THEOSISJerome of Stridon
The remaining sons of Ishmael are those identified until it is stated, ‘They lived from Havilah to Sur, which is before Egypt, as you go to Assyria. In the presence of all his siblings he fell.’ Ishmael fathered twelve sons, with Nabaioth being the eldest. This name has become synonymous with the region stretching from the Euphrates to the Red Sea, known as Nabathea, a part of Arabia; the local families, towns, villages, small fortifications, and tribes are collectively recognized by this title. From one of Ishmael's sons came the name Kedar in the wilderness, while another was named Dumah in a different terrain, a third was called Fema in the southern regions, and a fourth was named Kedma to the east.
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The concluding phrase of this verse, as rendered by the Seventy, ‘in the sight of all his brethren he lived,’ might be better expressed as ‘in the sight of all his brethren he rested.’ This indicates that Ishmael passed away surrounded by his sons, suggesting that none of his children preceded him in death. The term brothers may also refer to sons, as illustrated by Jacob’s dialogue with Laban when he states, ‘What is my sin, that thou hast chased me and searched all my things? What have you found of all the things of your house? Let it be laid before my brothers and your brothers, and let them judge between us’ (Gen. 31:36-37). It is understood that Jacob had no brothers apart from his offspring, as noted in Scripture.