Tag Archives: Holy Bible

Bible Study – Descendants of Ishmael

Genesis 25:12-18


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.


Psalm 83