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The Tribe of Massa |
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Massa is the seventh son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:14) and founder of an Arabian tribe that is generally identified with the Masani-a people who lived near the Persian Gulf. Ishmael was the first son of Abraham and Hagar, the Egyptian handmaid of Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Sarah (Sarai) could not bare Abraham (Abram) any children. Sarah told her husband to obtain children by her handmaid Hagar. Sarah and Abraham dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. Sarah gave Hagar, her Egyptian maid, to her husband Abraham to be his wife. Hagar conceived and saw she was despised in the eyes of her mistress. Sarah told Abraham that her wrong would be upon him. She gave her maid to him and when she conceived Sarah was despised in her eyes. Sarah said the LORD judges between me and you. Abraham reminded Sarah her maid was in her hand to do as she pleases. Sarah dealt hardly with her. Hagar fled from her face. The angel of the LORD found Hagar by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. Hagar told the angel of the LORD she fled from the face of her mistress Sarah. The angel of the LORD told Hagar to return to her mistress, and submit herself under her hand. The angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. Hagar was told she would bear a son and shall call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. Hagar did as she was told by the angel of the LORD. Ishmael would be a wild man. His hand would be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He shall dwell in the presence of all his brothers. (Genesis 16:1-12). The two sons of Abraham were Isaac whose mother was Sarah, and Ishmael whose mother was Hagar the handmaid to Sarah. These are their generations of Ishmael; the firstborn was Nebaioth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael. ( 1 Chronicles 1:28-31. The Biblical records do not show any other account of this son of Ishmael or his tribe. |
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