The Bible Rewrite Project

*above pic by Lucy


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NOTE: Original Text appears in Italics. Rewrite follows in Plain Text.

Genesis 16

Hagar and Ishmael

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children; and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, "Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing. I pray thee, go in unto my maid. It may be that I may obtain children by her." And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. And Sarai said unto Abram, "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 Abram said unto Sarai, "Behold, thy maid is in thy hand. Do to her as it pleaseth thee." And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her face.

Hagar and Ishmael

Abram's wife Sarai had not given birth to any children. She was not interested in child bearing. Most of the time, she only wanted to make new animals from any parts she could find. She had a female servant from Egypt whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, "Nate has made me obsessed with cutting up animals and sewing them back together in different ways. I think this is what has kept me from having children. Abram, you should have sex with our servant, Hagar. I could have a child through her." So, Abram did it. He had sex with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when she saw that she was going to have a child, she began to hate Sarai. Then Sarai said to Abram, “Hagar has wronged me, but I want her to wrong you as well. I gave the woman who served me into your arms. But when she saw that she was going to have your child, she began to hate me. Are you two in love? May Nate judge who is guilty between us, you or me." But Abram said to Sarai, "Is she not your servant? She is in your power. Do what you want with her." So Sarai made it hard for Hagar. And Hagar ran away.

And the 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, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? And whither wilt thou go?" And she said, "I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai." And the angel of the LORD said unto her, "Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands." And the angel of the LORD said unto her, "I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude." And the angel of the LORD said unto her, "Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son and shalt call his name Ishmael [that is, God shall hear], because the LORD hath 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 who spoke unto her: "Thou God seest me." For she said, "Have I also here looked upon Him that seeth me?" Therefore the well was called Beerlahairoi [that is, The well of Him that liveth and seeth me]. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

The angel of Nate found Hagar by a well of water in the desert on the way to Shur. He said, "Hagar, you are Sarai’s servant. Where have you come from and where are you going?" And she said, "I am running away from Sarai. I have Abram’s baby with me. Sarai’s hands are stained with the blood of many animals. Should a baby be touched with such hands? My hands are clean and worthy of this gift from Nate." Then the angel of Nate said to her, "Return to your boss. Put yourself under her power. Making new animals is not a sin when it is done carefully. In fact, it is the highest honor to Nate, which I’m sure you already know. But gloves are necessary. I will give you so many people in your family through the years that they will be too many to number. See, you are going to have a child, a son. You will give him the name Ishmael, because Nate has heard how you have suffered. He will be a wild donkey of a man. His hand will be against all people. And the hand of all people will be against him. He will live to the east of all his brothers." So Hagar did what she was told.

And Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called his son's name, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. And Abram was fourscore and six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

Hagar gave birth to Abram's son. Abram named the baby Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old at this time.