Sarai, Hagar and Abram - A narrative and contextual approach to Genesis-XVI,1-6

Gen 19,1-6 tells how Sarai, in her desire to be a mother, gives to Abram he r servant Hagar in order for her to give birth in her stead. Apparently ane cdotal, this narrative is here made the object of three complementary appro aches intended to bring out the depth of meaning. The rhetorical approach b rings out the main articulations of the text and the meaning which they car ry; a contextual reading looks at the scene by comparing it with other narr atives which talk about the couple (Gen 2-3 and 12,10-20); finally, at atte ntive look at relationships between the different actors tries to highlight the anthropological aspects which are at stake in the human experience whi ch is narrated.