Imagine being an extremely old lady, and hoping all of your life that you are going to have a kid. One day, you are told by G-d that you are going to have a son and your heart is full of joy. Then a few years later, your husband disappears with your beloved child, off to do some sort of service to G-d. You continue on your usual schedule, unaware of what is really going on. Then a day or so later, someone tells you that your husband killed your son, sacrificing him to G-d.
Your heart sputters, stops, and you die. Isn't that awful?
If the midrash that says Sarah died because she thought Avraham had actually killed Yitzchak is true, that might be one of the saddest stories ever. And poor Avraham and Yitzchak, returning home to find Sarah dead.
(other opinions say that Sarah died after this whole story, and its simply the next important thing mentioned)
I agree with the last point that you made. I do not believe that the Midrash is right in this case because I don't think Hashem would do something like that to Sarah. She had nothing to do with the situation. This was simply a test for Avraham that would not involve Sarah. I think she died because she was old. She had her child, which was like her life mission (like in the story we read in Ivrit about Rekuja) and it was time for her to die. The end.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting how worried we all are with Sarah's feelings. I feel like we have devoted many posts on the blog to Sarah and how she must be feeling throughout Avraham's various challenges, and it shows that she really is more of a main character rather than just Avraham's wife in the background.
ReplyDeleteOh aviva! that is one excellent point! It is very possible that her lifes mission was to bring Yitchak into this world in order to create the true Zerah for the land. However, as Sade mentioned, i think that she has a much greater role than just bringing her son into this world. This is definitely proven because we concern ourselves continuously with her feelings and challenges. As Zed mentioned, i do think taht Sarah has often been a bit of a
ReplyDeleteNebuch. She had to endure so much just because she was Avrahams wife.