1)

What claim did Sarah have against Avraham?

1.

Rashi #1: That when he prayed for children, he only prayed for himself and not for her as well. 1

2.

Rashi #2, Targum Yonasan, Seforno, Moshav Zekenim: When Hagar disgraced her, he remained silent. 2


1

Rashi: Because, she claimed, had he Davened also for her, perhaps she would already have been granted children together with him.

2

Targum Yonasan adds that, she reminded him that she had left her land and father's household to accompany him to a foreign country and had given him her maidservant as a wife. And now that that maidservant had demeaned her, she expected him to defend her. And she concluded that, now that Avraham had remained silent, she relied on HaSh-m to do stand up for her, and that she would bear him children who would fill the land; consequently, there was no need for Hagar to have children.

2)

Why does the word "u'Veinecha" have a second "Yud" (unlike other occurrences of this word)?

1.

Rashi: So that it can be read "u'Veinayich" (as if she was speaking to Hagar). 1 This teaches us that she placed an Ayin ha'Ra on Hagar, who miscarried her baby. 2


1

See Gur Aryeh.

2

This explains why the angel will later inform her that she will become pregnant (again) (16:11).

3)

The Gemara says (Bava Kama 93a) that Sarah asked HaSh-m to judge between her and Avraham, and that therefore, she was punished first. But Hagar miscarried long before Sarah died!

1.

Moshav Zekenim #1: Immediately, Sarah's apportioned years were reduced, before Hagar miscarried!

2.

Moshav Zekenim #2: The miscarriage was not due to this judgment. Sarah did not care about it.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

4)

Rashi writes: "You should have prayed for both of us.... Furthermore, you are withholding your words [now]; you hear my disgrace and remain silent." Why does Rashi use the term "furthermore" (v'Od) rather than "alternatively" (Davar Acher)?

1.

Gur Aryeh: The word "injustice" (Chamas) is used without specifying; it includes any injustice, and so both explanations are implied in the verse.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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