Monday, February 6, 2012

Abram's assumption that the people of Egypt will kill him because of his wife's beauty, seems like Abram thinks that the Egyptians are barbarians. He has no reason, other than his assumption, to believe that they would behave in that way. This feels like an example of racism in Genesis. Abram believes that people who are from a different place will behave in a less sophisticated manner, but he has no documented experience with them to back up his thought process.
Also, the idea that Abram would let the Pharaoh sleep with his wife in order to protect himself from his false ideas about the Egyptians is very strange. Sarai doesn't object to the idea either. This is a very different message from the one of monogamy and sanctity of marriage that is generally associated with religious texts.
The Pharaoh is completely unaware of Abram and Sarai's trick, but based on his reaction, he never would have been involved with Sarai had he known that she was Abram's wife. Then he is punished by God, which seems unjust, considering he did not know he was doing anything wrong. I feel that Abram and Sarai should have felt some of that punishment too, because they judged the Pharaoh unfairly and led him to his demise.

In the story of Abram, Sarai and Hagar, Sarai cannot have children, so she tells Abram to impregnate her servant, Hagar. Once Hagar is pregnant, she feels very bitter towards Sarai. Hagar was essentially ordered to carry Abram's child for Sarai, so it's natural that she should be angry because she believes Sarai will take her child. Hagar runs away because of Sarai's anger, but God tells her to return to her angry mistress.
Once Sarah has her own child, Isaac, she sends Hagar her young son Ishmael away again. Abraham is upset because he loves his son, but God comforts him. He is stuck in the middle of the "love triangle" he has to show loyalty to his wife and her son, Isaac, but Ishmael is his son as well. However, Ishmael and Hagar, upset Abraham's wife, so he is forced to send them away.

No comments:

Post a Comment