Setting: Genesis 21:21
Extra-biblical Sources: Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 30:6-7
Yet one day messengers rode into Memphis on camels, carrying precious gifts sent by none other than Bastet and her son Ishmael. Those who had known Bastet were astonished to learn that she and her son lived independently in the land of Canaan, freed from their bondage to the house of Abram.
These gifts that the messengers brought were for the family of the woman who would come and be Ishmael's wife in Canaan. Ishmael’s house was wealthy, and he was a man of renown, and so the dowry was considerable. Thus, those women whose families wished to be considered were to meet with the messengers, in order that their beauty and their suitability might be judged, and a bride selected.
When it was learned that Bastet and Ishamel were no longer worshippers of Ra and our other gods, but instead practiced a false religion dedicated to El, many families withdrew indignantly. But mine was never a particularly religious family, truth be told, and I know they needed the money and wanted great things for me.
My father Khomsu and my mother Jamila were both sad to see me go, but I am sure they were thrilled to receive the dowry, and also to think that I would be the wife of great patriarch.
Ultimately, my family did receive the dowry, but I was not to be Ishmael’s wife, for not a year after I was married to him, he had sent me back to Memphis again.
It happened that Ishamel’s father, Abraham came unannounced to visit his son. I did not even know that it was the man Abraham, for what great patriarch rides alone on a single camel, and arrives unannounced on a random day?
All I knew was that an old man on a camel asked me “Where is Ishmael?” and I told him truthfully, “He went with his mother to bring fruit and dates from the wilderness.”
He said to me, “give me a little bread and water, for I am faint from my journey.”
I answered him truthfully again, “I have no bread and no water.”
Should I have lied and said that I did have these things? What was the old man expecting?
He said to me, “When Ishmael comes, tell him that an old man from the Land of Canaan came to see you, and he said, ‘Exchange the threshold of your house, for it is not good for you.’”
When Ishmael came in from the wilderness, I told him just what had happened, saying, “an old man from the land of Canaan came through and inquired of you, and when he did not find you, he asked me to tell you: 'exchange the threshold of your house, for it is not good for you.’”
Ishmael knew at once that it had been Abraham who had visited. And apparently he understood his words to be an instruction to send me away. And this he did, so that I returned to Memphis.