Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/185

 167

The Death of Sarah

tentment and peace, departed; the light which Sarah had kindled on the Sabbath eve, and whose radiance glorified the tent throughout the entire week, was extinguished the bless;

upon the dough and other food, and ensured plenty and abundance for both the inmates and the stranger who might seek its shelter, ceased; and the doors

ing which had rested

of the tent, which had ever stood wide open

for the poor

and the sanctified had who tightly. She closed were protection, true, Jewish it a of made had and presence, tent by her home, was gone. And Abraham grieved.' Yet even in his grief he did not complain. Still he trusted in God and His goodness, and still he realized that this, too, must be for good. He thought of all the long, happy years

and needy, inviting and

summoning them

to hospitality

he and Sarah had had together, and of the great blessing which had come to them in their old age, in the person of

And

he realized that all this happiness and blessing had come from God, that Sarah herself, and her love and companionship had been given to Him by

their beloved son, Isaac.

And so he must as the greatest blessing of his life. have murmured, as has every pious, God-fearing Jew since God

then,

The Lord

Lord hath taken away; (Job I, 2L)

gave, and the

Blessed be the

name

These words, our Bible greatest sufferer of

all.

of the Lord.

tells

And

us,

were

first

spoken by the

ever in sorrow and separation,

our fathers have trustingly repeated them, and thanked God for all the blessing which was theirs from Him for so long It is a beautiful view of life, and the truest view a time. too.

good and precious, even the love of dear ones, comes from God, is but lent to us for a time, and must be Not even given back when He in His wisdom, demands. when the Yet forever. our loved ones may we keep with us All that

moment

of

is

separation

comes,

instead

of

complaining,

or