Ordinarily, in the ancient Near East, the children of slaves were also destined for slavery unless they were acknowledged by the owner/master.1 The suggestion from this is that those who see old covenant law as a means of salvation are children of Hagar and not children of Sarah.2 They are unable to share in the promised inheritance through their imperfect obedience to the law.3
24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.