Vayeira 18:9 · unit 2

Parashas Vayeira · Passuk 18:9

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵׄלָ֔יׄוׄ אַיֵּ֖ה שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הִנֵּ֥ה בָאֹֽהֶל׃

They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “Behold, in the tent.”

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Bava Metzia 87a.

TT lemma: איה שרה.

Sefaria — Bava Metzia 87a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אַיֵּה שָׂרָה. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב, יוֹדְעִים הָיוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת שֶׁשָּׂרָה אִמֵּנוּ בָּאֹהֶל הָיְתָה, וְאֶלָּא מַאי שָׁאֲלוּ? כְּדֵי לְחַבְּבָהּ עַל בַּעְלָהּ; וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר, כְּדֵי לְשַׁגֵּר לָהּ כּוֹס שֶׁל בְּרָכָה.

English: “Where is Sarah?” Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: The ministering angels knew that Sarah our mother was in the tent; why then did they ask? In order to endear her to her husband. And Rabbi Yosi son of Rabbi Chanina said: In order to send her a cup of blessing.

On the daf / in context: The angels’ question is not for information; two motives are offered—to increase Avraham’s affection for Sarah, or to include her in the blessing over the wine.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bavli sugya) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The question is reinterpreted as intentional rather than informational.

What Is Learned

The angels asked “Where is Sarah?” not because they lacked knowledge, but either to endear her to Avraham or to send her a share of the cup of blessing.