Sarai, Abram's wife, was barren (Gen 11:30). Impatient at the long delay of the promise, Sarah agreed for Abram to cohabit with her maid Hagar, and as a result Ishmael was born eleven years after Abram and Sarah entered Canaan (Gen 16:1-16). He was finally cast out of Abram's house at Sarah's request and the Lord's approval, for Abram's descendants were to be counted from Isaac (Gen 21:1-21).