Hagar would bear the child and look after it, but it would belong to Sarah and be accepted as the child of Sarah and Abraham. She decided to offer her slave Hagar to Abraham as a surrogate. In her own eyes and in the estimation of the tribe she was a failure, and her barren state was a constant torment. It seems that Hagar’s new owner Sarah could not conceive a child, which was after all the primary function of a tribal leader’s wife.

Hagar must have found the living conditions of the Hebrews quite primitive by comparison. This was ironic, since she came from a land that was socially and politically advanced and possessed cities, temples and elaborate burial sites. Hagar was always disadvantaged among the Hebrew women because she was a foreigner and a slave. You might take a look at Egyptian love poems in Women in the Bible: the story of Potiphar’s Wife: it will give you some idea of the comparative sophistication of the Egyptians. Becoming the servant of a nomadic tribeswoman may have been a step down socially for her. If Hagar was a gift from Pharaoh, she was probably an accomplished servant with valuable skills. But it was an accepted practice at the time to give servants and slaves as part of the dowry of a wealthy young woman.

Bible Top Ten, Daily Life, Paintings Daily Life – Prayer – Paintings – Books of the Bible – Bible PaintingsĪncient wall painting of beautiful Egyptian womenĪ human being as a wedding gift? It seems strange to us.

Scenes from Joseph's story were painted by Pontormo and Bacchiacca for Pierfrancesco Borgherini. Joseph is often seen as an Old Testament equivalent, or prefiguration, of Christ. The story is recounted in the Old Testament (Genesis 37, 39-45) Joseph invited his father and brothers to come and settle in Egypt. They did not recognise him but after he was satisfied that they were reformed he identified himself with great joy. He wisely rationed the country's produce in preparation for a time of famine.ĭuring the famine Jacob's sons came to Egypt to plead with Joseph for supplies. Due to his ability to interpret Pharaoh's dream he was made governor of Egypt. Potiphar's wife tried unsuccessfully to seduce him and after false accusations were levelled at Joseph he was imprisoned. He was taken to Egypt and eventually became steward to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials. His brothers were jealous of him and sold him into slavery. His father loved him more than any of the others and gave him a coloured cloak.

Joseph story in bible in tamil