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We can use the Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB) to recompile understandings about Ishmael.
This will help bring a little more understanding about Ishmael beyond him being the firstborn child of Abraham.
Ishmael Simplified Etymology
Ishmael from Yishma'el from YishmaelYish from Yishi is “my salvation,” and/or “my savior” (Psalm 27:1), (Luke 1:47)
Ma from Na is “restless fugitive” (Genesis 4:12)
El from Eli is “God”
Ishmael is My god, the restless fugitive (wandering spirit), is my salvation.
As firstborn child, Ishmael is heir apparent to the promise made to Abram (Abraham) by a God Abram didn't know. The promise was made for no reason to an obviously no good person, as if Abram was the best person in Chaldea. Sarai was the same type of low intelligence, low moral character person as Abram, thus they were a match made in heaven.
Genesis 12:God said to Abram, “I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Sarai was not part of this primary initial promise, obviously, which is why her womb was shut down like an uninhabitable house. Sarai was part of the curse, because she cursed Abraham's firstborn. Thus Sarai Sarah's lineage is a cursed lineage.
Genesis 17:20:
And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
Genesis 25:
And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
No matter how hard you keep trying to hide and deny truth it keeps showing up and will assert itself until it again becomes the norm.
The fact that Abram's name was changed to Abraham is corroborating evidence. In Genesis 17, God reminded Abram that the covenant is with Abram, and thou shalt be a father of many nations, I have already made you a father of many nations, thus your name shall be Abraham [a father of Ham, through Ishmael and Hagar the Hamite Kamite Egyptian].And by the way, this is why Noah's full name is Noah Menachem (Chem is Khem is Kham is Ham). Which is why Noah gave birth to Ham, Shem (Khem, Kham, Ham) and Japheth (Kheft).