After Sarah was able to have her own child, and he survived infancy, she began to get angry with Abraham's other son, Ishmael. He would have been a constant reminder of her own sin. God blessed Ishmael, but he was not able to inherit the promises given to Abraham. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#sin, /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#inherit and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#promise and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#bless)
According to the law at this time, Hagar was able to gain her freedom from slavery by abandoning any claim to receive an inheritance. This is why Hagar would have abandoned her son under the tree. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
The Gentile king, Abimelech, made a covenant or treaty with Abraham. It is possible that he did this because he recognized the power of Abraham's God, but his exact reasons are unknown. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#covenant)
Here the phrase "paid attention to" refers to Yahweh helping Sarah have a baby. Alternate translation: "Yahweh helped Sarah" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"gave birth to Abraham's son"
"when Abraham was very old"
"at the exact time that God had told him it would happen"
"Abraham named his newborn son, the one Sarah gave birth to, Isaac" or "Abraham named their newborn son Isaac"
"When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him"
"8 days" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
"had commanded Abraham to do"
"100" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
Sarah was laughing because she was surprised and happy. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "God has caused me to laugh joyfully" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
What people would hear can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: "everyone who hears about what God has done for me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "No one would have ever said to Abraham that Sarah will nurse children" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
This is a polite way of referring to breast-feeding babies. Alternate translation: "feed a baby her own milk" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
"Wean" here is a polite way of saying the child was finished with breast feeding. Alternate translation: "Isaac grew, and when he no longer needed his mother's milk, Abraham had a large feast" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
The name of Hagar's son can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: "Ishmael, the son of Hagar the Egyptian and Abraham" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
It can be stated explicitly that he was jeering or laughing at Isaac. Alternate translation: "laughing at Isaac" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"Sarah said to Abraham"
"send away" or "get rid of"
This refers to Hagar and Ishmael. Sarah probably did not refer to them by name because she was angry with them.
"with my son Isaac"
"Abraham was very unhappy about what Sarah said"
"because it was about his son." It is implied that this means his son, Ishmael. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"Do not be upset about the boy and your handmaid"
"Do everything that Sarah says to you about them"
The phrase "will be named" means those born through Isaac are the ones God considers to be the descendants that he promised Abraham. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Isaac is the one who will be the forefather of the descendants I promised to give you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
The word "nation" means God will give him many descendants so that they become a great nation of people. Alternate translation: "I will make the servant woman's son also become the father of a great nation" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
These words could refer to 1) food in general or 2) bread specifically. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
"a bag of water." The water container was made out of animal skin.
"When the water bag was empty" or "When they had drank all of the water"
This refers to the distance that a person could shoot an arrow with a bow. This is about 100 meters.
The abstract noun "death" can be stated as "die." Alternate translation: "I do not want to watch the boy die" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
Here "voice" stands for the sound of her crying. To "life up her voice" means to cry loudly. Alternate translation: "she cried out loudly and wept" or "she wept loudly" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
"the young man's voice." Here "voice" stands for the sound of the young man crying or speaking. Alternate translation: "the sound of Ishmael" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
"a messenger from God" or "God's messenger"
Here "heaven" means the place where God lives.
"What is wrong" or "Why are you crying"
Here "voice" stands for the sound of the young man crying or speaking. Alternate translation: "the sound of the young man lying over there" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
"help the young man stand up"
To make Ishmael into a great nation means God will give him many descendants who will become a great nation. Alternate translation: "I will make his descendants become a great nation" or "I will make him become the ancestor of a great nation" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
God making Hagar aware of the well is spoken of as if he literally opened her eyes. Alternate translation: "God caused Hagar to see" or "God showed her" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
"the container made of skin" or "the bag"
"the boy" or "Ishmael"
Here the phrase "was with" is an idiom that means God helped or blessed the young man. Alternate translation: "God guided the young man" or "God blessed the young man" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
"became very skilled at using a bow and arrows"
"found a wife"
This phrase marks the beginning of a new part of the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)
This is the name of a man. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"commander of his army"
The word "his" refers to Abimelech.
Here the phrase "is with you" is an idiom that means God helps or blesses Abraham. Alternate translation: "God blesses everything you do" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
The word "Now" does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows. Alternate translation: "Therefore" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This is an idiom meaning to make a solemn oath witnessed by a higher authority, in this instance, God. Alternate translation: "promise me with God as your witness" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
"that you will not lie to me"
"will deal honestly with me and my descendants"
The two men had made a covenant with each other. The abstract noun "faithfulness" can be stated as "faithful" or "loyal." Alternate translation: "Be as faithful to me and to the land as I have been to you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
Here "land" stands for the people. Alternate translation: "to the people of the land" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
This can be stated with the understood information. Alternate translation: "I swear to be as faithful to you and your people as you have been to me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-ellipsis)
Possible meanings are 1) Abraham was complaining about what happened or 2) "Abraham also rebuked Abimelek"
"because Abimelek's servants had taken one of Abraham's wells"
"taken from Abraham" or "had taken control of"
"This is the first time I have heard about it"
This is a sign of friendship and that Abraham agrees to make covenant with Abimelek. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-symaction)
"Abraham separated seven female lambs from the flock"
"Why have you separated these seven lambs from the flock?"
"you will take"
Here "hand" stands for Abraham. Alternate translation: "from me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
The word "it" refers to the gift of seven lambs.
The abstract noun "witness" can be stated as "to prove." Alternate translation: "to prove to everyone" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
"Abraham called that place"
Translators may add a footnote saying "Beersheba can mean either "well of the oath" or "well of seven."
"Abraham and Abimelech"
This is the name of a man. See how you translated this name in Genesis 21:22.
This is an evergreen tree that can grow in the desert. It can be stated more generally. Alternate translation: "a tree" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-unknown)
"the God who lives forever"
"for a long time"