Sarah's Treatment of Hagar/1
Sarah's Treatment of Hagar
Introduction
"וַתְּעַנֶּהָ שָׂרַי" - 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 harsh response? Was Sarah justified in afflicting her to such an extent?
