And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation,.... A great nation, as is promised, Ge 17:20; and such the Ishmaelites and Saracens have been, and the Turks now are, the descendants of Ishmael.
The Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it, a people of thieves, or a thieving people; as were the Saracens, and who are thought to have that name from the Arabic word "sarac" , to thieve; though they would have it derived from Sarah: but it is not agreeable to the promise of God to Abraham, that when for his comfort he is told that his son Ishmael and his descendants should become a great nation, that they should be described as a company of thieves and robbers; and especially when the reason of the promise is given,because he [is] thy seed; or thy son; here the word "seed" is again used of a single individual; see Ge 4:25.
"furatus fuit, furto abstulit", Golius, col. 1167. Castel. col.