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[186]
Now Abram dwelt near the oak called Ogyges,--the place belongs to
Canaan, not far from the city of Hebron. But being uneasy at his wife's
barrenness, he entreated God to grant that he might have male issue; and
God required of him to be of good courage, and said that he would add to
all the rest of the benefits that he had bestowed upon him, ever since
he led him out of Mesopotamia, the gift of children. Accordingly Sarai,
at God's command, brought to his bed one of her handmaidens, a woman of
Egyptian descent, in order to obtain children by her; and when this handmaid
was with child, she triumphed, and ventured to affront Sarai, as if the
dominion were to come to a son to be born of her. But when Abram resigned
her into the hand of Sarai, to punish her, she contrived to fly away, as
not able to bear the instances of Sarai's severity to her; and she entreated
God to have compassion on her. Now a Divine Angel met her, as she was going
forward in the wilderness, and bid her return to her master and mistress,
for if she would submit to that wise advice, she would live better hereafter;
for that the reason of her being in such a miserable case was this, that
she had been ungrateful and arrogant towards her mistress. He also told
her, that if she disobeyed God, and went on still in her way, she should
perish; but if she would return back, she should become the mother of a
son who should reign over that country. These admonitions she obeyed, and
returned to her master and mistress, and obtained forgiveness. A
little while afterwards, she bare Ismael; which may be interpreted Heard
of God, because God had heard his mother's prayer.
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