*

bear a son, she not expecting such a thing, as being past the age of child-bearing, for she was ninety years old, and Abraham a hundred, so that his son was born to them both in the last year of each of those decimal numbers; and they circumcised him upon the eighth day; and from that time the Jews continue the custom of circumcising their sons within that number of days; but as for the Arabians, they circumcise after the thirteenth year, because Ismael, the founder of their nation, who was born to Abraham of the concubine, was circumcised at that age, concerning whom I will hereafter give a particular

account.

As for Sarah, she at first loved Ismael, who was born of her handmaid Hagar, with an affection not inferior to that of a mother, for he was brought up in order to succeed in the government; but when she herself had born Isaac, she was not willing that Ismael should be brought up with him, as being too low for him, and able to do him injuries when their father should be dead. She therefore persuaded Abraham to send him and his mother to some distant country. Now at Now at first he did not agree to what Sarah was zealous for, and thought it an instance of the greatest barbarity to send away a young. child, and a woman unprovided of necessaries; but at length he agreed to it, because God was pleased with what Sarah had determined; so he delivered Ismael to his mo

take necessity for her guide. But as soon as her necessary provisions failed, she found herself in an evil case; and when the water was almost spent, she laid the young child, who was ready to expire, under a fir-tree, and went on further, so that he might die while she was absent; but a divine angel came to her, and told her of a fountain hard by, and bid her take care, and bring up the child, because she should be very happy by the preservation of Ismael. She then took courage upon the prospect of what was promised her, and, meeting with some shepherds, by their care she got clear of the distresses she had been in.

When the lad was grown up, he married a wife, by birth an Egyptian; from whence the mother was herself derived originally. Of this wife were born to Ismael twelve sons; Nabioth, Kedar, Abdeel, Mabsam, Idumas, Masmaos, Massaos, Chodad, Theman, Jetur, Naphesus, and Kadmus. These inhabited all the country from Euphrates to the Red Sea, and called it Nabatene. They are an Arabian nation, and name their tribes from these, both because of their own virtue, and because of the dignity of Abraham their father.

CHAP. XIII.

OF ISAAC, ABRAHAM'S LEGITIMATE SON.

commanded her to take a bottle of water, and a loaf of bread, and so to depart, and to

ward, c. 13. and v. 8. is not very strange in a great reader and admirer of Philo, who does it so often; which language of Josephus's here prepares us to believe those other expressions of his, that Jesus was a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man (Antiq. XVIII. 3.) and of God the Word, in his last homily concerning Hades, may be both genuine; nor is the other expression of divine angel, presently, and before, also of any other significa

tion.

This circumcision is not after, but on, the eighth day as it is elsewhere expressed by Josephus. The like construction to which we meet with in the New Testament, Matthew xxvii. 63. Luke ii. 21. John xx. 26. Reland's observation.

This is

+ Josephus here calls Ismael, a young child, or infant, though he was above 13 years of age, as Judas calls himself and his brethren víus, young men, whenthey were 47, and he had two children; and they were of

being his only begotten, § and given to him at the borders of old age, by the favor of God. The child also endeared himself to

much the same age as is a damsel of 12 years old called adiov, or little child, Mark v. 39-42, five several times. Herod also is said by Josephus to be i waνrásaoly, a very young man, at 25; and Aristobulus is styled acidio, wavlámacy, a very little child, at 16 years of age. Antiq.

Domitian is also called by him wavlamaciviov, a very young child, when he went on his German expedi tion, at about 18 years of age. Of the war, VII. 4. Samson's wife, and Ruth, when she was a widow, are called wards, children, Antiq. V. 8 and 9. Xenophon, we have aides for children, till 16 or 17 years Accordingly, in of age Kg Ilaid, Edit. Hutch. 12. page t Gen. xxi. 14.

§ Note that both here, and Heb. xi. 17. Isaac is called Abraham's ovoyan, only begotton son, though he at the same time had another son, Isinael. The Septuagint express the true meaning by rendering the text avaTÒV the beloved son.