It is asked whether Sarah was aware of the in tended sacrifice of Isaac, the son of her long-de ferred hopes. The chronology is uncertain, and does not decide whether this transaction occurred before or after her death. She was probably alive ; and if so, we may understand, from the precautions employed by Abraham, that she was not acquainted with the purpose of the journey to the land of Moriah, and indeed that it was the object of these precautions to keep from her knowledge a matter which must so deeply wound her heart. He could have the less difficulty in this, if his faith was such as to enable him to believe that he should bring back in safety the son he was commanded to sacri fice (Heb. xi. 19). As, however, the account of her death immediately follows that of this sacrifice, some of the Jewish writers imagine that the intelli gence killed ber, and that Abraham found her dead on his return (Targ. yonath., and Jarchi on Gen. xxiii. 2 ; Pirke Eliezer, c. 52). But there seems no authority for such an inference.
Sarah is so rarely introduced directly to oar notice, that it is difficult to estimate her character justly', for want of adequate materials. She is seen
only when her presence is indispensable ; and then she appears with more of submission and of sim plicity than of dignity, and manifests an unwise but not unusual promptitude in following her first thoughts, and in proceeding upon the impulse of her first emotions. Upon the whole, Sarah scarcely meets the idea the imagination would like to form of the lifc-companion of so eminent a person as Abraham. Nevertheless, we cannot fail to observe that she was a most attached and devoted wife. Her husband was the central object of all her thoughts ; and he was not forgotten even in her first transports of joy at becoming a mother (Gen. xxi. 7). This is her highest eulogium.
Isaiah is the only prophet who names Sarah (li. 2). St. Paul alludes to her hope of becoming a mother (Rom. iv. 19) ; and afterwards cites the promise which she received (Rom. ix. 9) ; and Peter eulogises her submission to her husband (r Pet. iii. 6).—J. K.