Richard McBee, Fine Artist and Writer

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Sarah's Trials

Sarah's Trials

Biblical and Midrashic Texts

Sarah Redux by Tom L. Freudenheim
Sarah vs. Abraham by Menachem Wecker (Houston Chronicle)
The Divine Imperative - Sarah's Trials by Richard McBee
Painting Sarah by Jonathan Mark (Jewish Week)
Sarah's Trials: The Opera by Laura Kruger
A Woman's Voice in a Man's Mouth by Judith Margolis

Idol Shop 6 x 5	Smashing Venus 6 x 5
Sister Act - Entering Egypt 6 x 5	Whip Angel defends Sarah 6 x 5
Abraham Taking Hagar 6 x 5	Sarah 6 x 5
Go Fetch 6 x 5	Sarah Laughs 6 x 5
Hagar is Expelled 6 x 5	Hagar and Ishmael are Expelled 6 x 5
Abraham Hears God 6 x 5	Sarah Alone 6 x 5
Isaac Returns 6 x 5	Abraham Mourns 6 x 5
Isaac Comforted 6 x 5	Abraham Returns to Hagar 6 x 5

Idol Shop 20086' x 5'

Terach, my father-in-law, made idols and had an idol shop.

Smashing Venus 2012 6' x 5'

My husband, Abraham, discovered God; transcendent, without substance, or gender. While working at his father’s idol shop he decided to smash the idols to show how powerless they were.

Sister Act - Entering Egypt 20086' x 5'

When famine forced us from our new home down to Egypt, Abraham suddenly took note of my beauty and fearing that the Egyptians would murder him to take me, he demanded that I pose as his sister. He tried to hide me in a box, but I was discovered. Then I was abducted by Pharaoh himself. He tried to rape me.

Whip Angel defends Sarah from Pharaoh 20086' x 5'

I cried all night for God to save me from that man.

Abraham tried the exact same ruse later when we entered the kingdom of Avimelech.

Abraham Taking Hagar 20086' x 5'

I tried for ten years to have Abraham’s child, to no avail. I was barren. So I gave him my maidservant, the Egyptian Hagar, to provide Abraham with an heir.

Sarah's Despair 2008 6' x 5'

Just like that, Abraham went and had sex with her and she conceived a male child, Ishmael.

Go Fetch 20086' x 5'

After Abraham circumcised himself as God had ordered, three strangers arrived. My husband ordered me, as if I didn’t know what to do, to make fine cakes for the new guests.

Sarah Laughs 2008 6' x 5'

Then these strangers told my husband that I, ninety years old, would give birth to a son next year. I laughed. Was my strategy for Hagar to give Abraham an heir a mistake?

Hagar is Expelled 2008 6' x 5'

The minute Hagar got pregnant she mocked me like I was nothing in her eyes. I wanted her out of my sight.

Hagar and Ishmael are Expelled 20086' x 5'

When her son Ishmael was born I could see he was as much of a problem as his uppity mother, Hagar. I saw him mocking my son Isaac and I was afraid he might hurt him. I had to protect my family.

Abraham Hears God 2008 6' x 5'

I only found out much later that God spoke to Abraham that night while we were sleeping. He told him to take my only son, Isaac, and sacrifice him on the mountain.

Sarah Alone 20086' x 5'

I woke up and Abraham had gone early in the morning. And my son Isaac was missing.

Isaac Returns 20086' x 5'

I worried about my missing son and husband. Then Isaac returned, shaken. He told me Abraham almost slaughtered him on an altar to God. I cried out.

Abraham Mourns 2008 6' x 5'

After I died Abraham mourned me.

Isaac Comforted 20086' x 5'

After Abraham buried me, he sent to his family in Haran for a child-bride for Isaac.

Abraham Returns to Hagar 2008 6' x 5'

Men have needs…so again Abraham took a wife and her name was Keturah. This was Hagar. They had six children. When he died he was buried next to me in the cave of Machpelah.