Verse

Genesis 25:18

ESV They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria. He settled over against all his kinsmen.
NIV His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.
NASB They settled from Havilah to Shur which is east of Egypt going toward Assyria; he settled in defiance of all his relatives.
CSB And they settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt as you go toward Asshur. He stayed near all his relatives.
NLT Ishmael’s descendants occupied the region from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt in the direction of Asshur. There they lived in open hostility toward all their relatives.
KJV 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.

What does Genesis 25:18 mean?

Ishmael's twelve sons, listed in the previous verses, became twelve tribes, establishing villages or wandering camps named for each of them. These twelve groups settled primarily in the region to the east of the land that would become Israel. This fulfills a promise God made to Hagar, Ishmael's mother. Before they were evicted from Abraham's family (Genesis 21:8–14), God vowed to make Ishmael and his offspring successful (Genesis 16:10–12).

That prophecy came with more than just an assurance of success, however. In Genesis 16:12, God had also prophesied that Ishmael would become a wild donkey of a man who would dwell over and against all his kinsmen. Now we see that is what became of Ishmael's sons, perhaps suggesting their later conflicted relationship with Israel.
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