The Hagarites, also known as the Hagrites or Hagarenes, were a people group mentioned several times in the Old Testament books of 1 Chronicles and Psalms. Though not much is known about them, the Bible provides some clues as to their origins and interactions with the Israelites.
Hagar in the Bible
To understand the identity of the Hagarites, we must first look at the story of Hagar in Genesis. Hagar was an Egyptian slave girl owned by Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Since Sarah was unable to conceive, she offered Hagar to Abraham as a surrogate mother (Genesis 16:1-3). Hagar soon became pregnant and gave birth to Ishmael. But after Sarah miraculously conceived and bore Isaac, conflict arose between the two women. Sarah dealt harshly with Hagar, who then fled into the wilderness (Genesis 16:4-6).
An angel of the Lord found Hagar by a spring in the desert and instructed her to return to Sarah and submit to her authority. The angel also prophesied that Hagar’s son Ishmael would become the father of a great nation (Genesis 16:7-12). After Isaac was born, tensions rose again between Sarah and Hagar. This time, Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away at Sarah’s insistence (Genesis 21:8-14). The angel appeared again to Hagar and promised divine protection over the boy. Ishmael grew up in the wilderness of Paran and became a skillful archer. He married an Egyptian woman (Genesis 21:18-21).
The Descendants of Ishmael
Genesis 25:12-18 records the twelve sons of Ishmael and states they became tribal chiefs and ancestors of various Arab tribes. This fulfilled God’s promise that Ishmael would father a great nation (Genesis 17:20). The Ishmaelites were notable traders in the ancient Near East (Genesis 37:25-28; 39:1). They inhabited the wilderness regions of northern Arabia, spanning from Havilah to Shur.
The Identification of the Hagarites
Now we come to the Hagarites, who were clearly descended from Hagar through her son Ishmael. The name “Hagrite” means a descendant of Hagar. But which specific Ishmaelite tribe does this refer to? Genesis 25:18 states that Ishmael’s descendants lived between Havilah and Shur. 1 Chronicles 5:10 notes the Hagrites lived east of Gilead, placing them in the northern regions of Arabia.
Furthermore, 1 Chronicles 27:30-31 states that Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of King David’s flocks. This indicates the Hagrites interacted with and perhaps allied with Israel at times. Based on proximity and biblical clues, the Hagrites most likely correspond to the Ishmaelite tribe centered around Jetur (Genesis 25:15), one of Ishmael’s twelve sons.
The Battles Against the Hagarites
The Hagrites are mentioned in the Bible primarily in relation to battles against the Israelite tribes east of the Jordan River. During the time of King Saul, the Reubenites fought against the Hagrites, overthrowing them and occupying their lands which stretched to the outskirts of the Gilead region (1 Chronicles 5:10, 18-22).
Years later in the days of King David, the Hagrites joined with other eastern tribes to wage war against the Reubenites, Gadites, and Manassites (1 Chronicles 5:10, 18-22). This time, the Hagrites and their allies were defeated. Chronicles records that 100,000 captives were taken and over 250,000 slain by the Israelites and their allies (1 Chronicles 5:21-22).
Psalm 83 also mentions the Hagrites among the eastern coalition united against Israel (Psalm 83:6). But overall, the Bible contains few details about the origins, culture, and eventual fate of this nomadic Ishmaelite tribe who often battled Israel’s eastern tribes.
A Summary of the Biblical Facts
To summarize what the Bible reveals about the Hagrites:
- They descended from Hagar through her son Ishmael.
- They were an Ishmaelite nomadic tribe associated with Jetur.
- They inhabited northern Arabia near Israel’s eastern tribes.
- At times they were allied with Israel, but more often they were hostile.
- The Reubenites and Gadites defeated them soundly during David’s reign.
Though the details are sparse, we can piece together an image of the Hagarites as a fierce desert tribe embattled with Israel’s eastern tribes over land rights and regional dominance. They faded from significance after their defeat by the Israelites.
Other Biblical Names for the Hagarites
The Hagarites were also known as the Hagrites or Haggerites (1 Chronicles 5:10, 18-22). This name literally means the descendants of Hagar. They were called the children of Hagar (Psalm 83:6).
Another related term is Hagarenes or Hagarites. This comes from Hagar’s name as well. We see this in Psalm 83:6 – “the Hagarenes from the wilderness.” It has the same meaning as Hagarites – the nomadic descendants of Abraham’s concubine Hagar through her son Ishmael.
Extra-Biblical References
While the Bible contains the primary historical references to the Hagarites, there are a few potential extra-biblical mentions:
- Assyrian records – Shalmaneser III (859-824 BC) claims victory over a coalition including a tribe called “Hagaranu.” This may be a reference to the Hagarites.
- Josephus – The Jewish historian Josephus (37-100 AD) discusses the descendants of Ishmael and mentions the “Hagarines” as one of his twelve tribes.
- Roman records – A Latin inscription by a Roman prefect in the 2nd century AD references the “Thamudaei, Saraceni, and Agraei,” which could correspond to the later Nabateans, Ishmaelites, and Hagarites.
While interesting, these brief extra-biblical sources do not provide much expanded detail compared to what we already know about the Hagarites from the Old Testament.
Spiritual Lessons from the Hagarites
Though the Hagarites were often enemies of Israel, their mention in the Bible can provide some positive spiritual lessons:
- God cares for all people, including outcasts like Hagar and Ishmael.
- God’s blessings are not limited to one family line but often extend to many nations.
- Not all conflict is against God’s will. Battles to establish justice and secure land God had given were seen as righteous causes.
- Biblical history involves God working through the interactions of many people groups, not just Israel.
As we study obscure ancient groups like the Hagarites, we gain greater appreciation for how complex, international, and ethnically diverse the biblical historical narratives really are. And we see God’s faithfulness spanning across all nations, through expected and unexpected lines.