We often think of Abraham's journey as beginning with the covenant God made with him, the "covenant of the pieces," promising him descendants as numerous as the stars. But as Legends of the Jews (Ginzberg) reminds us, this happened when Abraham and Sarah were still childless. They believed their inability to conceive was a punishment for not living in the Holy Land. Yet, even after ten years in Palestine, Sarah remained barren.
It's fascinating how the tradition portrays Sarah here. She doesn't wallow in jealousy. Instead, she takes initiative. Recognizing the issue might lie with her, she offers her slave, Hagar, to Abraham as a wife. But there's a crucial detail: Sarah first frees Hagar. Hagar was Sarah's property, a gift from Pharaoh, her father. This wasn't just a casual decision; Sarah had raised Hagar in righteousness, making her a suitable partner for Abraham. Abraham, guided by the Ruach Hakodesh (holy spirit), agreed to Sarah's proposal.
Things quickly become complicated. No sooner does Hagar conceive than she begins to look down on Sarah, despite Sarah's kindness. When other noblewomen visited, Sarah would encourage them to check on "poor Hagar." But Hagar would use these visits to subtly undermine Sarah. "My lady Sarah," she'd say, "isn't what she seems. If she were truly righteous, wouldn't she have conceived by now? I became pregnant immediately!"
Sarah, refusing to engage in petty arguments, directs her frustration at Abraham: "It is thou who art doing me wrong." She reminds him of her sacrifices – leaving her homeland, pretending to be his sister in Egypt to protect him. Now, she feels betrayed. "O that God might look upon the injustice which hath been done unto me...and grant us offspring, that we have no need of children from Hagar."
Abraham, ever the modest and unassuming figure, gives Sarah full authority over Hagar. He only cautions her, "Having once made her a mistress, we cannot again reduce her to the state of a bondwoman." But Sarah, perhaps blinded by hurt and resentment, disregards this warning. She forces Hagar back into servitude and, according to the legend, even casts an "evil eye" upon her, causing a miscarriage. Hagar flees into the wilderness.
It's there, in the midst of her despair, that angels appear to Hagar. They instruct her to return and tell her that she will bear a son, and that his name will be Ishmael. He is one of six individuals, tradition tells us, whose names were given by God before their birth. (The others being Isaac, Moses, Solomon, Josiah, and the Messiah.)
Thirteen years pass after Ishmael’s birth. Then comes the command for Abraham to circumcise himself and all the males in his household, marking them with the sign of the covenant. Abraham hesitates, fearing it would isolate him from others. But God reassures him, "Let it suffice thee that I am thy God and thy Lord, as it sufficeth the world that I am its God and its Lord."
Abraham seeks counsel from his friends, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Aner and Eshcol advise against it, citing Abraham's age and the potential for recognition by enemies. Only Mamre encourages obedience. "God succored thee from the fiery furnace," he reminds Abraham, "He helped thee in the combat with the kings…and thou dost hesitate to execute His behest concerning the circumcision?"
Ultimately, Abraham obeys, performing the circumcision openly, on the tenth of Tishrei, Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), and on the very spot where the Temple altar would later stand. The act, according to tradition, serves as a never-ceasing atonement for Israel.
What are we to make of this complex story? It's a tale of faith, doubt, jealousy, and ultimately, obedience. It highlights the humanity of our ancestors – their struggles, their flaws, and their unwavering commitment to God despite it all. It reminds us that even in moments of uncertainty and conflict, the covenant endures.