
Genesis 25:12-18
12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham:
13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,
15 Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:

16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
It is generally acknowledged that modern day Arabs are descended from Ishmael. This understanding comes from the Bible itself, Jewish Rabbis, and from a meager oral tradition. Mohammed claimed this descent himself, though it is truly impossible to determine his actual pedigree, due to the fact of the wandering and unsettled nature of the Ishmaelite tribes. There is no known literature to support any genealogy, outside of the Holy Bible. The Ishmaelites are mentioned on only three occasions in Scripture: Genesis 37: 25, 27, 29; 39:1, Judges 8:24, and Psalm 83:6.
Most Arabs believe that as the first born of Abraham, Ishmael was offered on the altar, not Issac, and therefore the Biblical Covenants and blessings belong to them, and not the Jews. However, many nomadic Arabs, still hold to the early pagan traditions from long ago – believing in a law of blood-revenge which requires a man to know his ancestors going back for four generations, but no father back than that. The physical attributes, language, customs and traditions (pre-Mohammed corruption) along with the infallible testimony of the Holy Bible, makes the Arab nations, largely Ishmaelite in all respects.
