Difference between revisions of "Ishmael"
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The name Ishmael is also familiar as that of the narrator of [[Herman Melville]]'s novel ''[[Moby-Dick]]'', the first sentence of which – "Call me Ishmael" – is one of the most famous in American literature. | The name Ishmael is also familiar as that of the narrator of [[Herman Melville]]'s novel ''[[Moby-Dick]]'', the first sentence of which – "Call me Ishmael" – is one of the most famous in American literature. | ||
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Book of Genesis Persons]] |
Revision as of 14:25, May 7, 2008
Ishmael (Hebrew יִשְׁמָעֵאל) was Abraham's first son, born of Hagar the maidservant of Abraham's wife Sarah after being given to him to produce an heir. The story is recorded in the book of Genesis in the Bible. After Sarah herself had a son, friction developed and Ishamel and Hagar were eventually banished. The boy became an archer and along with Isaac, buried his father. By the time of Joseph, the Ishmaelites had become slave traders. In Islam, Ishmael is traditionally credited as being the forefather of the Arabs.
The name Ishmael is also familiar as that of the narrator of Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick, the first sentence of which – "Call me Ishmael" – is one of the most famous in American literature.