The Ramban on Hagar and Sarah: Why Ishmael Can Never Rule Over Israel

We all know the story of Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant, who rebelled against her mistress. In response, Sarah afflicted her, as the verse says: “Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her” (Genesis 16:6). Hagar ran away, unwilling to return. Then an angel of God appeared to her and said: “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.”

Hagar returned and later, Ishmael was born. He grew into an idol-worshiper and a wild man (pere adam), until eventually he and his mother were expelled to the desert — his natural environment, a place of wild beasts and predators.

The Ramban (Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, 13th century) wrote the following on this very verse: “Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. Our mother sinned in this affliction, and also Abraham in permitting her to do so. God heard her affliction and gave her a son who would be a wild man, to afflict the descendants of Abraham and Sarah with all kinds of suffering. ‘Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand’ — He commanded her to return and accept her mistress’s authority. This hinted that she and her offspring would never be free from Sarah’s dominion, for Sarah’s children will rule over Hagar’s descendants forever.”

The Ramban says explicitly that Sarah erred in how she treated Hagar, and she should have sought another solution to her maidservant’s arrogance and rebellion. As a result, the suffering of Israel at the hands of Ishmael’s descendants was set in motion throughout history.

And yet, Ishmael’s desire to dominate and defeat us, will never succeed. Just as the prophecy describes that Ishmael’s descendants would afflict Israel, it also declares that Sarah’s descendants will always rule over Hagar’s descendants. Hagar was a maidservant, and her children remain servants forever — never fit for kingship, hated by the nations, “their hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against them.”

Therefore, let not your heart falter, dear children of Israel.  Remember the Ramban’s promise, that while they may have the ability to cause pain, they can never truly rule over us. This is especially true when we are connected to Sarah, called by her name, her children in spirit and covenant.

Continue to trust in God, and you will see wonders.