Abraham Eulogizes Sarah Through the Woman of Valor Verses

[AND ABRAHAM WAS OLD (Gen. 24:1).] This is what Scripture says (Prov. 31:10): A WOMAN OF VALOR, WHO CAN FIND? About whom were these words spoken? Since it is written above (Gen. 23:2): AND ABRAHAM CAME TO MOURN FOR SARAH AND TO WEEP FOR HER, he began to weep and to eulogize, and he said: When will I be able to take one like you? A WOMAN OF VALOR — this is Sarah, as it is said (Gen. 12:11): BEHOLD NOW, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A WOMAN OF BEAUTIFUL APPEARANCE. AND HER VALUE IS FAR ABOVE PEARLS — for she came from afar, as it is said (Isa. 46:11): CALLING A BIRD OF PREY FROM THE EAST, THE MAN OF MY COUNSEL FROM A FAR LAND. THE HEART OF HER HUSBAND TRUSTS IN HER — this is Sarah, as it is said (Gen. 12:13): [SAY, PLEASE, THAT YOU ARE MY SISTER,] SO THAT IT MAY GO WELL WITH ME BECAUSE OF YOU. AND HE SHALL LACK NO GAIN — this is our father Abraham, as it is said (Gen. 13:2): AND ABRAM WAS VERY RICH. SHE DOES HIM GOOD AND NOT EVIL — this is Sarah, as it is said (Gen. 12:16): AND BECAUSE OF HER IT WENT WELL WITH ABRAM. SHE SEEKS WOOL AND FLAX — between Ishmael and Isaac, as it is said (Gen. 21:9-10): AND SARAH SAW THE SON OF HAGAR THE EGYPTIAN, etc., AND SHE SAID TO ABRAHAM: CAST OUT THIS SLAVE-WOMAN, etc. SHE IS LIKE THE MERCHANT SHIPS — for she was moved about from place to place and from province to province, like this ship that travels from place to place on the sea. SHE BRINGS HER FOOD FROM AFAR, as it is said (Gen. 20:16): BEHOLD, I HAVE GIVEN A THOUSAND PIECES OF SILVER TO YOUR BROTHER, etc. AND SHE RISES WHILE IT IS STILL NIGHT — when? AND ABRAHAM ROSE EARLY IN THE MORNING, etc. (Gen. 22:3). AND SHE GIVES FOOD TO HER HOUSEHOLD AND A STATUTE TO HER MAIDENS — ON THIS VERY DAY ABRAHAM WAS CIRCUMCISED, etc. (Gen. 17:26), and "statute" means nothing other than circumcision, as it is said (Ps. 105:10): AND HE ESTABLISHED IT FOR JACOB AS A STATUTE, FOR ISRAEL AN EVERLASTING COVENANT. SHE CONSIDERS A FIELD AND TAKES IT — for while she was still alive she planned to take the Cave of Machpelah, AND TAKES IT, for indeed she was buried in it. FROM THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS SHE PLANTS A VINEYARD, as it is said (Gen. 21:33): AND HE PLANTED A TAMARISK. What is "and he planted"? As you say (Gen. 9:20): AND HE PLANTED A VINEYARD. SHE GIRDS HER LOINS WITH STRENGTH — when Abraham said to her (Gen. 18:6): HURRY, THREE SEAHS OF FINE MEAL FLOUR, etc. SHE TASTES THAT HER MERCHANDISE IS GOOD — AND SHE SAID (Gen. 21:7): WHO WOULD HAVE SAID TO ABRAHAM THAT SARAH WOULD NURSE CHILDREN? HER LAMP DOES NOT GO OUT AT NIGHT — when? AND HE DIVIDED HIMSELF AGAINST THEM BY NIGHT (Gen. 14:15). SHE DOES NOT FEAR FOR HER HOUSEHOLD BECAUSE OF SNOW — when? When the Holy One, blessed be He, showed him Gehinnom, He brought her the good news that not one of her children would go down into it, as it is said (Gen. 15:17): AND BEHOLD, A SMOKING OVEN AND A TORCH OF FIRE. Why? Because they fulfill two things. FOR ALL HER HOUSEHOLD IS CLOTHED IN SCARLET — these are the Sabbath and circumcision. SHE MAKES COVERINGS FOR HERSELF — when? When they said to him (Gen. 18:9): WHERE IS SARAH YOUR WIFE? He said to her: You are given good news that you will give birth, and from them will come forth high priests who will serve in the Tent of Meeting. FINE LINEN AND PURPLE IS HER CLOTHING, as it is said (Exod. 26:31): [BLUE] AND PURPLE, etc. HER HUSBAND IS KNOWN IN THE GATES — when Sarah died, old age leaped upon Abraham, and he was called "old," as it is said (Gen. 23:6): HEAR US, MY LORD, YOU ARE A PRINCE OF GOD IN OUR MIDST — thus, HER HUSBAND IS KNOWN IN THE GATES. Immediately, when he sat with the elders of the land, he grew old; therefore it is said: AND ABRAHAM WAS OLD.