And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. Ver. 1. _And Abraham journeyed from thence, &c._] Either as grieved at the sight of Sodom; or annoyed by the ill air thereof; _a_ or as loathing Lot's incest; or driven out by a... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She [is] my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. Ver. 2. _She is my sister._] This is the second time he thus sinned, both against piety by distrust; and charity, in exposing his wife to other men's pleasure, and his neighbour thereby to God'... [ Continue Reading ]
_But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou [art but] a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she [is] a man's wife._ Ver. 3. _But God came to Abimelech in a dream._] Dreams are either natural or supernatural. Natural dreams are not much to be regarded... [ Continue Reading ]
But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Ver. 4. _But Abimelech had not come near her._] Being hindered by sickness. Gen 20:17 Well might St Ambrose call sickness the shop of virtues. _a_ When men are fastened to their beds, and their bones mad... [ Continue Reading ]
Said he not unto me, She [is] my sister? and she, even she herself said, He [is] my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. Ver. 5. _Said he not unto me, She is my sister? &c._] Here Abraham and Sarah, though both famous, he for his faith, Rom 4:19 and she... [ Continue Reading ]
And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Ver. 6. _Yea, I know that thou didst this, &c._] God takes his excuse, and yet chastiseth him; to teach us,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now therefore restore the man [his] wife; for he [is] a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore [her] not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that [are] thine._ Ver. 7. _Now therefore restore._] Let knowledge reform what ignorance offended in.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. Ver. 8. _Therefore Abimelech rose early, &c._] He "made haste, and delayed not to keep God's commandments". Psa 119:60 This is a check to our dulness, w... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. Ver. 9. _What hast thou done unto us? &c._] Some warmth must be in a repr... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?_ Ver. 10. _What sawest thou?_] He hath not yet done, but further expostulateth the injury, and setteth on the reproof. _Personatae reprehensiones frigent_ ." Rebuke them sharply". Tit 1:13... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God [is] not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake. Ver. 11. _Surely the fear of God, &c._] The only best curb to restrain from evil, and spur to incite to good. All honesty flows from this holy fear. It is a problem in Arist... [ Continue Reading ]
And yet indeed [she is] my sister; she [is] the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. Ver. 12. _And yet indeed._] _See Trapp on "_ Gen 11:29 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This [is] thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He [is] my brother. Ver. 13. _When God caused me to wander._] _Cum facerent Dii_, when they, even Go... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave [them] unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. Ver. 14. _And Ablmelech took sheep and oxen._] Great men should be bountiful to good men. Aeneas Sylvius was wont to say of learning - how much more may it be said... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abimelech said, Behold, my land [is] before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. Ver. 15. _Behold, my land._] This is the way to make a reproof work kindly, viz., to preserve still an opinion in the hearts of the reproved, that we love them nevertheless, and would do them any good.... [ Continue Reading ]
And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand [pieces] of silver: behold, he [is] to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that [are] with thee, and with all [other]: thus she was reproved. Ver. 16. _I have given thy brother._] Not thee, to avoid suspicion, "Provide," we must,... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare [children]._ Ver. 17. _So Abraham prayed unto God, and God healed Abimelech._] Here was that of St James verified, "The prayer of faith shall save the sick; and if he have committed sins, they s... [ Continue Reading ]
For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife. Ver. 18. _For the Lord had fast closed up all, &c._] _In quibus peccamus, in iisdem plectimur_. God oft takes notice of the offending member. Dives was tormented most in his tongue, _quia lingu... [ Continue Reading ]