SEV Biblia, Chapter 17:20
Y por Ismael, también te he oído: he aquí que le bendeciré, y le haré fructificar y multiplicar mucho en gran manera: doce príncipes engendrará, y le pondré por gran gente.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Genesis 17:20
Verse 20. Twelve princes shall he beget, &c.] See the names of these twelve princes, chap. xxv. 12-16. From Ishmael proceeded the various tribes of the Arabs, called also Saracens by Christian writers. They were anciently, and still continue to be, a very numerous and powerful people.""It was somewhat wonderful, and not to be foreseen by human sagacity,"" says Bishop Newton, ""that a man's whole posterity should so nearly resemble him, and retain the same inclinations, the same habits, and the same customs, throughout all ages! These are the only people besides the Jews who have subsisted as a distinct people from the beginning, and in some respects they very much resemble each other 1. The Arabs, as well as the Jews, are descended from Abraham, and both boast of their descent from the father of the faithful. 2. The Arabs, as well as the Jews, are circumcised, and both profess to have derived this ceremony from Abraham. 3. The Arabs, as well as the Jews, had originally twelve patriarchs, who were their princes or governors. 4. The Arabs, as well as the Jews, marry among themselves, and in their own tribes. 5. The Arabs, as well as the Jews, are singular in several of their customs, and are standing monuments to all ages of the exactness of the Divine predictions, and of the veracity of Scripture history. We may with more confidence believe the particulars related of Abraham and Ishmael when we see them verified in their posterity at this day. This is having, as it were, ocular demonstration for our faith."" See Bp. Newton's Second Dissertation on the Prophecies, and See note on ""chap. xvi. 12.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-22 - Here is the promise made to Abraham of a son by Sarai, in whom the promise made to him should be fulfilled. The assurance of this promis was the change of Sarai's name into Sarah. Sarai signifies my princess as if her honour were confined to one family only; Sarah signifies princess. The more favours God confers upon us, the more low we shoul be in our own eyes. Abraham showed great joy; he laughed, it was laughter of delight, not of distrust. Now it was that Abraham rejoice to see Christ's day; now he saw it and was glad, Joh 8:56. Abraham dreading lest Ishmael should be abandoned and forsaken of God, put up petition on his behalf. God gives us leave in prayer to be particula in making known our requests. Whatever is our care and fear, should be spread before God in prayer. It is the duty of parents to pray for their children, and the great thing we should desire is, that they ma be kept in covenant with Him, and may have grace to walk before him in uprightness. Common blessings are secured to Ishmael. Outward goo things are often given to those children of godly parents who are bor after the flesh, for their parents' sake. Covenant blessings ar reserved for Isaac, and appropriated to him.
Original Hebrew
ולישׁמעאל 3458 שׁמעתיך 8085 הנה 2009 ברכתי 1288 אתו 853 והפריתי 6509 אתו 853 והרביתי 7235 אתו 853 במאד 3966 מאד 3966 שׁנים 8147 עשׂר 6240 נשׂיאם 5387 יוליד 3205 ונתתיו 5414 לגוי 1471 גדול׃ 1419
