Difference between revisions of "Sarah's Treatment of Hagar/1"
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<q xml:lang="en">(5) Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my handmaid into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Hashem judge between me and you.” (6) But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.</q> | <q xml:lang="en">(5) Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my handmaid into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Hashem judge between me and you.” (6) But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.</q> | ||
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| − | <p>Though the meaning of the phrase "וַתְּעַנֶּהָ שָׂרַי" and the exact nature of Sarah's actions are unclear, Sarah's treatment of Hagar was apparently harsh enough to cause Hagar to flee.<fn>Given Hagar's pregnant state, this should not have been an easy decision, suggesting that Sarah's treatment must have been viewed as particularly cruel.</fn> Elsewhere,<fn>See, for example,  Bereshit 15:13, Shemot 1:11-12 and Shemot 22:21-22.</fn> the verb "ענה" refers to oppression; is that what it means here as well?  If so, did Hagar's attitude really warrant such a severe response? Was Sarah justified in afflicting her to such an extent?</p> | + | <p>Though the meaning of the phrase "וַתְּעַנֶּהָ שָׂרַי" and the exact nature of Sarah's actions are unclear, Sarah's treatment of Hagar was apparently harsh enough to cause Hagar to flee.<fn>Given Hagar's pregnant state, this should not have been an easy decision, suggesting that Sarah's treatment must have been viewed as particularly cruel.</fn> Elsewhere,<fn>See, for example,  Bereshit 15:13, Shemot 1:11-12 and Shemot 22:21-22.</fn> the verb "ענה" refers to oppression; is that what it means here as well?  If so, did Hagar's attitude really warrant such a severe response? Was Sarah justified in afflicting her to such an extent? Finally, what role did Avraham play in the episode? Did he condone Sarah's treatment of Hagar? Should he have given his wife free reign to do as she pleased?</p> |
<h2>"וְהִתְעַנִּי תַּחַת יָדֶיהָ" vs. "כִּי שָׁמַע י"י אֶל עׇנְיֵךְ"</h2> | <h2>"וְהִתְעַנִּי תַּחַת יָדֶיהָ" vs. "כִּי שָׁמַע י"י אֶל עׇנְיֵךְ"</h2> | ||
Version as of 17:13, 7 November 2019
Sarah's Treatment of Hagar
Introduction
An Unwarranted Affliction?
Bereshit 16 shares how the barren Sarah decides to give her maidservant, Hagar, in marriage to Avraham. Hagar conceives, leading her to belittle her mistress ("וַתֵּקַל גְּבִרְתָּהּ בְּעֵינֶיהָ"). Sarah, in turn, reacts harshly:
(ה) וַתֹּאמֶר שָׂרַי אֶל אַבְרָם חֲמָסִי עָלֶיךָ אָנֹכִי נָתַתִּי שִׁפְחָתִי בְּחֵיקֶךָ וַתֵּרֶא כִּי הָרָתָה וָאֵקַל בְּעֵינֶיהָ יִשְׁפֹּט י״י בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶיךָ. (ו) וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָם אֶל שָׂרַי הִנֵּה שִׁפְחָתֵךְ בְּיָדֵךְ עֲשִׂי לָהּ הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינָיִךְ וַתְּעַנֶּהָ שָׂרַי וַתִּבְרַח מִפָּנֶיהָ.
(5) Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my handmaid into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Hashem judge between me and you.” (6) But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.
Though the meaning of the phrase "וַתְּעַנֶּהָ שָׂרַי" and the exact nature of Sarah's actions are unclear, Sarah's treatment of Hagar was apparently harsh enough to cause Hagar to flee.1 Elsewhere,2 the verb "ענה" refers to oppression; is that what it means here as well? If so, did Hagar's attitude really warrant such a severe response? Was Sarah justified in afflicting her to such an extent? Finally, what role did Avraham play in the episode? Did he condone Sarah's treatment of Hagar? Should he have given his wife free reign to do as she pleased?
"וְהִתְעַנִּי תַּחַת יָדֶיהָ" vs. "כִּי שָׁמַע י"י אֶל עׇנְיֵךְ"
Though the text does not explicitly share Hashem's evaluation of Sarah's deeds, it does provide a few clues via the angel's conversation with Hagar. Unfortunately, though, the message relayed appears to be self-contradictory. On one hand, the angel tells Hagar to return to her mistress, "וְהִתְעַנִּי תַּחַת יָדֶיהָ". This would suggest that Sarah's treatment of Hagar was justified; otherwise how could the angel expect Hagar to return? On the other hand, just two verses later, Hagar is told to name her son Yishmael, "כִּי שָׁמַע י"י אֶל עׇנְיֵךְ". This implies that Hagar really had suffered and was afflicted unduly! How is one to understand the contradiction, and which statement best reflects how we are meant to evaluate Sarah's deeds?
