Interesting Facts

• Sarai, who was later known as Sarah, was the sister of Milca and the daughter of Haran.
• She was the wife of Abram (later Abraham), her uncle.
• Sarai was barren for a significant period of her life, only conceiving in her old age.
• On two occasions, Abram asked Sarai to present herself as his sister to avoid potential harm from local rulers due to her beauty.
• Sarai, despite her initial barrenness, was promised to be a mother of nations, and kings of people would come from her.

Genealogy

• Sarah was the daughter of Haran.
• Her sister was Milca, who married Nahor, Abraham’s brother.
• She was the wife of Abram, who was the son of Terah and thus her uncle, Haran being Terah’s son.
• Through Hagar, her handmaid whom she gave to Abram, Sarah became the ‘grandmother’ of Ishmael.
• In her old age, she conceived and bore Isaac to Abraham. Isaac was prophesied to be the one through whom Abraham’s name and seed would be called.

Historical Context

Sarai’s life unfolded during a period marked by significant events in the early patriarchal narratives. She was born in the year 1959 A.M.. Her early life likely took place in Ur of the Chaldees and then Haran, a time when, according to the sources, many transgressed against the Lord and served other gods, including Terah’s household. The narrative highlights Abram’s separation from this idolatrous environment and his initial adherence to the Lord. Sarai’s journey with Abram to Canaan and their subsequent sojourn in Egypt due to famine occurred against a backdrop of different cultural and political systems. In Egypt, the power of the Pharaoh and the perceived danger to Abram due to Sarai’s beauty illustrate the vulnerabilities of their nomadic existence. The later incident with King Abimelech of Gerar further underscores the precariousness of their situation and the reliance on divine intervention. The eventual promise and miraculous birth of Isaac took place against the context of divine covenants and promises made to Abraham, shaping the future lineage and destiny of their descendants.

Narrative

Sarai’s narrative is central to the unfolding story of Abraham and the covenant. Initially, she is presented as Abram’s wife who is unable to bear children, a significant challenge in their culture. Her proactive role in suggesting that Abram have a child with her handmaid Hagar reveals her desire to fulfill the societal expectation of progeny and secure Abram’s lineage. However, this decision leads to conflict and jealousy when Hagar conceives and despises Sarai. Sarai’s subsequent affliction of Hagar, resulting in Hagar’s flight and the intervention of an angel, demonstrates the complexities of their household dynamics. Later, the narrative emphasizes Sarai’s beauty, which poses a threat to Abram in foreign lands, leading him to ask her to conceal their marital relationship. Divine intervention protects Sarai from both Pharaoh and Abimelech, highlighting God’s favor and the significance of Sarai in the unfolding plan. The pivotal moment in Sarai’s narrative is the divine promise of a son in her old age, which she initially doubts, but ultimately experiences with the birth of Isaac. Her joy at Isaac’s birth contrasts with the earlier tensions surrounding Ishmael, eventually leading to the casting out of Hagar and Ishmael to secure Isaac’s inheritance. The narrative also portrays Sarah’s deep love and concern for Isaac, particularly during the episode of the intended sacrifice, where the news of it causes her immense grief and, according to Jasher, her death. Her death at the age of 127 and subsequent burial in the cave of Machpelah mark the end of a significant chapter in Abraham’s life and the patriarchal narrative.