Why did God lie about Sarah?

Question

Why did God have to lie to cover for Sarah (Bereshis 18:13)? Why not just avoid asking Avraham altogether?

Note that the answer cannot be anything that would either impinge on their shalom bayis (cf Yevamos 65b) or cast Sarah in a poor light (avak lashon hara; yerushalmi peah 8b oz v'hadar/artscroll)

Answer 1

My own thought: There is no indication that when God spoke to Avraham about Sarah laughing he was in any way angry at Sarah (it does not say v'yichar af, not does it ever say that Sarah was punished). Furthermore had God been angry at Sarah why wouldn't he have spoken directly to her (as he did with, say Miriam and Ahron)?

Rather, God was in fact indicating to Avraham that though he (Avraham) had the exact same laughing reaction (when the same nevius was presented at the end of lech-lecha) Sarah's response was in fact BETTER and worthy of being emulated. What was the difference between the two? Sarah laughed publicly, Avraham did so privately.

How do I know? Firstly, God omits the word b'kirbah, which means as far as Avraham knows she did so publicly. Second, Rashi says the world "leimore" teaches us "l'acheirim" to others (note this Rashi is not found in our editions but is brought down by Abravenel).

Why did Sarah laugh publicly? I believe it was in order to cause more giluey kavod shomayim. She shared this ludicrous sounding prophecy with her friends and relatives so that when it came true it would be a bigger kiddush Hashem. This was God's lesson to Avraham; he asks rhetorically, "Why did Sarah laugh?" knowing that Avraham would inquire for himself (which he does, as the following pasuk where Sarah denies laughing implies that Avraham asked her to explain her behavior) and in this way God teaches Avarahm not only to emulate Sarah but to view her as a role model and to seek out her tutelage in avodas Hashem.

Answer 2

Some unsourced thoughts (I can break these into separate answers if that's better):

1. Abraham thought Sarah was too old, but G-d didn't want to embarrass him in front of his guests. Instead, he chose to embarrass Sarah (who is guilty of the same thing) because she was not face-to-face with the angels.
2. Abraham could hear Sarah laughing and Abraham suspected her true thoughts. G-d lied to allay Abraham's fears.
3. G-d didn't lie, but that's the meaning that Abraham understood from the true report (maybe to judge Sarah for the best). The Torah only records that which Abraham perceived.
4. Updated: G-d wanted Abraham to remember that Sarah's feelings were relevant here. Sarah wasn't in the room now, and according to Ramban, Abraham hadn't yet told Sarah about the news he had received earlier. Abraham needed a gentle kick in the pants to remember that his wife was an important part of this, too.

Of these, I like #2 the best.

Answer 3

God "asked"( it seems to me it was a rhetorical question) Avraham why Sarah laughed, i.e. ridiculed the idea that she'd ever have a child( see Rashi on 17:17 s.v. va-Yipol Avraham al Panav va-Yitzchaq), to rebuke her for her lack of faith in his ability to deliver on his promise to give her a child. If He had said nothing, Sarah would remain unaware of having done anything wrong.

But adding that she also thought Avraham to be too old, would only deflect Avraham's( and Sarah's) focus from the importance of God's displeasure with Sarah's attitude, besides the disruption of Shelom Bayit it would cause, [inclusive-]or the Avaq Lashon ha-Ra that it was.

Answer 4

if He avoided asking Avraham altogether, then we would not learn that it is a mitzva to "lie" for shalom bayis. the torah is not a book of facts, but a book of ethical teachings.

I once heard another answer that really it wasn't a lie. since it is the "good" thing to do then it's truth.

truth does not mean saying what happened, as it's commonly used. truth is what is good. as in torat emet. not that the torah is saying facts, but that it is absolute good.