A Place for Hagar’s Son: Ishmael as a Case Study in the Priestly Tradition

The profound ambivalence of the biblical portrayals of Hagar and Ishmael-dispossessed, yet protected; abandoned, yet given promises that rival those of the covenant with Abraham-belies easy characterizations of the Pentateuch’s writers. In particular, John T. Noble argues, conventional characterizations of the Priestly writers’ view of covenant have failed to take into account the significance of these two non-chosen figures. NobIe carefully examines their roles and depictions in the P and non-P Genesis traditions, comparing them to other non-chosen figures and to patterns found in Exodus traditions and the patriarchal promises to Abraham, showing that Ishmael is clearly favoured, though not chosen. Indeed, Noble argues, Ishmael must be seen as a key figure in the Priestly material, highlighting the relationship between Noahic and Abrahamic covenants. His ambiguous status calls for reconsideration of the goals and values of the Priestly work, which Noble sketches around themes of covenant, fertility, life, and the future of nations.