Ishmael the Wild Ass of Man Who Dwelt and Then Fell

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 16:12

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And he shall be a wild ass of a man" (Genesis 16:12) — that he will grow up in the wilderness like a wild ass and dwell in the wilderness like a wild ass, which is free. "His hand against everyone, and everyone's hand against him" — they are equal. "And in the face of all his brethren shall he dwell" — yet another verse says, "in the face of all his brethren he fell" (Genesis 25:18). As long as he had not stretched out his hand against Israel — "he shall dwell"; after he stretched out his hand against Israel — "he fell."

Themes

AbrahamAdam EveCreationWisdomBible

Biblical References

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