The son of Abraham and Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of his wife Sarah (then known as Sarai). When Sarai stopped having children, she arranged to have a child with Abraham by Ha-gar (Genesis 16:1—4). After the birth of Isaac, Hagar and Ishmael were sent away at Sarah's insistence. God appeared and spoke to Ha-gar, assuring her that He would watch over them and see them prosper (Genesis 21:17-19). Isaac and Ishmael met again when they buried their father Abraham at the Cave of the Patriarchs (Machpela) in Hebron; Jews and Arabs both worship at the Machpelah. Ishmael had 12 sons, who became the founders of tribes that spread from Egypt to what is today Iraq. He is considered the patriarch of the Arabs.
Historical Dictionary of Israel. Bernard Reich David H. Goldberg. Edited by Jon Woronoff..