Sarah
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Sarah (Hebrew: שָׂרָה, Śārāh; Arabic: سارة, Sāra ; "princess") or Sarai (Hebrew: שָׂרַי, Śārāy), (1958 AM 2201 BC
1560 H
1958 AM—2085 AM 2074 BC
1687 H
2085 AM), is a biblical matriarch and the wife of Abraham, the patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
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Life and Family
Sarah was actually Abraham's half-sister, the daughter of Terah but not the daughter of Abraham's mother.[1] James Ussher suspected that Sarah was the daughter of Abraham's brother Haran, probably to fit a "late birth" scenario. The plain reading of the verse cited above militates in favor of an early birth for Abraham, not a late one.
Sarah is described as "barren," not able to have a child.[2] She would, however, have one child, Isaac, before she died.
Departure into Canaan
In 2023 AM, she accompanied her husband Abraham into Canaan, after Abraham received a summons from God to enter that land.[3] In 2024 AM, a famine struck the land, and Abraham's household traveled to Egypt, where food was available. There Abraham introduced Sarah as his "sister" to the Egyptians. Sarah was taken into the palace of the Pharaoh, but was later released unharmed and untouched. The Pharaoh gave Abraham's household many gifts. These included a servant girl, Hagar, who was handmaid to Sarah.[4]
Hagar and Ishmael
Sarah despaired of actually having a child of her own. So in 2033 AM she asked Abraham to take Hagar as her surrogate. Abraham did, and Ishmael was born as a result of this union.[5]
When, thirteen years later, three angels delivered a direct message from God that Sarah would have a son of her own, she laughed in disbelief. She was, after all, 89 years old at this time, and was post-menopausal. She tried to deny laughing, but God knew the truth.[6][7]
Birth of Isaac
When Sarah was 90 years old, her son Isaac was born.[8] Five years later, Abraham declared a feast throughout his camp in Isaac's honor. On that occasion, Sarah saw Ishmael behaving toward Isaac in a mocking manner. She then prevailed upon Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. She never saw either person again.[9]
Chronological note
Some authorities have traditionally held that the "four hundred years of evil treatment" (Genesis 15:17 ) begin with this incident. If one assumes a "short Sojourn in Egypt," then this incident would have taken place four hundred years in advance of the Exodus of Israel from Egypt.
Death and Burial
Sarah died in 2085 AM, having lived for 127 years1,570.77 mon
46,385.759 da. Upon her death, Abraham bought a burial cave at Machpelah to bury her in. He himself was buried later in the same place.[10]
Related References
- ↑ Genesis 20:12
- ↑ Genesis 11:30
- ↑ Genesis 12:1-5
- ↑ Genesis 12:10-20
- ↑ Genesis 16:1-2
- ↑ Genesis 18:11-15
- ↑ This is how Isaac got his name, which means "he shall laugh."
- ↑ Genesis 21:1-6
- ↑ Genesis 21:9-11
- ↑ Genesis 23
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