A Portrait of Yishmael/2

Yishmael – Overview

Exegetical Approaches

Neutral to Positive

Yishmael is a neutral character who does not actively sin nor behave negatively in any way.

Sources:Jubilees17:6-18About Jubilees, Ibn EzraBereshit 16:12Bereshit 21:9About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, RadakBereshit 16:12Bereshit 17:20,25Bereshit 21:9,11,17,20,21Bereshit 25:9, 12About R. David Kimchi, AbarbanelBereshit 16Bereshit 17Bereshit 21About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel

Prophecy to Hagar

Avraham's plea: "לוּ יִשְׁמָעֵאל יִחְיֶה לְפָנֶיךָ"

"מְצַחֵק"

Why did Sarah want Yishmael expelled?

Why did Hashem reject Yishmael?

Why is Avraham "upset about his son"?

Polemical Motivations?

Mildly Negative

Extremely Negative