I posited here an argument for a strong thematic connection between Genesis 3 and Genesis 16. While that's fun in itself, it was the possibilities that this connection unearthed that began to pique my interest.
I have suggested in some detail here that Genesis 3 is perhaps best understood as Eve grasping for something that she already possessed. If this is right, then might that pattern also be repeated later in Genesis?
Indeed, it's worth asking why women are the focus in so much of the, if you'll excuse the pun, patriarchal narratives.
Genesis 16 is a case in point. In what sense could Sarai be described as having grasped at that which she already had?
Well, if we understand Yhwh's promise that Abram would have countless descendants in its most natural sense (ie, that he would bear them through his wife), then in effect Sarai had already received the child she was grasping for: by promise. The thematic links are strengthened somewhat in perceiving that lack of trust in God's word is a key operative in both cases.
Eve failed to trust that God had been good to her in what he had spoken to her. Could we perhaps suggest that Sarai did the same?
The journey through Genesis should be interesting. I'm holding out some hope that these intertextual links will provide some support for my reading of Genesis 3.
NB. Feminists, don't get too agitated too quickly about where I'm going with this. We'll get to Tamar who provides some narrative counter-balance and nuance.