Is there any significance to be had by the fact that two great nations came from Jacob who had 12 sons and Ishmael who also had 12 sons?
Well, I am not a biblical scholor, but I think it is likely the answer is yes. I find it interesting that there are 12 Apostles as well. I am sure there is some symbolic significance to this. I would love to hear what those more scholarly types have to say about this.
Isaac and Ishmael, both sons of Abraham were separated as young children. Jacob came a generation later. I don't understand how each having the same number of sons when large families were the rule could make a connection.
Jacob became a great nation because God promised. From "Mousetrails-THE FIRST HOLY WAR"
Then Jacob received the promise which was getting more elaborate each time it was given. This time God added, "I will be with you and protect you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land; indeed I will not forsake you till I fulfill my promise." And something else new, instead of, "descendants as the stars of the heavens, as the sands of the seashore," it changed to; "They shall be as the dust of the earth." (Genesis 28:12) Jacob's second promise was just the standard promise of nations and kings and the land, except this time He changed Jacob's name to Israel. (Genesis 35:11)
When Sara ordered Ismael and Agar expelled the Bible says, The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham,"Be not distressed on account of the boy and your slave-girl; heed all that Sara says to you; for through Isaac shall your descendants be called.
AND THEN GOD STARTED A WAR THAT HAS CONTINUED FOR 4000 YEARS AND CONTINUES IN IRAQ TODAY when he said,
"But I will also make the son of the slave-girl a great nation because he is your offspring."
mousetrails