According to the Bible, Ishmael was 17 to 18 years
old when he was sent to the desert with his mother Hagar. Miraculously as soon
as he went to the desert he became a "BABY"?
How does a 17 to 18 years old teenager become a
baby? How do we know Ishmael was a baby, because the Hebrew texts specifically
uses the word "Naar נַ֫עַר" the
same word used to describe Moses as being a baby.
When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby (NAAR
נַ֫עַר) was crying. She took pity on him and
said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”(Exodus
2:6)
The same is used when referring to Ishmael. Notice how the angel of God
said, “God has heard the (NAAR נַ֫עַר)
boy crying”
God
heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said
to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the
boy crying as he lies there.
How
can a 17 to 18-year-old teenager be cast under a bush crying? “And the water was spent in the bottle, and
she cast the child under one of the shrubs (Genesis 21:15).
The
question is if Ismael was a baby, which he was according to the Hebrew text,
then this means Isaac was not born when they were expelled to the desert? We know
from the Bible Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born (Genesis 16:16). We
also know Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born (Genesis 21:5). Here we
have a gap of 14 years between Ishmael and Isaac, we also know Ishmael and his
mother were expelled when Isaac was being weaned (Genesis 21:8) this usually is
between 3 to 5 years. This would make Ishmael at least 17 to 18 minimum, without
using a 5-year weaning term. How then
could a 18 year old teenager become a baby?
We
call this textual corruption. This shows Ishmael was the chosen Son to be
sacrificed as a test.
