Why did Sarai say what she said to Avram (Abram) in Genesis 16:5?

Answer From The Annual Reading Schedule - Week 4 Notes For Genesis: More than just the obvious, that Sarai was now despised by Hagar, this question is getting to the heart of what kind of a woman Sarai (or Sarah) was. I do not believe Sarai would have done anything against Hagar unless Avram (Abram) had first given her the authority to do so. Knowing that Hagar was now Avram's wife also, and being a woman that feared Yahweh and honored and respected the authority of her husband, she knew there was no authority on her part to do anything regarding being despised by Hagar unless Avram first approved. Her only recourse then was to leave it all in the hands of Yahweh and trust that He would deliver her. It is because she respected the authority of Avram so much so, and because of her inner struggle to deal with this situation, that she said what she said. Avram's response in the next verse, Genesis 16:6, shows that he gives her permission, because without that Sarai would have been able to do naught.