Why God Changed Sarah's Words and Faulted Her Laughter

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 18:13

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And I am old." From here [we learn] that the Holy One, blessed be He, altered [the words] for the sake of peace. She said, "and my lord is old" (Genesis 18:12), but the Holy One, blessed be He, said, "and I am old." If so, why was the Holy One, blessed be He, displeased with Sarah for laughing? For behold, regarding Abraham it is written, "and he laughed" (Genesis 17:17), yet the Holy One, blessed be He, was not displeased. Because it is written regarding Sarah, "within herself" (Genesis 18:12), but regarding Abraham it is not written "within himself." And what is [the meaning of] "within herself"? She was gazing into her innards and saying, "Breasts that have shriveled — do they draw forth milk?" Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, was displeased with her.

Themes

Divine PromiseHumorMatriarchsWitCreation

Biblical References

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