Legends of Old Testament characters, from the Talmud and other sourcesBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Religion
Legends of Old Testament characters, from the Talmud and other sources
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends
In the meantime Sarah had assembled, and was entertaining all the wives
of the guests of Abraham. And it happened that the women found that they
had no milk in their bosoms to give their infants, and the babes
screamed that no one could hear the voice of another. The mothers were
in despair, for the children were hungry, and they were all dry. Then
Sarah uncovered her breasts, and there spurted from them jets of milk,
and all the babes were nourished at her bosom, and yet there was more.
Now when they saw this, the women, who had doubted that the child was
really the offspring of Sarah, doubted no more, and cried, “We are not
worthy that our little ones should be nourished at thy bosom!” And the
story goes that all those who afterwards joined themselves to the people
of Israel, and all those in every nation who in after-times became
proselytes, were descended from those who sucked the breasts of Sarah.
In allusion to this incident it is said in the Book of Psalms: “_Thou
makest the barren woman to keep house, and to be the joyful mother of_
(i.e. giving suck to) _children_.”[318]
The child Isaac was shown to every visitor, and all were astonished at
his resemblance to Abraham. Both the babe and his father were so much
alike that it was impossible to distinguish one from the other, and all
doubt as to whose it was vanished before such evidence of likeness to
the father, and before the fulness of Sarah’s breasts. But as confusion
was likely to arise through the striking similarity between father and
son, Abraham besought God to give him wrinkles and white hair, that he
might not be mistaken for the babe Isaac, or the babe Isaac be mistaken
for him.[319]
7. THE EXPULSION OF HAGAR AND ISHMAEL.
Ishmael grew up, and became skilful with his bow; he was rough and
undisciplined, and he occasionally lapsed into idolatry, but without his
father knowing it. But Sarah was aware of his sin, and was grieved
thereat.
Ishmael often boasted, “I am the eldest son, and I shall have a double
portion of my father’s inheritance.” These words were reported to Sarah,
and she hated Ishmael for them in her heart.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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