# As for Ishmael The words "As for" show that God is switching from talking about the baby that would be born to talking about Ishmael. # Behold "Look" or "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you" # will multiply him abundantly "I will cause him to have many descendants" # princes "chiefs" or "rulers." Ishmael's twelve sons are different from the twelve sons of Jacob who were the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel.