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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Genesis 20:9

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 Gerar, presumably, no written laws; but the custom of the people, with which was bound up its religion, was more powerful than law. The Code of Hammurabi reflects the moral standard of the most civilized community of the time.

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See also Genesis 20:9 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Abraham in Gerar 2. אבימלך .2 _'ǎbı̂ymelek_, Abimelekh, “father of the king.” 7. נביא _nābı̂y'_ “prophet,” he who speaks by God, of God, and to God, who declares to people not merely things futu...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 20 ABRAHAM IN GERAR _ 1. Abraham in Gerar (Genesis 20:1)_ 2. Second denial of Sarah (Genesis 20:2) 3. God's dealing with Abimelech (Genesis 20:3) 4. Abimelech and Abraham ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 20. ABRAHAM PASSES OFF SARAH AS HIS SISTER AT GERAR. The first complete narrative from E. The writer uses Elohim, but P's characteristics are absent. Phraseology as well as the use of Elohim i...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WHAT. Figure of speech _Aganactesis._ SIN. Hebrew. _chat'a._ See App-44....

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 32 ABRAHAM REPROVED FOR DENYING HIS WIFE Genesis 20:9._ Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART THIRTY-THREE THE STORY OF ABRAHAM: SOJOURN IN THE NEGEB (Genesis 20:1 to Genesis 21:34) 1. _Abraham and Abimelech_ (Genesis 20:1-18) 1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the land of the

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ABRAHAM AT GERAR 1. Abraham leaves Mamre (Hebron) for Gerar, SW. of Philistia. It seems from Genesis 21:34 that he remained in that district for some years....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 20 ABIMELECH TAKES SARAH V1 Abraham travelled away from the big trees at Mamre. He went toward the region that is called the Negeb. He lived betw...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּקְרָ֨א אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ לְ אַבְרָהָ֗ם וַ יּ

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    ABRAHAM AGAIN DENIES HIS WIFE Genesis 20:1 It is wonderful that Abraham should fall like this. He had walked with God for so many years, and experienced so many deliverances, that we should have expe...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Once again we have to face Abraham's deflection from faith. We see him journeying south to Gerar. This was the center of a race of men who, having driven out the original possessors of the land, were...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    WHEN ABRAHAM FAILED TO TRUST GOD A book that only claimed to be from God would not record the failings of a great man like Abraham. since the Bible is from God, it tells us of a second time Abraham fa...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    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 (k) kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Why, &c. He expostulates with him in a friendly but earnest manner. --- A great sin, or punishment, (Menochius) ver. 18, and exposed me to the danger of committing adultery. Abraham might have answer...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    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. This was the case. See Genesis 11:29...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have had hitherto God's account of that which He had made; then the trial and utter ruin of the creature, with the revelation of divine mercy in Christ the Lord. We have had in fine the judgment of...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    9._Then Abimelech called Abraham_. There are those who suppose that the king of Gerar did not make a complaint against Abraham; but rather declared his own repentance. If, however we fairly weigh his...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 20 AND 21. In Chapter s 20, 21 we have the question of the heir and of the path of faith in another point of view. Abraham denies his relationship with his wi...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN ABIMELECH CALLED ABRAHAM,.... Who might be in the king's palace, being taken into it caressed by the king for the sake of Sarah: AND SAID UNTO HIM; not in a passion, as might have been expected,...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 t...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Abraham soiourneth at Gerar, 2 denieth his wife, and loseth her. 3 Abimelech is reproued for her in a dreame. 9 He rebuketh Abraham, 14 restoreth Sarah, 16 and reprooueth her. 17 Hee is healed...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Abimelech Reproves Abraham...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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 tha...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    EIGHTH SECTION _Abraham and Abimelech of Gerar. His and Sarah’s renewed exposure through his human, calculating prudence, as formerly in Egypt before Pharaoh. The Divine preservation. Abraham’s inter...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    ABRAHAM EXPOSED AND REPROVED Now we return to Abraham's history. He journeyed toward the south, which is typical of pleasant circumstances, but nearly always having danger in it. He dwelt between Kade...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    9-13 See here much to blame, even in the father of the faithful. Mark his distrust of God, his undue care about life, his intent to deceive. He also threw temptation in the way of others, caused affl...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WHAT HAST THOU DONE UNTO US? How great a danger hast thou exposed us to! A GREAT SIN: even the heathens, who thought fornication harmless, judge adultery to be a very great and heinous crime. See Gene...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    We have two distinct points in this chapter: first, the moral degradation to which the child of God sometimes subjects himself, in the view of the world; and, secondly, the moral dignity which _ alway...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 20:9 Abimelech H40 called H7121 (H8799) Abraham H85 said H559 (H8799) done H6213 (H8804) offended...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH (GENESIS 20:1). Genesis 20:1 ‘And Abraham journeyed from there towards the land of the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and he sojourned in Gerar.' He had been establ...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Abraham's lapse at Gerar. Lying to Abimelech about his wife. CHARACTERS: Abraham, Sarah, Abimelech. CONCLUSION: Sin has many tools but a lie is a handle that fits them all. If the truth is...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 20:1 , _Gerar,_ in the tribe of Simeon, then a royal residence. Abimelech was the common name of the kings that reigned there. Genesis 20:2. _She is my sister._ It is not said whether Sarah wa...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 20:1 King Abimelech takes Sarah into his harem, which seems to put at risk God’s promise that Sarah will bear Abraham a son. ⇐...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 20:9 Abimelech rightly criticizes Abraham for deceiving him about Sarah. The term GREAT SIN sometimes implies adultery. ⇐

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 20:8. Servants.] Court officers—his counsellors. (1 Kings 1:2; 1 Kings 10:5; 2 Kings 6:8.)...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 20:1 AND ABRAHAM JOURNEYED (_vide_ Genesis 12:9) FROM THENCE. Mamre (Genesis 18:1). In search of pasture, as on a previous occasion (Keil);

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Abraham journeyed from there toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and he sojourned in Gerar (Genesis 20:1). So Abraham was living in the area of Hebron, but now he is still s...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    What hast. Genesis 12:18 Genesis 26:10 Exodus 32:21 Exodus 32:35 Joshua 7:2

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Thou hast done deeds that ought not to be done — Equivocation and dissimulation, however they may be palliated, are very ill things, and by no means to be admitted in any case. He takes it as a very g...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    GENESIS 21:32; GENESIS 21:34 — Did the Bible mistakenly place the Philistines in Palestine at the time of Abraham? PROBLEM: The earliest allusion to Philistines by Palestinian or Egyptian sources is...

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