We’ve encountered Sarai – and watched her encounter God – on her own before marriage and when separated from her husband. Next, we’ll explore Sarai’s uniqe qualities and divine connection as she stands facing her husband in Genesis chapters 16 and 21 – highlighting her faith in God (especially sharp in Genesis Rabbah 45:2) as well as the differences that lead Sarah and Avraham (as they are named in Genesis 17) to form a complementary unit representing God in this world.
And in the next generation… The midrash Genesis Rabbah 60:16 famously implies Rivka was an identical replacement for Sarah – but was she?
We will begin to explore the character of Rivka as presented in Genesis chapter 24, with help from a surprising assortment of sources, including: Malbim (Genesis 24:15), Tanna d’Bei Eliyahu Rabbah (chapter 25), the HaEmek Davar (end of chapter 24), the Meshech Chochmah (Genesis 24:14), and even a cameo from Ruth (1:16).