Genesis 25:14

14 And Masma, and Duma, and Massa,

Genesis 25:14 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 25:14

And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa.
] Of Mishma and Massa, and of their posterity, there is not anything said elsewhere, unless the Masani, Ptolemy ^F16 places near Arabia Felix, came from Massa. Dumah seems to be the same Isaiah speaks of in ( Genesis 21:11 ) ; and in Arabia Deserta, where some of Ishmael's posterity settled, is a place called Dumaetha, by Ptolemy ^F17, which perhaps had its name from this son of his. The Targum of Jonathan translates these three names,

``hearing, silence, and patience;''

which the Jews use as a proverb, when they would signify that there are some things to be heard and not spoken of, and to be patiently borne. If Ishmael had in view to teach such lessons by the names he gave his children, he will seem to be a better man than he is usually thought to be.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Georaph. l. 16. p. 528. 534. 536.
F17 lbid.

Genesis 25:14 In-Context

12 These are the generations of Ismael the son of Abraham, whom Agar the Egyptian, Sara’s servant, bore unto him:

13 And these are the names of his children according to their calling and generations. The firstborn of Ismael was Nabajoth, then Cedar, and Adbeel, and Mabsam,

14 And Masma, and Duma, and Massa,

15 Hadar, and Thema, and Jethur, and Naphis, and Cedma.

16 These are the sons of Ismael: and these are their names by their castles and towns, twelve princes of their tribes.