Genesis 25:6, commentary and pictures

Abraham while still alive gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away eastward to the east country, apart from Isaac his son. The concubines were lawful wives of second rank, and besides Ishmael and Isaac he had sons by more than one such wife, eight sons in all, yet he gave his property and inheritance to Isaac. To take concubines besides his wife and have sons by them was a plain departure from God's original marriage institution of one man and one wife made before the fall, and such violation does not lessen the sacred character of marriage itself. Isaac alone remained the heir, for only one of the eight was counted for the seed, showing that mere natural descent from Abraham did not make the others heirs of the promise, which belongs only to the children of promise who live by faith. The division sets forth the two choices still made, to be sent away with a small present portion in this life by living by sight, or to wait with Isaac for the inheritance reserved in heaven by living by faith.

Narrative Meaning and Setting

Abraham while he was still alive gave gifts to the sons of the concubines and sent them away from Isaac his son eastward to the east country. Besides Ishmael and Isaac he had other sons by more than one wife, eight sons in all. The different wives were held in different esteem, for concubines were legitimate second-class wives distinct from the first wife whose children inherited the property.

In the division his property and inheritance went to Isaac, while the other sons who were sent away received gifts. Ishmael later received a large portion of his father's property that enabled him to gain a high position among the Arab tribes. The sending away was a setting free of the sons of the concubines instead of keeping such offspring in bondage. Hagar and Ishmael were set free and succored, not sent back to bondage, and Ishmael and his descendants continued free from that time onward.

From Abraham onward the patriarchs desired many sons because where there is no government protection the family is the real unit of safety. Immediate relatives and related circles form clans, sub-tribes and tribes that quarrel and shed blood among themselves yet unite against a common foe, so many sons meant strength, protection and survival, which explains Oriental polygamy. The surrounding chapter also tells of Abraham's death and probably the last meeting of Isaac and Ishmael.

Marriage Institution Violated

Having concubines besides his wife and having sons by them, or having many sons by more than one wife, was a plain violation of and departure from God's original marriage institution of one man and one wife. That institution was made for man before the fall. Its sacred character is not derived from the Decalogue, though the seventh commandment guards it, and its sanctity does not depend on the giving of the Ten Commandments. Such a patriarchal violation does not destroy or lessen the sacred character of marriage itself, just as any violation of the Sabbath in the patriarchal age, even if it could be shown, would not destroy the sacred character of the Sabbath institution. God permitted the practice of having concubines or multiple wives, though Abraham did not clearly recognize its wrong, and plural marriages brought trouble in the families of Abraham, Jacob, and David, and led Solomon astray.

Heirship, Promise, and Application

The verse belongs to God's providential dealings with Abraham's chosen family through which the promised Seed would come. Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines and sent them away from Isaac while he was still alive, leaving Isaac alone as his heir, so that only one of Abraham's eight sons was counted for the seed. Having Abraham's natural descent did not make the other sons heirs of the promise.

The promise does not belong to mere natural descendants but only to those who sustain the character of Israel. The children of promise are counted for the seed, those who live by faith and like Jacob have power with God and have prevailed. All the rest peel off from the good olive tree, like Ishmael and Esau, to perish.

The division illustrates two choices: being sent away with a small gift, or waiting with Isaac for the inheritance. The small gift means present wages, taking a portion in this life to satisfy sense by living by sight. Waiting with Isaac means waiting for the inheritance reserved in the heavens, living by faith for reward in another life. Most choose the small immediate gift over the greater future inheritance.

Abraham gave his property to Isaac and sent Ishmael and the other sons away eastward with gifts. The Bedouin descendants of Ishmael view this division as Isaac unjustly depriving Ishmael of his rightful share in Abraham's property. They justify robbing travelers as merely taking back that share while denying that they are robbers.