Was Sarah wrong to give Hagar to Abraham?

No, Sarah was not wrong to give Hagar to Abraham. She did this because she was already very aged and naturally there was no way that she could have any children. The biblical commentators laud Sarah's decision and see her act as a very selfless one. She was concerned with having progeny, and therefore was willing to forego her own honor or exclusivity as Abraham's only wife.

Sarah's plan was to raise Ishmael as her own son, teaching him the ways of Torah.

But G‑d had another plan in mind. He wanted Abraham and Sarah to have their own child...and so Sarah, miraculously, at the age of ninety, gave birth to Isaac, the second forefather of the Jewish people!

Chana Weisberg for Chabad.org

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7 Comments

Roberta Gabor California October 1, 2024

Sarah and Abraham had been promised a son. But instead of waiting in faith for God to act, they took matters into their own hands. This was works, not faith. With God nothing is impossible and God kept His promise to them and at the right time, Sarah conceived because it was God's plan and they were still believing that, according to God's word she would conceive. Sadly, I guess, they became impatient and took matters into their own hands (this is works, not faith) but God kept His promise (He always does) and at the right time, Sarah who was very elderly, conceived and Isaac was Nothing is impossible with God and He keeps His promises. Reply

Rachel Baltimore, USA February 26, 2023

You say that Sarah Imanu's plan was to raise Yishmael as her own son and teach him Torah.

Question: Did she do this? Or did she allow Hagar to raise him?

I think that Sarah was acting on her feminine instinct to sacrifice herself. We women still tend to do this today, to sacrifice in order to let others enjoy, or just to placate others.

That's one of the things that is said to change when Mashiach comes: that the feminine will be stronger. The moon won't have to diminish herself anymore (to let the sun be bigger and brighter).

I think we're seeing more of this with the awakening of women to the concepts of setting boundaries, self-respect, self-appreciation, self-actualization. Knowing one's personal values and setting boundaries to protect them and oneself are definitely new concepts for me, and I'm 64 y.o. Reply

Valerie Jean köln, germany August 28, 2011

Sarah treats hagar harsely I would like to know what exactly it was, that Sarah did unto Hagar to make her run away. Reply

Xenite Van Nuys, CA July 18, 2007

Yes My opinion is that she was wrong. She didn't trust G-d's plan. Instead, she divised one of her own. As a result of her resolution, the descendants of Hagar and Sarah battle forever.

I understand the desire to see it as a selfless act, but it was selfish because she prayed but didn't trust. Of course, I'm a gentile so what do I know :-) Reply

Barbara Pflugerville, Texas July 4, 2017

in response to Xenite:

We view situations within our own timeline; and, it may be hard to think how life was nearly 4,000 years ago when we did not live then. We have to study ancient history and culture of that time. Survival and progeny were paramount in the life of families and tribes. Your being a Gentile has nothing to do with your opinion. Your opinion is based on lack of understanding of how life was lived back then; and, quite frankly, most people of our modern era would also find it difficult to understand this without studying the history and culture of the time. Reply

Seth Morocco May 4, 2020

in response to Barbara:

I really understand you but I would like to know where in the bible it says it was a normal act in their time. Thanks Reply

Gisele Brooklyn, NY June 19, 2007

Many a time I see families doing selfless acts that merit them having a child of their own after many years of trying to conceive, just look at the many cases of people adopting kids than they get pregnant, afterwards.
This is like the Sarah and Hagar story here. Reply

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