![]() ![]() However, cuneiform texts of the second and first millennia BCE attest to this custom in ancient Mesopotamia. Although it bears a resemblance to modern technological surrogate motherhood, this custom may seem bizarre. Hagar is Sarai’s Egyptian slave woman, whom Sarai (later Sarah) gives to Abram (later Abraham) as a wife who would bear a child that would be considered Sarai’s ( Genesis 16:3). Hagar has long represented the plight of the foreigner, the slave, and the sexually abused woman. Although the Qur’an does not tell Hagar’s story, a collection of the words of the prophet Muhammed extol Hagar (Hajar). She is the only character in the Bible who gives God a name based on her experience with the Divine. After Hagar becomes pregnant, Sarah treats her harshly, and eventually Hagar flees from her mistress into the wilderness where God’s messenger speaks to her. This practice of surrogacy can be found in a number of ancient Near Eastern texts. Hagar is Sarah’s Egyptian slave woman whom Sarah gives to Abraham as secondary wife and who would bear a child for him. My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help Donate ![]()
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