This verse contains a surprise. The Chronicler introduces Abraham’s sons Isaac and Ishmael. The birth order is reversed, and therefore anyone who has become accustomed to his methods will expect Ishmael to be dealt with first, which is what happens. But then, before he gets to Isaac the writer mentions another set of sons born to Abraham by his concubine Keturah. The Chronicler, therefore, deals first with what he views as the secondary lines of descent from Abraham before getting to the most important descendants who were of course those who formed the line of promise through Isaac.¹