Genesis 16 · Parashat Lech-Lecha

Now Saray Avram’s wife bore him no children: and she had a Miżrian handmaid, whose name was Hagar.

And Saray said to Avram, Behold now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in to my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Avram hearkened to the voice of Saray.

And Saray Avram’s wife took Hagar, her maid, the Miżrian, after Avram had dwelt ten years in the land of Kena῾an, and gave her to her husband Avram for a wife.

And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

And Saray said to Avram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.

But Avram said to Saray, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleases thee. And when Saray dealt harshly with her, she fled from her face.

And an angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur.

And he said, Hagar, Saray’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Saray.

And the angel of the Lord said to her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself to her hands.

And the angel of the Lord said to her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

And the angel of the Lord said to her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Yishma᾽el; because the Lord has heard thy affliction.

And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

And she called the name of the Lord that spoke to her, Thou God seest me: for she said,

Have I also here looked after Him that sees me? Therefore the well was called Be᾽er-laĥay-ro᾽i; behold, it is between Qadesh and Bered.

And Hagar bore Avram a son: and Avram called his son’s name, whom Hagar bore, Yishma᾽el.

And Avram was eighty six years old, when Hagar bore Yishma᾽el to Avram.