The Backstabbing Satan

Rashi says that Sarah died after she heard about the akedah.  Everyone asks why would she die from the akedah if Avrohom managed to live through it?  It is unusual for the Torah to record the length of life of a woman so why is the length of Sarah's life recorded? The Nesivos Shalom explains that the Torah tells us the lifespan of Sarah in order to teach us that this was the length of life she was supposed to live.  It wasn't the news of the akedah that caused Sarah to die prematurely, rather it happened to be at that time she reached the last of her final chapter.  He says that this was all part of the Satan's plan to fool Avrohom.  We say in akedah, והסר שטן מלפנינו ומאחרינו.  We understand what is שטן מלפנינו that tries to stop us from doing good deeds, but what is שטן מאחרינו?  That is the Satan that tries to mess us up even after the deed is done.  The Satan tried to make it seem as if the death of Sarah was caused by the akedah and that may cause Avrohom to regret his great act.  With just those thoughts, he would lose everything.  Avrohom was able to see through the facade of the Satan and realize that it was just Sarah’s time to go.   It is quite often that when one experiences a letdown after doing something good, s/he will feel that it’s no good deed goes unpunished.  This is the שטן מאחרינו, Satan trying to inspire feelings of regret for doing the right actions. 

This is reflected in the place of Sarah’s burial itself.  חברון has the same letters as חורבן but also has the word חבור in it.  It is the שטן מאחרינו that determines even all that happened will lye in ruin or will lead to a greater attachment with Hashem (based upon Haderech Pnemiyah.)