2086. Verse 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I will bless him and I will make him fruitful and I will multiply him more and more. Twelve princes will he beget, and I will make him into a great nation.

'As for Ishmael, I have heard you' means that people rational from truth are to be saved. 'Behold, I will bless him' means that they were to be furnished and endowed......'I will make him fruitful' means with goods of faith....'And I will multiply him' means and with truths from that source....'More and more' means without limit. 'Twelve princes will he beget' means the first and foremost commandments of faith inhering in charity. 'And I will make him into a great nation' means having the enjoyment of goods, and increases in these.