Abraham and Sarah at the Court of Abimelech at Gerar (E) The incident recorded in this chap. resembles in its general features that recorded of Abraham in Egypt, Genesis 12:10-20, and that recorded of Isaac at Gerar, Genesis 26:6-11. In each case the patriarch, fearing for his own life, represents... [ Continue Reading ]
_from thence_ This passage is evidently derived from some distinct source. As it ignores the previous section dealing with Lot, and the last reference to Abraham is in Genesis 18:33, when he is at Mamre, the precise meaning of "from thence" must remain obscure. _the South_ See note on Genesis 12:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
_She is my sister_ See notes on Genesis 12:13. It seems almost incredible that, after the event recorded in Genesis 12:13-20, Abraham should once again have displayed the same faults of cowardice and dissimulation. Sarah also is advanced in years; and, in Genesis 18:10-14, had received the promise o... [ Continue Reading ]
_God came … in a dream_ Scholars have noticed that E frequently describes Divine interposition by means of a dream. Cf. Genesis 20:6; Genesis 31:11; Genesis 31:24; Genesis 37:5; Genesis 37:9; Genesis 40:5 ff., Genesis 41:1 ff., Genesis 46:2. _art but a dead man_ i.e. "shalt die." This sentence is no... [ Continue Reading ]
_a righteous nation_ Abimelech appeals to the instinct of justice, that God will not punish the innocent, as if they were guilty. Cf. Genesis 18:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
_integrity_ Heb. "perfectness." Cf. Genesis 6:9. _innocency of my hands_ Cf. Psalms 26:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
_from sinning against me_ The violation of moral law is sin against God. _suffered I thee not_ The explanation of this sentence is supplied in Genesis 20:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
_for he is a prophet_ Abraham is here given the title of "prophet," or "_nâbî_" (the first occurrence of it in Scripture). The prophet the one who utters or pours forth is one who is in intimate relations with God, moved by His Spirit, protected by His Power. From 1 Samuel 9:9 we learn the _nabi_was... [ Continue Reading ]
_What hast thou done unto us_ Syriac Peshitto "what have I done unto thee," which suits the second clause rather better. _deeds … that ought not to be done_ Cf. Genesis 34:7; 2 Samuel 13:12. The moral standard of the heathen king here stands higher than that of Abraham the prophet. There were at Ge... [ Continue Reading ]
_What sawest thou_ i.e. "what hadst thou in view?" An unusual use of the verb "to see." Cf. Psalms 66:18, "if I regard (lit. -see") iniquity in my heart." Some scholars prefer, by a slight alteration of the text, the reading, "what didst thou fear?" _yarêtha_for _ra"îtha_(Bacher).... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because I thought_ Lit. "I said": see note on Genesis 18:17. _Surely the fear of God_ Abraham's defence is that he assumed a heathen people did not fear God; and, therefore, would not be afraid of any Divine retribution, if they took the life of a stranger (_gêr_). The stranger had no rights; his... [ Continue Reading ]
_she is indeed my sister_ See Genesis 11:29; Genesis 12:19. The marriage with a half-sister was evidently permitted in David's time (cf. 2 Samuel 13:13); and it was practised in the days of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 22:11), though forbidden by the laws of Leviticus 18:9; Leviticus 18:9; Leviticus 18:11;... [ Continue Reading ]
_God caused me to wander_ Referring to Genesis 12:1. The Hebrew student will notice that the verb "caused me to wander" is in the plural, although, as a rule in the O.T., the word "God" (_Elohim_) is treated as sing. But it is sometimes the case that the plural is used, as here and in Genesis 31:53;... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Abimelech took_ Abimelech's gift is intended to compensate Abraham for injury to his honour. The head of the household is regarded as embodying the rights of all who belong to him. The LXX and Heb. Sam. insert "a thousand pieces of silver and" before "sheep and oxen." This is due to a misunders... [ Continue Reading ]
_my land is before thee_ Cf. Genesis 13:9; Genesis 34:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have given thy brother_ Abimelech emphasizes the word which Sarah had used (Genesis 20:5), and which freed his conscience from any blame. By the sarcastic use of the word "brother," Abimelech implies that compensation for wrong done to her is due to Abraham as one of her family, not as her husban... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abraham prayed_ See note on Genesis 20:7. This verse explains Genesis 20:4. Barrenness was regarded as the sign of Divine displeasure, which might be averted by prayer and intercession: cf. Genesis 25:21; Genesis 30:2; Genesis 30:22; 1 Samuel 1:10. See note on Genesis 12:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the Lord_ An editorial addition, explanatory of Genesis 20:17. "Jehovah" is here used for the only time in this narrative.... [ Continue Reading ]