Knowing The Word in Genesis 25:12-18, Ishmael's Sons

[As with the other family histories in Genesis, the non-elect line is described before the story of the elect. This history demonstrates the fulfillment of the promises made to his parents. The promise made to Abraham is that Ishmael would father twelve princes.]

12 These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's servant, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments [describing their wandering lifestyle], twelve princes according to their tribes. 17 (These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) 18 They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria [to the south and east of Israel]. He settled over against all his kinsmen [hinting at the later antagonism between the Bedouin-like Ishmaelites and the settled Israelites.].