Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 21:14

"And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and [gave her] the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba." — Genesis 21:14 (ASV)

And the child.—Ishmael was now sixteen or seventeen years of age, but the word yeled used in this place has no reference to age, and in Genesis 4:23 is even translated young man. It literally signifies one born and is applied in Genesis 42:22 to Joseph, when he was about Ishmael’s age. So the “children who mocked Elisha” (2 Kings 2:23) were doubtless grown young men. In Genesis 21:18, Ishmael is called a lad; shortly afterward, he was able to maintain himself and Hagar with his bow (Genesis 21:20), and his mother took a wife for him from Egypt (Genesis 21:21).

The narrative, therefore, does not represent Ishmael as a small child. This idea has probably arisen from the supposition that Abraham placed Ishmael, as well as the supply of food, on Hagar’s shoulder.

She departed, and wandered.—Her dismissal had come upon Hagar suddenly, and so she had no plan or purpose, but went here and there until the water in the skin was used up.

The wilderness of Beer-sheba.—Until then, this region had no name . It lay about twenty Roman miles or more below Hebron and was the most southern part of Palestine, while beyond it lay the vast desert of Et-Tih, of which the wilderness of Beer-sheba formed a part. Gerar, which Abraham had now evidently left, was situated on the western side of Beer-sheba, but at no great distance from it (Genesis 26:26).