THEOSISJerome of Stridon
The remaining sons of Ishmael are detailed until it states, ‘They lived from Havilah to Sur, which is before Egypt, as you go to Assyria. Before all his brothers, he fell.’ Ishmael had twelve sons, with Nabaioth being the eldest. The name Nabaioth continues to be associated with the area extending from the Euphrates to the Red Sea, known as Nabathea, part of Arabia. The towns, villages, small fortresses, and tribes in this region are widely recognized under this designation. One of Ishmael's sons gave rise to the name Kedar, found in the desert, another to Dumah in a different territory, yet another to Fema in the south, and a fourth to Kedma on the eastern side.
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The closing remark of this verse, according to the Septuagint’s translation, ‘in the sight of all his brethren he lived,’ is more accurately rendered as ‘in the sight of all his brethren he rested.’ This indicates that Ishmael passed away surrounded by all his sons, meaning his children outlived him, as none passed away before him. It is important to note that they may be called brothers instead of sons. This principle is also illustrated in the account of Jacob and Laban, where Jacob asks, ‘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). Ultimately, it is clear that Jacob’s companions who are referred to as brothers were in fact his children, as the Scripture narrates.