehovah which he spoke to my father, and I gave my soul unto Yehovah, and I did not transgress his word which he commanded my father.
43 And Isaac answered Ishmael, saying, Why dost thou boast to me about this, about a little bit of thy flesh which thou didst take from thy body, concerning which Yehovah commanded thee?
44 As Yehovah liveth, the Elohim (THE lawmaker and judge) of my father Abraham, if Yehovah should say unto my father, Take now thy son Isaac and bring him up an offering before me, I would not refrain but I would joyfully accede to it.
Yehovah heard Isaac and when Satan came before Him, He bragged to Satan about Abraham.
Yasher 22:45 And Yehovah heard the word that Isaac spoke to Ishmael, and it seemed good in the sight of Yehovah, and he thought to try Abraham in this matter.
Yasher 22:54 And Yehovah said to Satan, Hast thou thus considered my servant Abraham? For there is none like him upon earth, a perfect and an upright man before me, one that feareth Elohim and avoideth evil; as I live, were I to say unto him, Bring up Isaac thy son before me, he would not withhold him from me, much more if I told him to bring up a burnt offering before me from his flock or herds.
Also read “Yehovah Will See / Yehovah Ra’ah“
2G27 Genesis 22 & Yasher 22
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